[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 24 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THIRD YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BAHRAIN PROTESTS

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the third anniversary 
of the peaceful uprising in Bahrain. Three years after mass protests 
filled the streets, the Bahraini Government's promises of reform remain 
unfulfilled. Systematic human rights abuses, restrictions on freedom of 
expression, and arbitrary detention continue unabated.
  Nabeel Rajab, a prisoner of conscience whom I have adopted as part of 
the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms project, is 
one of thousands who have been detained or tortured for peacefully 
calling for reforms. Prisoners like Nabeel are denied access to medical 
treatment, and many are prevented from speaking about their abuse, even 
to their families and lawyers.
  Because Bahrain is our ally and home to the 5th Fleet, the U.S. has 
the responsibility to ensure that the Bahraini Government adheres to 
its human rights commitments and enacts meaningful reforms. These 
should include releasing political prisoners and ensuring 
accountability for torture. Absent such steps, the U.S. must consider 
contingency planning for the relocation of the fleet.

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