[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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       COMMEMORATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROTESTS IN BAHRAIN

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, this month marks the 15th year since the 
people of Bahrain took to the streets to peacefully protest oppressive 
practices by the Bahraini Government and champion democratic reform in 
their homeland. As protestors engaged in civil disobedience, the 
Kingdom of Bahrain brutally repressed its citizens, claiming the lives 
of dozens, and injuring hundreds. Despite 15 years passing since 
Bahrainis demanded their leaders enact reform, the country continues to 
engage in systematic human rights abuses against its citizens. I will 
continue to stand in solidarity with the Bahraini people for as long as 
it takes to achieve accountability and ensure the fundamental rights of 
Bahrainis are upheld.
  The Government of Bahrain continues to impose restrictions on 
expression, assembly, and association. During the first 6 months of 
2025, there were 37 documented violations against activists, writers, 
and internet users.
  Even after 15 years, Bahraini elections are neither free nor fair, 
and authorities systematically exclude and repress opposition voices. 
The government continues to bar former members of the opposition 
parties from running for Parliament or sitting on boards of governors 
of civil society organizations.
  The Bahraini Government restricts religious freedom, resorting to 
state violence against its Shia population. In July 2025, during an 
Ashura commemoration, Bahraini authorities launched a campaign of 
arrests and summonses, violently targeting 60 citizens.
  Despite significant releases of political prisoners since 2024, many 
continue to be arbitrarily detained, including those with a connection 
to the 2011 protests. Twenty-six individuals remain on death row 
despite credible allegations of torture during their interrogations and 
unfair trials. In April 2025, authorities detained 22 citizens. Several 
were linked to peaceful activism or suspected of intending to organize 
demonstrations. They were forcefully taken during raids at their homes, 
workplaces, or in public spaces. This sharp increase in detentions 
appears to be a preemptive effort to silence dissent, sending a 
chilling message to citizens engaged in peaceful opposition.
  During the United Nations' periodic review, the United Nations 
Committee Against Torture stated it remained concerned about consistent 
reports indicating people in detention are subject to torture and ill 
treatment. The Government of Bahrain continues to block internationally 
recognized human rights organizations from visiting the country, 
leading to a lack of oversight that enables abuses to be carried out 
with impunity.
  The Bahraini Government has had 15 years to enact real change to 
ensure the fundamental rights guaranteed by its constitution and 
international agreements are upheld. Still, after all these years, the 
Government of Bahrain has yet to fulfill its promises of reform.
  The United States must hold Bahrain accountable and to a high 
standard of human rights and rule of the law, as we should do with all 
of our allies. Security cooperation must go hand-in-hand with respect 
for human rights and democratic reform. The United States-Bahrain 
relationship is strongest when we champion shared values of good 
governance and fundamental rights.
  I renew my call for the Government of Bahrain to end its efforts to 
silence peaceful opposition, to stop its persecution of citizens, and 
to release all political prisoners who are serving unjust sentences for 
their defense of human rights.
  And I call on the Trump administration and, in particular, Secretary 
Rubio to take these human rights concerns seriously and demand 
substantive reform and greater accountability from Bahrain.

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