Bahrain, Arab Observatory for Human Rights condemn EU resolution on UAE human rights

Bahrain and the Arab Observatory for Human Rights (AOHR) have rejected a resolution passed by the European Parliament criticising the UAE’s human rights record.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the European Parliament’s resolution is based on “factually incorrect information”, the official Bahrain News Agency reported.

The statement added that the resolution lacks credibility and ignores the UAE’s significant achievements with regards to human development, the protection of human rights, upholding the principles of justice and equality and providing decent life for all UAE nationals and residents in compliance with its constitution and national laws.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that UAE boasts a track record of achievements in ensuring justice, equality and protection of human rights as well as enjoys advanced ranking on global indices, including the Human Development Report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Meanwhile the AOHR – affiliated with the Arab Parliament – also categorically rejected the resolution passed by the European Parliament.

Its statement read: “The unacceptable allegations included in the European Parliament’s resolution represents an unjustifiable interference in the internal affairs of the UAE, and it is not in the international parliament’s mandate to authorise any regional organisation to assess the human rights records that it’s not under their regional jurisdiction.”

The UAE had also rejected the resolution, which was passed by the European Parliament last week.

“We strongly reject the allegations made in the text, which have been previously addressed and dismissed as factually incorrect,” state news agency WAM quoted Saeed Al Hebsi, director of Human Rights at UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as saying.

“Moreover, the resolution completely ignores all of the UAE’s significant achievements in the human rights field. Every country has its own laws and legal institutions – the UAE Constitution and national legislation enshrines fundamental rights which provide for the fair treatment of all citizens and residents,” he said.

Last month, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued federal law No. 12 of 2021 establishing an independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI).

Read: UAE President issues federal law to establish independent National Human Rights Institution

The Abu Dhabi entity will include representation from advisory bodies, academics and civil society institutions and will be an independent legal entity, with financial and administrative autonomy in its activities and functions.