WASHINGTON, DC – June 7, 2013 – Today, 20 members of the United States Congress sent a letter to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain to express their “concern and disappointment” regarding the recent cancellation of a trip to Bahrain by United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Méndez. Mr. Méndez was scheduled to travel to Bahrain in May to independently assess whether torture and ill-treatment continue to be perpetrated against protesters, activists, and other civilians.
In their letter, the legislators urged the Bahrain government to reverse the decision to deny visits to Mr. Méndez and other international observers, citing allegations that security forces have tortured detainees “with impunity.” The letter, led by Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), was co-signed by the following Members of Congress:
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)
Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Representative Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL)
Representative Jim Himes (D-CT)
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Representative Jim Moran (D-VA)
Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
الرجاء الضغط هنا لقراءة هذه الرسالة باللغة بالعربية
