Activists Ask US to Suspend Bahrain Prince’s Visa: He Tortured Prisoners

Local Editor

Activists on Wednesday asked the United States to suspend a diplomatic visa for the Bahraini prince, Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, over torturing prisoners during the island kingdom's 2011 Arab Spring protests.

The group Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain sent letters to the US State Department and War Department over their concerns about Prince Nasser. They asked that his visa be suspended, as well as any defense cooperation with him.

The prince was appointed in September to Bahrain's Supreme Defense Council, its highest military authority.

"We are gravely concerned by the US government's open association with Bahraini military officials like Sheikh Nasser, whose leading role in defense procurement and record of malfeasance render him a particularly high risk for further corruption and abuse," wrote Husain Abdulla, the executive director of Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain.

Responding to questions from The Associated Press, the State Department called Bahrain "an important US partner."

"Our relationship is built on common interests, including joint efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism, promote regional security and confront the threat from Iran," the State Department said, without discussing the information contained in the letter.

US Marine Maj. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway, a Military Department spokesman, acknowledged the Pentagon received the letter and said it takes "all allegations of human rights abuses seriously."

For more than a year, Bahrain has been targeting journalists, activists, Shiite religious leaders and political parties. Some activists have escaped into exile while others have been imprisoned.

Wednesday's letters come after Nasser attended an event in September at the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center. Rabbis at the event said Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa told them the longtime boycott of "Israel" by Arab countries should end.

Source: News agencies, Edited by website team