26 June 2014

Labour MP relieved at news of former PGA Board Member’s acquittal

President of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) Ross Robertson has expressed his relief at the news from Bahrain today that former PGA Board Member Mr Khalil Al Marzooq has been acquitted of charges of inciting violence and terrorism.

“These charges were frivolously launched against Khalil Al Marzooq last September in a framework of political abuse of opposition rights,” said Ross Robertson.

“Khalil Al Marzooq had served as a democratically elected member of Bahrain’s House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010, before being re-elected for a further four-year team. In 2010 he was elected Deputy Speaker of Bahrain’s Parliament. However, in March 2011, along with the other 18 opposition Parliamentarians in the 40-seat lower house of Parliament, he resigned as a protest against the use of violence by authorities against peaceful activists holding demonstrations in the Pearl Roundabout and throughout the country.

“Following his arrest, Amnesty International and other leading organisations defined Khalil as a victim of persecution and, when he was incarcerated, a ‘prisoner of conscience’,” he said.

“It has been heartening to see so many leaders and MPs from around the world, many of them members of Parliamentarians for Global Action, express solidarity with Khalil and support his stand on non-violence, human rights and democracy.

“We in PGA remain convinced Khalil Al Marzooq’s stance as a staunch defender of real civic participation in decision-making, non-discrimination, equal opportunity and security for all, holds a promise for the better future and stronger rule of law in Bahrain,” said Ross Robertson.

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