We, the undersigned democratically elected Members of Parliament, are deeply concerned by the arrest and arbitrary detention since 28 December 2014 of Sheikh Ali Salman, the respected Secretary-General of Bahrain’s largest opposition society, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, notably for the charges of “incitement to promote the change of the political system by force, threats and other illegal means;” “disrupting public order” and “publicly inciting others to disobey the law”[1]. Salman was also elected member of the Bahraini Parliament in 2006 and served for four years until 2010.
 
We express our undiminished solidarity with and support for our colleague Salman, who has consistently called for peaceful protest, condemned all forms of violence and advocated for a fair and just democratic political system in Bahrain through the establishment of a genuine constitutional monarchy. The accusations made by the Ministry of Interior against Salman of seeking to change the political system through forceful means are without merit and are being used as a smokescreen for a politically-motivated attack on the right to freedom of expression. Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and other human rights organizations including Amnesty International have analysed the speeches and statements of Mr. Sheikh Ali Salman,[2] which confirm his enduring and profound dedication to non-violence, democracy and the rule of law.
 
Over the past four years, Sheikh Salman has met with government representatives in an attempt to begin a process of national dialogue to end the ongoing political and human rights crisis in Bahrain. His arrest and ongoing detention undermine these efforts and are contributing to heightened tensions that can only set the country further along the dangerous path of disunity. As highlighted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement released on 30 December 2014, “Opposition parties are fundamental pillars of any democracy and Sheikh Salman’s arrest risks intensifying the fraught political scene that has seen anti-government protests for nearly four years.”
 
We call upon the Bahraini authorities to ensure the safe and immediate release of Sheikh Ali Salman, as well as all other people arbitrarily detained in Bahrain simply for expressing their right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The arbitrary detention and prosecution of Salman and other outspoken activists, along with the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters and the blanket ban on protests, invalidates the claims of the government of Bahrain that it is  implementing the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the UN’s Universal Periodic Review, and compromises any chances of reconciliation and unity in Bahrain.
 
We therefore also urge our own governments to demand that Bahrain complies with its obligations under international human rights laws and stops any further threats against the peaceful opposition leaders and human rights advocates, who should be able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
 

Signatories to date:

Dip. Manuel Garrido, Argentina
Dip. Margarita Stolbizer, Argentina
Mr. Laurie Ferguson, MP, Australia
Ms. Melissa Parke, MP, Australia
Mr. Tony Zappia, MP, Australia
Mr. Alan Griffin, MP, Australia
Ms. Jill Hall, MP, Australia
Mr. Andrew Leigh, MP, Australia
Sen. Claire Moore, Australia
Sen. Christine Milne, Australia
Sen. Lisa Singh, Australia
Sen. Penny Wright, Australia
Sen. Lee Rhiannon, Australia
Sen. Gavin Marshall, Australia
Hon. Petra Bayr, MP, Austria
Mr. Mohd Ali, MP, Bahrain
Mr. Israfil Alam, MP, Bangladesh
Sen. Alain Destexhe, Belgium
Mr. Dirk Van der Maelen, MP, Belgium
Ms. Françoise Schepmans, MP, Belgium
Mr. Wouter De Vriendt, MP, Belgium
Sen. Lisa Shoman, Belize
Sen. Emmanuel Nkengurutse, Burundi
Hon. Chief Paul Nji Tumasang, MP, Cameroon
Mr. Norman George, MP, Cook Islands
Hon. Paul Dehé, MP, Cote d'Ivôire
Dep. Yacouba Sangare, Cote d'Ivôire
Dep. Dieudonne Sunguma Kangimbi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dep. Emery Okundji Ndjovu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dep. François Bemba, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sen. Sebastien Lonalisa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dip. Minerva Tavarez Mirabal, Dominican Republic
Mr. Bart Staes, MEP, European Parliament (Belgium)
Mr. Claude Rolin, MEP, European Parliament (Belgium)
Ms. Frédérique Ries, MEP, European Parliament (Belgium)
Mr. Jeppe Kofod, MEP, European Parliament (Denmark)
Ms. Christel Schaldemose, MEP, European Parliament (Denmark)
Ms. Heidi Hautala, MEP , European Parliament (Finland)
Ms. Sylvie Guillaume, MEP, European Parliament (France)
Ms. Barbara Lochbihler, MEP, European Parliament (Germany)
Ms. Maria Heubuch, MEP, European Parliament (Germany)
Mr. Helmut Scholz, MEP, European Parliament (Germany)
Ms. Nessa Childers, MEP, European Parliament (Ireland)
Ms. Marian Harkin, MEP, European Parliament (Ireland)
Mr. Ignazio Corrao, MEP , European Parliament (Italy)
Mr. Brando Benifei, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Ms. Patrizia Toia, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Mr. Nicola Caputo, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Mr. Marco Valli, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Ms. Eleonora Evi, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Mr. Fabio Maassimo Castaldo, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Ms. Laura Ferrara, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Mr. Piernicola Pedicini, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Ms. Laura Agea, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Mr. Dario Tamburrano, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Ms. Elly Schlein, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
Ms. Judith Sargentini, MEP, European Parliament (Netherlands)
Ms. Ana Gomes, MEP , European Parliament (Portugal)
Mr. Ivo Vajgl, MEP, European Parliament (Slovenia)
Mr. Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, MEP , European Parliament (Spain)
Mr. Ernest Urtasun, MEP, European Parliament (Spain)
Mr. Javier Nart, MEP, European Parliament (Spain)
Ms. Iratxe García-Perez, MEP, European Parliament (Spain)
Ms Soraya Post, MEP, European Parliament, (Sweden)
Ms. Julie Ward, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
Ms. Jean Lambert, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
Ms. Anneliese Dodds, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
Mr. Alyn Smith, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
Mr. Oras Tynkkynen, MP, Finland
Hon. Alban Bagbin, MP, Ghana
Hon. George Loh, MP, Ghana
Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, MP, Ghana
Sen. Simon Desras, Haiti
Mr. István Szávay, MP, Hungary
Mr. Sarhang Mohammed, MP, Iraq
Sen. David Norris, Ireland
Sen. Averil Power, Ireland
Sen. Jim Walsh, Ireland
Mr. Mario Marazziti, MP, Italy
Hon. Lia Quartapelle, MP, Italy
Mr. Roberto Rampi, MP, Italy
Sen. Sergio Lo Giudice, Italy
Mr. Sim Him, MP, Malaysia
Dep. Bréhima Beridogo, Mali
Dep. Loubna Amhair, Morocco
Hon. Prakash Mahat, MP, Nepal
Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, MP, Nepal
Hon. Ramesh Lekhak, MP, Nepal
Mr. Harry van Bommel, MP, Netherlands
Mr. Crossley Tatui, MP, Niue
Hon. Naveed Qamar, MP, Pakistan
Hon. Ibrahim Martin Bangura, Sierra Leone
Hon. Bernadette Lahai, MP, Sierra Leone
Mr. Jordi Xucla, MP, Spain
Mr. Carles Campuzano, MP, Spain
Sen. Urko Aiartza Azurtza, Spain
Dr. Ruth Wijdenbosch, MP, Suriname
Ms. Margareta Cederfelt, MP, Sweden
Ms. Désirée Pethrus, MP, Sweden
Mr. Jonas Sjöstedt, MP, Sweden
Hon. Dr. Pindi Chana, MP, United Republic of Tanzania
Hon. Yusuph Nassir, MP, United Republic of Tanzania
Hon. Isileli Pulu, MP, Tonga
Dep. Souad Abderrahim, Tunisia
Dr. Yusuf Irbec, MP, Turkey
Mr. Peter Okeyoh, MP, Uganda
Ms. Beatrice Atim Anywar, MP, Uganda
Rt. Hon. Caroline Lucas, MP, United Kingdom
Dip. Felipe Michelini, Uruguay
Mr. Ali Ashal, MP, Yemen
Ms. Fungayi Jessie Majome MP, Zimbabwe