Bahrain Mirror: Sayed Ahmad Alwadaei, a Bahraini activist and torture survival, said in an exclusive interview with British newspaper The Independent, that Prince Charles's visit to Bahrain is being used to "whitewash" its record on civil liberties.

The Prince of Wales is touring the Gulf state until Friday as part of a trip that includes "greenlighting" a £30m British navy base, the Independent stated.

Alwadaei spoke exclusively to The Independent after recently being reunited with the family he thought he would never see again. 

The stateless campaigner is asking Prince Charles not to allow himself "to be used as an ambassador for the arms industry" and to visit Nabeel Rajab who is in prison for posting anti-government tweets, the UK-based newspaper went on to say.

"Prince Charles's visit is giving the Bahraini authorities a green light to continue their oppression and using him to whitewash human rights abuses," said Mr Alwadaei.

Prime Minister Theresa May is also scheduled to visit the kingdom for a Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in December.

"It just shows you how low this Conservative Government goes," Mr Alwadaei added.

The royal visit follows the return of Mr Alwadaei's 19-month-old son, Sayed Junior, and wife Duaa to his north London home after they say they were violently interrogated in Bahrain. Their detention followed Mr Alwadaei pictured being restrained by police in London when he was protesting as the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, visited Downing Street on 26 October, The Independent stated.

"The British government is backing an oppressive regime," said Mr Alwadaei, when asked if he regrets his protest last month. "For me it was an exercise in exposure to show how far those oppressors go. I will do whatever it takes to raise awareness and I'm prepared to pay the consequences."

A Clarence House spokesman for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall said, "The UK Government continues to raise its concerns at the highest levels with the government of Bahrain and they continue to work together on many aspects of the reform agenda. Their Royal Highnesses are aware of the points raised by Human Rights organizations."

On his part, a Foreign Office spokesman said, "The UK is working closely with the government of Bahrain to provide extensive reform assistance focused on strengthening human rights and the rule of law. We believe that it is not good enough to merely criticise other countries from the sidelines.  Only by working with Bahrain are we able to bring about the changes we would like to see in the country."

A Downing Street spokesman added: "Our strong relationship with Bahrain means that we are able to have frank and honest conversations on human rights at the highest levels.

"Just last month, the Prime Minister met with the King of Bahrain who outlined the progress that had been achieved through Bahrain's ongoing domestic reform plan, designed to bring greater inclusivity to the political and social fabric of the country. "

The Independent had contacted the Bahraini Foreign Ministry office to get its comments on the matter.

Arabic Version