Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): The British "The Morning Star" newspaper revealed that prison guards from a brutal Middle Eastern dictatorship visited Britain for training shortly before Easter.

Their visit was reported in Bahraini newspaper Akhbar Al-Khaleej, which supports the regime.

The newspaper report said the visit was designed "to exchange experiences" and "discuss various aspects of co-operation in developing the work of correctional institutions."

The visit has alarmed a Bahraini exile in Britain.

Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei, director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird), said it was "appalling."

Bird is especially concerned that senior officials from Jaw prison could have been part of the delegation.

"Multiple reports have highlighted mistreatment and torture in Jaw Prison and there are countless recorded cases of authorities denying inmates adequate medical care," Al-Wadaei said.

The Scottish and Northern Irish prison services told the Morning Star no-one from Bahrain had visited in April.

The British Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it received international visitors "all the time" and did not keep a central log of visits.

However, the MoJ said it was not involved in arranging this particular visit, and directed the Star to the Foreign Office - which then did not respond to requests for comment.

Bird said: "It is highly ironic that Bahrain has shown a greater openness about British involvement than the [British] government.

"Parliamentarians must not allow this scandal to pass without asking serious questions."

Arabic Version