Bahrain Mirror: The IPU, which groups parliaments around the world and aims to promote democracy and human rights, said it was "aware" that Bahrain revoked entry visas issued to Human Rights Watch. A spokesperson said the IPU did not know of any other delegations that had had restrictions imposed on them to attend the meeting.

A spokesperson confirmed that the IPU "is not responsible for the visa process, which is a sovereign decision of the host country".

Human Rights Watch condemned on Friday (March 10, 2023) the Bahraini authorities' revoking of the entry visas of two Human Rights Watch staff members to attend the 146th IPU Assembly, although the organization holds permanent observer status with the IPU.

Tirana Hasan called on the parliamentary group's members and its leadership to publicly demand that Bahrain authorities unconditionally and immediately release all those imprisoned solely for peaceful speech and call for the government to immediately rescind its draconian "political isolation law".

Arabic Version