Facts

Earlier in the month, Amnesty International reported that the Bahrain parliamentary elections were being held "in an environment of political repression following a decade in which the authorities have infringed upon human rights, curtailed civil society, banned political opposition parties and shuttered independent media."

A recent study, carried out by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, found that, "Bahrain’s 2022 parliamentary elections will be underpinned by heavy political repression, and a climate of renewed fear and intimidation." The report then went on to conclude that, "Elections staged in such a climate can only be a sham, falling far short of any semblance of true democracy."

Verdict

David Rutley, a foreign office minister, did not tell MPs the full truth about the Bahreini elections. 

We emailed David Rutley’s office and the FCDO offering them the chance to respond. The email was received by both, but no reply.