Islam Times - Lebanese minister: Bahrain is not eligible to host the Arab Human Rights Court

Islam Times - Former Lebanese Minister Issam Noman recently commented on an Arab League decision to set up an Arab Human Rights Court n Manama, the capital of Bahrain noting that "Bahrain is not friendly to human rights ... Moreover it is dealing with a political uprising which roots revolve around issues related to freedom of speech and social justice."

He further pointed out "The Arab League does not reflect the aspirations of the Arab peoples, but reflect the interests of the governments."

The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights in the Lebanese capital Beirut has criticized the Arab League’s decision to set up a pan-Arab human rights court in the Persian Gulf state.

At a press conference in Beirut the former minister added, "Will the statute of the Court outranked Member States' constitutions and thus secure all citizens under the AL equal rights? Would Bahrainis be therefore entitle to seize the court should the regime impede on their rights?

He called on all Arab citizens not to allow their governments to turn them into tools.

In turn, the President of the Forum, Yusuf Rabbih noted that Bahrain "is not eligible to host the Arab Court of Human Rights because its government has such a bad track record."

Activists have describe Bahrain as a “cemetery of human rights”. Although they don’t agree to Bahrain being the new court’s headquarters, they demand that the court stay independent of the Arab League so it could look like the International Criminal Court.