The Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of Health Dr Fatima bint Mohammad Al Beloushi on said that Bahrain remained committed to protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The minister said in Geneva that His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, made use of every opportunity to encourage political societies to join in the national dialogue.
Al Beloushi stressed at a press conference on the human rights conditions in the Kingdom of Bahrain that the dialogue was still open and that Bahrain is committed to the national talks. However, she said that the top priority now was restoring peace and stability in the country.
The national dialogue that HRH the Crown Prince proposed had no red lines and all issues were open to discussion in order to reach a consensus on topics like a parliament with full authority, a government representing the will of people, the right to fair voting, the naturalization issue, fighting corruption, the state properties and addressing sectarian tensions, the minister said.
Al Beloushi said that the only option the government had after the escalation of the violence was to call for support from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in order to help it keep security and stability in the kingdom after protesters took control of the commercial district and security conditions were beyond the capabilities of local police.
The State of National Safety was imposed in order to keep law and order, the minister said, adding that it was not martial laws as the constitution and laws were not suspended.
The minister said that the police units were tasked with maintaining peace, while the army is in charge of protecting vital installations and manning checkpoints on roads and near complexes to ensure smooth daily routines.