1. Country Profile

Capital: Manama
Population: 1,214,705 (July 2011 est.)
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6%
Religions: Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8%
 
Regime Type: Constitutional monarchy
Head of state:  King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since March 1999)
Prime Minister: KHALIFA bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 1971);
Parliament (Last Election May 2009): al Wifaq (Shia, 18), al Asala (Sunni Salafi, 3), al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, 2), independents (17), formation of political parties is illegal, political societies legal since 2005.
Freedom House Ranking: NOT FREE
 
 
GDP / Capita: $26,021
Illiteracy Rate: 86.5%
Unemployment Rate: 15%
Human Development Index (2010): 0.801 (39th)
 

Major Protests and Governmental Changes
 
2. Current Political Situation
 
-Bahrain’s lower chamber is to be given the right to accept or reject the government’s action programme under amendments to the constitution
 
-Bahrain is to set up a panel of civil court judges, who will review the convictions and sentences issued by the National Security Courts
 
- Bahrain's Cassation Court on Monday overturned the Court of Appeals ruling condemning two Bahrainis to death and five others to life in prison for their alleged role in the killing of two policemen in March
 
- In January a Bahraini court will look into the case of five policemen for their role in the death of a detainee
-Early this month riot police in Bahrain fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades as they clashed  with hundreds of opposition supporters,  following funeral of a 15-year-old boy
- End of December: Bahrain is dropping charges against 334 people who were detained for offences linked to freedom of speech and expression. The measure is also in line with the observations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI),
 
- The Bahraini Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI ) report identifies a number of disturbing human rights abuses that took place during the protests which started in February and also called for establishing “an independent and impartial national commission". It should examine the laws and procedures that were applied in the aftermath of the events of February/March 2011 with a view to making recommendations to the legislature for appropriate amendments to existing law and the development of new legislation. It will publish its works before the end of February 2012.
 
-Bahrain's Court of Appeals postponed the trial of 20 doctors to January 9 after the public prosecution presented new evidence against the suspects. The previous conviction of the medical staff was held before a military court on protest-related charges brought outcry from the international community including the EU. Their sentences ranged from five to 15 years.
 
- Bahrain said last month that it arrested with the help of neighboring Qatar a cell of five Bahrainis plotting to carry out acts of terror in the kingdom which the  Bahrain’s public prosecution  accused of having links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Basij. Iran has rejected the claims. The trial of a suspected terror cell that plotted to target major installations in Bahrain has been postponed for January 25
- Nine newly-elected lawmakers announced the formation of a new parliamentary bloc that will make it the second largest in the lower chamber. The Bahrain Bloc will be made up of MPs from both sects, unlike previous formations, in a move that aims to help boost unity in the country.  Two of the women who were elected in the by-elections, Somayya Al Jowder and Sawsan Al Taqawi, have joined the bloc. The Bahraini government endorsed recommendations to review the electoral constituencies and to transfer the leadership of Bahrain’s bicameral parliament from the upper chamber to the lower chamber.The decisions, key demands by the opposition, are part of a series of constitutional and legal measures to implement recommendations issued by participants in the national dialogue
- Bahrain's interior ministry has launched an investigation into the death of teenager Ahmad Jaber Al Qattan following conflicting reports about how he died. Al Qattan, 17, died earlier this month and Al Wefaq, the largest opposition society, said that he was hit by a stray police bullet during clashes in the Abu Subaa area
-On September 28, National Safety Appeal Court confirms sentences against 21 political leaders and human rights activists.
- At least 30 people have died since the protests in Bahrain began in mid February. Among the dead are also four opposition supporters who died in custody, including a blogger.  Opposition and human rights groups say more than 1,000 have been detained.
 
- The emergency law imposed in March has been lifted on the 1 June; nevertheless the authorities warned they were not easing pressure on anti-government groups in the Gulf kingdom.  The troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries remain on the ground.
- Bahrain's King Al Khalifa called for a dialogue on July 1 to "boost a national consensus on the ideal development for the kingdom". All parties should take part in the dialogue to discuss the future of the country. EU welcomed the King's call for national dialogue;
- On 29 June an independent commission with an international independent component was set up by King Hamad in order to investigate human rights violations during recent government crackdowns on pro-reform protesters
 
- On 22 June Bahrain's National Safety Court, a military court, announced its verdict against 21 Bahrain opposition activists, seven of which in absentia; whereas 8 opposition activists were sentenced to life in prison and 13 received jail sentences of up to 15 years for “plotting to topple the government”. Many other political activists, human rights defenders and journalists were detained during the recent pro-reform protests, whereas according to human rights organizations they have been tortured, ill-treated and harassed
- On the 22 May, the death sentences imposed on Ali ‘Abdullah Hassan al-Sankis and ‘Abdulaziz ‘Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain, for killing two policemen during anti-government protests in Bahrain were upheld by the National Safety Court of Appeal. The execution decision was postponed until September
 
- The government accused demonstrators during  demonstrations of having a "foreign agenda," (Iran) and  suspended its flights to and from Lebanon a day after it warned its nationals not to travel there following declarations of support by Iranian-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah for protests by Bahrain's Shi'ite.
 
3. Key Issues
 
Protesters initially took to the streets of Manama to demand political liberties and reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. But some are now calling for the removal of the royal family, which has led the Persian Gulf state since the 18th century.
Young members of the country's Shiite Muslim majority have staged protests in recent years to complain about discrimination, unemployment and corruption, issues they say the country's Sunni rulers have done little to address. The majority of Bahrainis are Shiites but the island, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, is ruled by the US-backed Al-Khalifa family, who are Sunnis.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights said authorities launched a clampdown on dissent in 2010. It accused the government of torturing human rights activists.
 
4. EU / Bahrain Relations
 
EP/EU Reactions to Protests: The EP passed a Resolution on the 27 th October 2011, 7th July  and on 7 April 2011.
 
The EU established bilateral relations with the GCC countries through a Cooperation Agreement signed in 1988.
 
The EU is Bahrain's most important trade partner (9.8%/ all Trade, 2010). Bahrain mostly exports manufactured goods classified chiefly by material and imports mostly Machinery and transport equipment from the EU.

5. Like Minded Partners
 
A. Sister party and/or progressive counterpart
 
Political parties are illegal in Bahrain. From the former Communist Left to the Islamist Right sit in parliament in Bahrain, but are known technically as Political Associations or Blocs. 
Updated: 18.1.12