By IRNA,
London : The British government has again called on Bahrain to respect the right to peaceful protest.
The call followed the reports that some of Bahraini students have been put under pressure in the UK for attending a demonstration in solidarity with their country’s pro-democracy movement.
The Foreign Office said it was aware of the actions of Bahraini citizens living in the UK campaigning against the regime and said they had a right to voice their concerns without intimidation or retaliation.
‘We have made clear to the Bahraini government that, unless these individuals commit a criminal offence in the UK, they will be free to carry out their activities in line with UK laws,’ Foreign Office spokesman said.
Students told the Guardian last week that Bahraini authorities had stripped government-funded scholarships from those who attended a peaceful protest in March outside the BBC in Manchester, north-west England and told parents to order their children home.
Students reportedly had ‘strong and well-founded’ fears they and their families could suffer beatings and torture following Bahrain’s crackdown on the protests 3,000 miles away and they were likely to be arrested on their return.
‘We continue to urge the government of Bahrain to respect the right to peaceful protest and respond to the legitimate concerns of the Bahraini people. It is also vital that those protesting respect law and order and refrain from intimidating and provocative acts,’ the Foreign Office said.
At least nine Bahraini students studying in Manchester, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Reading and London have complained that their £850 a month subsistence grants have been cut and have been told their tuition payments also would be axed that could render them homeless.
The Bahraini embassy in London declined to comment on the claims of government’s sanctions against students. Inquiries about the withdrawal of scholarships have been forwarded to the cultural attache, who, according to the Guardian has not replied.