To: STATE EDITORS

Contact: Ali Al-Ahmed for Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, +1-202-460-4050

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following letter by Reps. Frank R. Wolf, James P. McGovern and Trent Franks is being redistributed today by Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain:

Dear Colleague,

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom for a briefing on the "Impact of Political Reform on Religious Freedom in Bahrain." The briefing, chaired by Rep. Frank Wolf, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 15, in 2168 Rayburn. It is open to the public.

This past June, Bahrain successfully completed its Universal Periodic Review for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Despite approval by the Council, concern still looms regarding Bahrain's commitment to human rights and religious freedom. Despite reforms decreed by King Shaikh Hamad bin 'Isa Al Khalifa in 2001-02, Human Rights Watch criticized new laws containing provisions that undermine human rights and the reform measures. Journalists also have questioned the government's sincerity as intra-religious political and social tensions continue to rise.

While Bahrain has been referred to as a model of democracy and reform in the Arab region, the majority Shiite population feel increasingly marginalized by the ruling Sunni minority. According to the U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report for 2008, government discrimination against Shiites has been found in certain areas, including the allocation of land for places of worship. The report also indicates that Shiites are underrepresented in the Ministry of Education, whereas Sunnis often receive preference for government employment, managerial rankings in the civil service, and in the military.

The president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), which documents religious freedom concerns in the country, was arrested in February. Later released, he spoke out against human rights abuses by the Bahraini government at the Universal Periodic Review session on Bahrain in Geneva; the BCHR now fears for his safety. Human rights advocates also have questioned the substantial population growth, reportedly 41 percent by government statistics, as rumors spread that the government is granting passports to Sunnis from other countries to increase their representation within Bahrain and force the Shiites into the minority.

Joining us to address these issues are experts from Bahrain including Nabeel Ahmed Rajab, founder and acting chairman of the BCHR; Dr. Abduljaleel Al Singace, assistant professor at the University of Bahrain and co-founder of the Al-Wefaq political society; Maryam Al Khawaja, former leader of the student organization AIESEC-Bahrain, and Dr. Toby Jones, assistant professor at Rutgers University and former contributor to the International Crisis Group reports on Bahrain.

Sincerely,

Frank R. Wolf

Member of Congress

James P. McGovern

Member of Congress

Trent Franks

Member of Congress

SOURCE Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain

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