The ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa’s acceptance has given the Queen a political headache as human rights groups are to voice their anger over her decision to extend an invitation to a despot who has been brutally suppressing pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain for more than a year now.
While some were hopeful that the Bahraini ruler would turn the Queen’s invitation down so that she would be able to escape embarrassment, reports confirmed that the Bahraini despot has formally accepted the invitation, reported The Mail on Sunday.
“The King of Bahrain has accepted the Queen’s invitation to lunch on May 18 and is therefore expected,” the newspaper quoted a source.
It is also reported that the king of Bahrain was invited to a champagne dinner to be hosted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II has been the longest-living monarch in Britain and is the second-longest reigning British monarch after Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year marks her 60th year on the throne.
A report published in November last year by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry revealed that the Al-Khalifa regime in Bahrain systematically tortured protesters and committed human rights violations.
Meanwhile, media reports say Britain sold more than £1m worth of rifles and military equipment to the al-Khalifa regime over the past year.
ISH/JR/HE
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