We agree with the Foreign Affairs Committee on the principle that Britain and other countries should take action to censure countries which are abusing the human rights of their citizens and which are not taking action to address these abuses. However, we will argue that Bahrain is not one of these countries.

While we will not dispute that grave errors were made and abuses did take place between February and March 2011 – a period where civil order in Bahrain came close to complete collapse – this period should not be looked at in isolation, without studying the substantive measures which have been taken to put matters right in the 18 months since then.

To summarise; instead of adopting the failed and immoral policy of repression (as we saw in Yemen, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya); once the worst of the civil disturbances were over from mid-March 2011, His Majesty King Hamad embarked on a process of National Dialogue. Furthermore, he commissioned an independent inquiry by a respected international judge (the BICI); he accepted the conclusions and recommendations of that inquiry in full and he launched a series of initiatives to ensure full implementation of those recommendations.

These included a complete overhaul of the justice and security sectors and far-reaching constitutional amendments. Bahrain was thus able to return to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last month and report full implementation of over 90 per cent of the recommendations from Bahrain’s Universal Periodic Review.

A government which has acknowledged its mistakes – the King even apologised for the abuses logged in the BICI report – and is conscientiously acting to put matters right should not be the subject of punitive measures by other states. British Prime Minister David Cameron was right: Bahrain is not Syria.

Bahrain is arguably one of the most progressive states in the Gulf region: We have a constitutional monarchy reforming its way towards a more democratic, accountable and representative system. Visitors will find a tolerant, open and liberal country where the rights of women, minorities and all religions are respected and freedom of expression is at the centre of its constitution.

In short, Bahrain deserves Britain’s solidarity and support in addressing its shortcomings. We welcome the fact that as a friendly nation the British government has on occasions voiced its concerns and Bahrain has been able to address these concerns in the context of a constructive and warm relationship. We welcome the fact that Britain has broadly eschewed the policy of finger-wagging and carrot-and-stick, or the policy of threats and boycotts which certain MPs seem to be advocating. This is not the way to act towards a friendly sovereign nation which is doing its utmost to act in the interest of its citizens and the international community.

Boycotting an event like the Grand Prix – an event which gives us great national pride and brings revenue, visitors and global attention to our country would be a disaster for Bahrain. Just because the British government has taken a particular position regarding particular football events in the Ukraine, does not mean that Britain should countenance using such a blunt policy tool in all circumstances, regardless of the effects on the people and the economy of that country.

We are aware that opposition groups, often labelling themselves as human rights activists have been continually harassing British MPs, politicians and civil servants with exaggerated and incorrect allegations. We ask Britain to continue to listen to all sides of the story and to act in the interests of all Bahrainis, not an extremist minority.

Bahraini citizens