Manama, Dec. 27 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has lauded the Bahraini competencies in the field of human rights, and their crucial role in defending the kingdom and countering attempts to smear its bright image and honorable human rights record.

HRH Premier voiced the stances as he received at the Gudaibiya Palace today the Member of the Shura Council and Chairman of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) Dr. Abdulaziz Abul, alongside NIHR Board of Directors’ members, who submitted to him the annual NIHR report for 2014.

HRH the Prime Minister lauded the role played by the NIHR in consolidating and protecting human rights in the kingdom, commending its efforts in compiling its annual report which documents the human rights developments and achievements in the kingdom.

The Kingdom of Bahrain boasts of an outstanding human rights record based on modern and advanced constitutional and legal texts and principles, which reflects the co-existence, fraternity and pluralism prevailing in the Bahraini society within a comprehensive framework based on tradition and the precepts of the Islamic religion, HRH Premier said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the human rights topped the government’s development programmes, noting that fulfilling the citizens’ needs, preserving their dignity and ensuring their right to secure and decent life are the cornerstones of all development efforts witnessed by the kingdom in all fields.

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BNA 1503 GMT 2015/12/27