Bahrain Demands Suspension of Trainee Bahraini Pilots from UK Flying School after Anti-Regime London Protest

Local Editor

The Gatwick-based Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA) suspended seven Bahraini trainee airline pilots after they attended a peaceful London demonstration, protesting the Bahraini government's violent practices on their people.

The aviation lessons were canceled after a request by the Bahraini authorities, who demanded the seven Bahraini trainees to go back home and face questioning in this matter.

According to The Guardian newspaper, some said the trainees would prefer staying in the UK, out of fear from arrest and torture. They [the trainees] expressed that the decision of suspending their lessons is a direct consequence of their participation in the protest outside the Bahraini embassy in London, for some 70 other Bahrainis who did not attend the protest were not reached by the decision.

On his part, Founder of the Manchester-based Bahrain Peace and Justice, Yasser Al Sayegh accused the OAA of taking part in endorsing the Bahrain government's attempt to suppress protest.

"The school should be much harder with the government of Bahrain. They should be questioning why the pilots should be suspended. They are putting business before human rights and that is not British values", Al Sayegh stated.