Limiting the issuance of a letter of offer with respect to a certain proposed sale of defense articles and…

Prohibits issuance of a letter of offer with respect to certain defense article and service sales to the Kingdom of Bahrain unless the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the government of Bahrain: (1) is investigating and prosecuting persons responsible for the killing, torture, detention, and other human rights violations committed since February 2011; (2) has ceased torture and other inhumane treatment in its detention facilities; (3) is protecting and rebuilding destroyed Shi'a mosques and religious sites; (4) has redrawn the districts of the Council of Representatives (Majlis an-nuwab) in a proportional manner; (5) has lifted government employment restrictions on grounds such as religion and political opinion; (6) is protecting the right of all individuals to peacefully exercise their right to freedom of expression, political opinion, and assembly, and has released and withdrawn criminal charges against all individuals who were peacefully exercising such rights; (7) is implementing the Bahrain Commission of Inquiry's human rights recommendations; and (8) has undertaken a dialogue which is producing substantive reform recommendations that meet the democratic aspirations of Bahrain's citizens.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov