A former UK Middle East minister has been accused of breaching transparency rules over a paid advisory role with a Bahraini centre linked to the Gulf state’s government. Conservative peer Tariq Ahmad, who denies wrongdoing, was cleared by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) to take up the position as a paid adviser to the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence (KHC), which is supervised by Bahrain’s foreign ministry.
Documents uncovered by human rights activists appear to show Ahmad had official contact with the centre while in office between 2017 and 2025, contrary to his statement to Acoba that he had no such dealings. Photographs from February 2022 show him at the KHC alongside the British ambassador, and Bahraini media reported he praised the centre’s programmes. A Freedom of Information request confirmed the KHC was on his official itinerary. In February 2023, he met the vice-chair of the centre and was quoted saying cooperation would continue.
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) has filed a formal complaint to Acoba, arguing the risk was not low given the evidence of contacts. Bird’s advocacy director, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, said it was “morally indefensible” to accept the role and called for Ahmad to step aside. Human Rights Watch reports have documented Bahrain’s suppression of political opposition and use of torture.
In a statement, Ahmad said: “I have acted in accordance with the requirements and processes of the Acoba process, and my appointment is as declared in my register of interests.” He believes the Acoba process was thorough and the Foreign Office was fully consulted. An Acoba spokesperson said the committee does not comment on individual cases, but Bird has called for an urgent review.
