Members of the Grand Bahama Human Rights organization has filed a petition with the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) stating that they fear their lives are in danger because of their political advocacy.

According to the petition filed by Fred Smith, Francisco Nunez, Joseph Darville, Kirkland Bodie and Romauld Ferreira some of the members have reportedly fled The Bahamas.

On Sunday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials responded to the petition filed on September 27, which was received by the Permanent Mission of The Bahamas to the Organization of American States.

“It is a truism that highly visible and voluble civic engagement is a hallmark in every era of open, democratic society. The instant Petition relies upon claims that are repugnant to the legal and cultural constitution of the way of life in The Bahamas.

“As the Government of The Bahamas takes seriously any complaint of violation of Human Rights, an investigation of the allegations has therefore been launched by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and is being carried out with dispatch,” officials said in a statement.

“Civic engagement by the general public, and by the petitioners in their political advocacy, is in the governance and institutional life of The Bahamas a natural, unfettered element in the identity of The Bahamas as a modern, open democracy.”

Officials said the findings in this matter are to be reported in the coming days in the government’s full reply to the IACHR.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration will continue to inform the public of the developments in, and resolution of, this matter,” officials said.