Bahrain

By Dave Lindorff

In one of the most damning developments for Alkhalifa regime The European Parliament on Thursday 12th September issued a long and powerful resolution on the human rights in Bahrain. The resolution listed a long series of human rights crimes including the attacks on children, women, journalists, the banning of the the Special Rapporteur on Torture, the new draconian laws issued by the ruling family and rubber-stamp[ed by Hamad’s council, the repeal of nationalities of Bahrainis, the banning of foreign human rights bodies and journalists, the various repressive laws on terrorism and the continued imprisonment of political leaders, women and human rights activists. The regime’s attempts to deceive the world by establishing various human rights bodies have not fooled the world which is aware of the tactics by dictators to deflect the attention from their torture and other forms of human rights abuses. The document is one of the most powerful international indictments against the Alkhalifa rulers. It has proven the futility of the regime’s deceptive tactics and the hopeless performance of its “human rights” bodies, officials and the minister himself.

One more martyr fell in the battle of dignity. Mohammad Abdul Jalil Yousuf, 20, passed away as he was doing his duty, fending off attacks by the Alkhalifa militias and Death Squads in the town of Karbabad. He was blocking the road to stop the enemy forces from raiding people’s homes, terrorising its people and destroying their property.

In London anti-arms campaigners protested against the sale of lethal arms to the Alkhalifa rulers. From Sunday 8th September the exhibition halls of Excel Exhibition Centre at the Docklands in East London were picketed by hundreds of peace campaigners who blockaded the entrances and impeded the movement into and out of Exhibition halls. Bahrainis also took part raising their flags and chanting anti-regime slogans. Jalal Fairooz, former MP from Al Wefaq block, addressed the rally expressing dismay at the invitation of Bahraini officials to this major defence exhibition. Police arrested scores of protesters after trying to evict them from the path of the incoming vehicles. Many campaigners presented images of barbaric acts by Alkhalifa and Saudi regimes against their own people. The killing last week of Ahmad Al Muslab by Saudi forces has infuriated the public who rushed to the streets in an expression of solidarity. Bahrainis also took part in anti-arms protest outside Parliam ent on Thursday. Jeremy Corbyn, MP, talked about the grim situation in Bahrain and called for arms embargo against the Alkhalifa dictatorship.

 In a joint operation by the militia and the mercenary forces of Bahrain’s Alkhalifa regime, a young Bahraini athlete has been kidnapped and taken to an unknown place. Ammar Hassan Mansoor, 20, the handball player of Al Ittifaq Club, was taken away during a raid on his house in the early hours of Tuesday 10th September. The militias attacked the house without legal permission or arrest warrant. The family of this young Bahraini have expressed deep concern about his fate. Nothing has been heard of him since his disappearance.

Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action in relation to the detention and torture of a Bahraini child by the Alkhlaifa regime. Under the heading “Child tortured in detention in Bahrain” it said:Bahraini boy aged 14, Ali Hatem Ali Salman, was arrested on 26 August 2013 and reportedly tortured and otherwise ill-treated during interrogation to “confess” to rioting. On 3 September the Juvenile Prosecution extended his detention for another week. AI has called for the immediate release of the child and urged its members to write to the authorities asking for his release.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
13th September 2013

As the daily protests sweep across Bahrain, the regime’s brutal forces have intensified their immoral attacks on civilians. Of particular concern is the detention and torture of the fathers of the martyrs for refusing to accept to sell their sons’ blood cheaply. On 22nd August, Abdul Hadi Mushaima, the father of the first martyr of the Revolution, Ali Mushaima’, was arrested by Alkhalifa torturers from his home at Daih Town. Also Ahmad Al Mawail, the father of Yousuf Al Mawali, who was tortured to death in January 2012, was detained on 23rd August.  He was taken to an unknown destination. The two have spearheaded the calls for action against those who had tortured their sons to death.

The plight of Bahraini women prisoners have come to light in some tweets by their relatives or human rights activists. It paints harrowing pictures of Alkhalifa torture dungeons, with freedom to torture, abuse and snatch victims at will. Yousuf Al Mahafdha highlighted the agony of a young Bahraini female activist, Zahra Al Sheikh, 23 years, who has spent several months in hiding fearing for her life after she had been summoned for another round of torture. She was detained last year and her experience is highlighted by the Al Mahafdha’ tweets. She had been beaten up severely on various parts of her body, pictured as she was strip-naked and had toilet brush cleaner stuffed in her mouth. After her release she attempted to register at the University but was sentenced to one year in prison for trumpeted charges. Having experienced the horrors of the dungeons, Zahra went into hiding where she has remained for the past six months. Another experience of women behind bars is th at of Zainab Al Khawaja, detained for criticising Alkhalifa dictatorship. Her mother, Khadija Al Mousawi, wife of the internantionally-renouned human rights activis, spoke of her agony at what her eldest daughter, Zainab, is going through behind bars. In her first visit for six months, Zainab narrated harrowing details of how female prisoners are abused and denied the most basic of rights.

These facts have, themselves, become major hindrance in the way of any attempt by Alkhalifa to gain any form of popular legitimacy. Despite the recent reverses in the political democratic experience, Bahrainis will never again embrace the Alkhailfa as rulers. The ill-treatment of Bahraini prisoners is of such magnitude that all threads between Bahrainis and Alkhalifa have been severed. The status quo may continue but no reconciliation is possible without full power returned to the people. This is made worse by the continuing crackdown against Bahraini people and residential areas.

Today, the father of the first martyr of the Revolution was snatched from his home by hooded members of Alkhalifa-run Death Squads. Earlier this year, Jawad Al Sheikh, the father of Ali Al Sheikh who was killed on Eid Day two years ago, was detained for 50 days for demanding that his son’s killers be brought to justice. Many Bahrainis have been snatched from their homes or the streets and taken to secret locations where they are subjected to severe forms of torture. This morning nine people from Muharraq were detained; Abdulla Al Sayegh, Yousuf Zainal, Ashraf Ghuloom, Omran Amiri, Hassan Al Sakran, Mahdi Kalzaman, Hassan Al Sayegh and Moosa Al Hayki. Many houses were raided over the past week. In Juffair, Nu’aim and Sitra properties were damaged and children horrified.

Protests and demonstrations have continued unabated despite the horrific actions by the regime’s terror machine. Manama was the scene of a protest in which tens of people took part today. Other places also witnessed protests including Daih Town. Tomorrow, there will be large protest by the political societies demanding real change in the country.

Yesterday, 21st August, The Bahrain team at Amnesty International, issued an Urgent Action on behalf of Nafeesa al-‘Asfoor, a mother-of-two, who was arrested along with Rayhana al-Mousawi on 20 April as they were peacefully protesting near the Formula One Grand Prix circuit in Manama. They are both to be tried, have been tortured and Nafeesa al-'Asfoor is being denied the medical care she requires. The team urged people to write to the authorities calling for providing the two women with adequate medical treatment, release them immediately and arrange for impartial investigation into allegations of torture and other forms of abuse.

Bahrainis were grateful to Janet Salmon, is a consultant, writer and activist, who wrote to the Guardian yesterday about the situation in Bahrain. She said: In all the coverage of David Miranda's detention for nine hours at Heathrow, there was no mention of the journalists detained in Bahrain before the banned 14 August independence day marches. Among them was Mohammad Hassan Sudayf, a blogger who helped foreign journalists. He was arrested on 31 July, tortured and detained for 45 days. His lawyer, Abdul Aziz Moussa, who commented on the torture after seeing him on 8 August, was sentenced to seven days and his licence may be withdrawn.

A photographer, Hussain Hubail, was picked up separately at Manama airport on 31 July, leaving for Dubai. He was tortured and also detained for 45 days. So while I have sympathy for the Brazilian, I would like to see the Guardian and other international papers support the Bahrainis who have put their lives at risk to get out the news. Attacks on a free press are important, whether they are westerners or Arabs, but the latter tend to get ignored.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
22nd August 2013

The Day of Tamarrud (Rebellion) yesterday was a success by all measures. It has confirmed people’s power to challenge the Alkhalifa hereditary dictatorship and sent a clear message to the world that Bahraini people would not give up their demands to self-determination and choice of their own system of government. The outdated family rule is antiquated, reactionary and ruthless. It must be stamped out. The day started with a general strike that closed most of the shops and retail outlets in the country. Tens of local protests erupted in towns and villages where the revolutionary youth braved the regime’s onslaught against Bahrainis and demonstrated in their subtle ways. They were attacked with chemical and tear gases but were not deterred from calling for the fall of the Alkhalifa regime. In the afternoon the country remained at a standstill as more protests and sit ins outside homes. By nightfall running battles continued between the peaceful protesters and the fo reign-staffed riot police and Death Squads. A strong message was made by the people who have established the most serious, longest and peaceful Revolution in the Arab world.

Bahraini revolutionaries expressed outrage and disgust at the massacre committed by the Egyptian generals in which hundreds of peaceful protesters at Rabi’a Al Adawiya and other locations were killed by the army as it tried to break up their encampment outside the mosque. For Bahrainis it is a painful reminder of what had befallen their peaceful protest and encampment on 16th March 2011 at the Pearl Roundabout. The Saudi-backed Alkhalifa army and police deployed their forces to prevent any peaceful protest. They were encouraged by the bloody massacre committed by the Egyptian army. The BFM has repeated its assertion that either all Revolutions would succeed or all would fail. The abandonment of the Bahraini Revolution by the post-Revolution regimes in other countries encouraged the Counter-Revolution forces to commit their atrocities in Egypt and plan others in Tunisia.

The on-going crackdown by Alkhalifa against activists has continued. Hundreds have been arrested in the weeks preceding the Day of Tamarrud. Collective punishment was meted on the towns and villages of the natives. Amnesty International warned the regime not to pursue the policy of violence against peaceful demonstrators. In a statement issued on 13th August it said: “The people of Bahrain have the right to express their views freely and to protest peacefully without the threat of violence,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International. It further added: “ It further added: “For years the authorities in Bahrain have shamelessly sought to stifle freedom of expression, taking increasingly drastic steps to stamp out dissent with complete disregard for international law.” AI gave shocking examples of the pre-emptive arrests, detentions and ill-treatment of Bahrainis.

On 9th August, Amnesty had also issued an Urgent Action on the case of an active blogger and photographer detained for expressing their opinion. The statement said:

“Bahraini blogger and translator Mohammad Hassan Sudayf and photographer Hussain Hubail have reportedly been tortured or otherwise ill-treated. Mohammad Hassan Sudayf’s lawyer was arrested on 7 August for tweets saying that he had seen torture marks on his client and revealing the charges both men face. AI urged its members to write to the Bahraini authorities to release these bloggers and not to punish them for expressing their opinion.

In addition to the people’s activism in Bahrain, there were several other protests in other places. In London the Bahraini Opposition Bloc organised protests outside the Saudi Embassy on Monday 12th August. A Press Conference was held on Tuesday 13th chaired by Lord Avebury and addressed by several speakers. Another protest was held outside the Bahraini Embassy in Belgrave Square. This was followed by a march to Downing Street to protest the proposed sale of Typhoon aircrafts to Bahrain.

In Brussels Several Belgian peace activists staged a protest outside the Bahraini Embassy in support of Bahraini people’s Revolution. They raised a banner saying “We don’t want Alkhalifa Mafia”.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
16th August 2013

As the Day of Tamarrud (rebellion) approaches the Alkhalifa regime becomes more frustrated, aggressive and disoriented. The latest of its irrational and illegitimate acts is the dictator’s decree to punish those who take part in peaceful protests. One day after meeting David Cameron in London (on Wednesday), dictator Hamad Alkhalifa announced more draconian measures to deter Bahrainis from protesting against his rule, vowing to withdraw the Bahraini nationality from those who take part in those protests or their fathers if they are under-aged. The ruling Alkhalifa dynasty is alien to Bahrain. They had occupied the land in 1783 by force and have never integrated with the rest of the society. The use of Nationality as a weapon is an indication of their inferiority complex being foreign invaders occupying other people’s land.

The atmosphere in the country is sombre as the dynastic Alkhalifa regime intensifies its repression and imposes wide ranging human rights abuses. With clear footage of security officers throwing under-age boys from rooftops into police vehicles, the sweeping arrests of bloggers, vivid images of scarred victims at court rooms and the silence of the world community is deafening. Among the particularly worrying signs are what appears to be connivance by certain Western governments in Alkhalifa repressive policies and the continued embracing of officials accused of crimes against humanity. The en-masse trials of Bahraini youth for taking part in anti-regime protests indicate a system out of touch with its own obligations under international law.

Human Rights Watch has condemned these laws. In a statement released today it said: “Bahrain has spent the last two years cracking down on peaceful protest, violating people’s rights from start to finish. Now it’s planning a whole new set of draconian restrictions, effectively creating a new state of emergency, even while peaceful protesters from the last round are sitting in prison with long sentences.” It further added: “The Bahrain parliament’s call at an extraordinary meeting on July 28, 2013, to impose a series of emergency measures will severely restrict basic rights. The action would give the authorities excessive powers to act arbitrarily to restrict such rights as freedom of assembly and speech.”

On Thursday 31st August, Amnesty International (AI) published a statement on Bahrain titled: New anti-terrorism powers would pose further risk to human rights. It said: “Since February 2011 when large anti-government protests started the human rights situation in Bahrain has deteriorated sharply. Scores of opposition activists were arrested and tried before military courts. Many were tortured. Some, including 13 prominent figures, are serving lengthy sentences of up to life. Dozens of people died, including from torture, but mainly as a result of unnecessary and excessive use of force during protests. Human rights activists have been jailed for their work.” Amnesty International warns against the imminent adoption of proposed amendments by the Bahraini authorities to the anti-terrorism legislation as it will lead to further violations of Bahrain’s international human rights obligations.

These laws and others have led to a crackdown on bloggers. On Wednesday 31st July security forces raided the house of a known blogger, Mohammad Hassan (also known as Safi) and arrested him. In the evening of the same day a known photographer, Hussain Hubail disappeared from the airport as he was leaving the country. In his last call he said: I am surrounded by police, they may arrest me”. His family said they did not know what happened to him. In the past year, at least 11 people have been imprisoned and charged with insulting the King on Twitter, according to media reports. They have been sentenced to periods ranging from 1-12 months for violating Article 214 of the Penal Code, which proscribes offending the King. These are: Abdullah Al-Hashemi, Salman Darwish, Ali Mohamed Watheqi, Ali Al-Haiki, Hassan Abdali Isa, Mohsen Abdali Isa, Ammar Makki, Mohammed Al-Aali, Mahmood Abdul-Majeed Abdulla Al-Jamri, Mahdi Ebrahim Al-Basri and Ali Faisal Al-Shufa.

Amnesty International, meanwhile, issued a statement on Wednesday 31st July appealing for two health professionals in custody. It called on the Bahraini authorities to release the two health professionals immediately and unconditionally, as they are detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly -- as such are prisoners of conscience. Dr ‘Ali ’Issa Mansoor al-'Ekri and Ebrahim ‘Abdullah Ebrahim al- Dumestani have been in detention since early October 2012, prior to which they had been free on bail. They are serving prison sentences of five and three years respectively after the Court of Cassation upheld their convictions and sentences on 1 October 2012. Dr ‘Ali al-Ekri and Ebrahim al-Demstani were among dozens of Bahraini health professionals who were arrested in 2011 following widespread anti-government protests which started on 14 February that year. They were accused of direct involvement in the anti-gov ernment activities. They were first tried and sentenced by a military court before their case was transferred to a civilian court.

These developments are coinciding with unprecedented campaign of repression against Bahraini people who are preparing to re-invigorate the Revolution on 14th August. Under the name “Tamarrud” (rebellion) the country is expected to rise against Alkhalifa hereditary dictatorship to mark the day of independence from UK in 1971. Hundreds of people have been rounded up and many have been injured by the security forces. One of them is Sadiq Sabt, from Sehla Town who was yesterday run over by one of the police vehicles and is in serious condition.

On 29th July another martyr was killed in police custody. Ali Mansoor was killed within hours after his arrest from his home at Malikiya Town.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
1st August 2013

The past few days have witnessed one of harshest campaigns, collective punishment and en-mass trials in the country. Scores were kidnapped from their homes, offices or the street, taken to torture chambers and subjected to most horrific treatment. The towns of Samaheej, Duraz, Sitra, Karzakkan and others were raided by armed security men and hooded militias to induce fear in the hearts of Bahrainis. Those detained suffered great deals of torture to the extent that the regime’s torture personnel have denied that they had arrested some of them, leading to fears that some prisoners may have perished in the torture chambers. This campaign of state-terrorism started at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadhan to disorientate the people and divert them from the path of worship and struggle.

At the same time the Alkhalifa kangaroo courts resumed their sessions to send more Bahrainis to prison on trumpeted charges. On Thursday 25th July scores of Bahrainis were brought into these courts only to be humiliated by the Alkhalifa judges. Among them was Raihana Al Mousawi, one of two women arrested during the Formula 1 race in April. At her last appearance two weeks ago she told the court that she had been subjected to torture, abused and stripped off her clothes. The judge refused to document her torture complaints and failed to take any action to investigate these heinous crimes.

The group which is being tried is accused of being members of the 14th February Coalition. Among those present were Jihad Mohammad Ali and Ali Habib who were limping as they entered the court room due to the severe torture they had endured. A third person was Abd Ali Al Singace whose hand and neck had wrappings indicating the extent of torture. The fourth was Naji Fateel who had removed his shirt in the last session to expose the horrific wounds due to severe beating and hanging from the hands and legs. Another person was Hamid Al Safi who became furious when he saw Raihana Al Mousawi at the court again after her first ordeal two weeks ago. The judge ordered his removal from the court. Three others were also brought; Jaffar Al Jamri, Mohammad Ali Ashoor and Abd Ali Mohammad Khair. The Bahraini patriots started detailing their torture ordeals , but the judge kept interrupting them and asking them to stop talking. The ruling family had prevented a representative of Front Line D efenders and a Bahraini human rights activist, Mohammad Al Masqati from attending in order to keep the lid on those tales of horror. The session was abruptly brought to an end when the defence team refused the presence of one of the Alkhalifa members and the son of a prominent regime’s crony as judges. The families of the Bahraini victims were not allowed into the court room.

A Bahraini young man, Salman Ahmad Al Nakal, was arrested on Wednesday 24th July on the causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He was taken to an unknown location and nothing has been heard of him since.

The hopes of those who had been relentlessly promoting the Alkhalifa crown prince that he may lead a reconciliation process were dashed in the past two days after he uttered statements that exposed his real nature and that he is no more reformist than the rest of his family members. While visiting the house of one prominent people he called on the Bahrainis to apologise to the his family for calling for their natural and legitimate rights. He insisted that the victims of his family’s state terrorism stop their political campaigns and ask for forgiveness from those who have been abusing and torturing them. The people reacted in fury to those comments that were ill-placed and ill-advised. If anything, those words have exposed the reality of his personality and that he is not different from the rest of the Alkhalifa thugs. Those remarks came only a few days after he had met with the military and security personnel and thanked them for the crimes they are committing on dail y basis against Bahrainis. If this is the kind of man the Western allies have in mind to lead what they perceive as “reconciliation” process, then the whole exercise has exposed its futility and failure.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
26th July 2013

A citizen was martyred on Sunday 14th July as a result of inhaling excessive amounts of chemical gases used by regime’s forces. Hajj Saeed Abdulla Al Marzooq, 55, from Duraz Town was in an area which was bombarded with large amounts of killer gases to subdue the people who seek political change in the country. He collapsed and his life could not be saved as the gases had managed to destroy his internal organs.

In continuation of the repressive policies and terrorizing tactics, several Bahrainis have been kidnapped by members of regime’s Death Squads.  Two youth from the town of Al Ma’amir were snatched by those forces and nothing has yet been disclosed about their well being or their whereabouts. On Tuesday 16th July, Abdulla Al Qassas and Mohammad Eid were taken to an unknown location by members of Death Squads. One week earlier, Dhaif Abdul Nabi was also kidnapped by those forces from his home town of Sitra. Sayed Saeed, the father of one of the young martyrs, Sayed Hashim (martyred January 2012) from Sitra has also been abducted. The people of Sitra staged several protests demanding his release or disclosing his whereabouts, but the Alkhalifa have refused.  

On Wednesday night, 17th July, a gas cylinder placed in a car at a mosque car park exploded causing loud noise in the vicinity. The regime was the first to announce it and blamed the opposition for it. But its claim was ridiculed by the opposition many of whom believe that the regime had planned this incident to justify more crackdown against the people of Bahrain. The cylinder was allegedly placed near a Sunni mosque where people were attending prayers. It was clear from the moment of the explosion that the aim was to create the atmosphere for more sectarian strife after it had become clear that both Shia and Sunni Bahrainis were calling for serious political reforms. Two weeks ago a Sunni Muslim group presented a set of steps that would see the longest serving prime minister in the world, go unceremoniously. The Alkhalifa have all along been worried by the revival of a nation-wide awareness that could culminate in collective challenge to Alkhalifa hereditary dictatorship. T he explosion is clearly meant to forestall any attempt of political reconciliation between the two major components of the Bahraini society; the Shia and Sunni Muslims. As the opposition condemned the dirty plot by Alkhalifa, it also challenged the dictator to stop killing Bahrainis, and bring to trial torturers and abusers.

On Monday 15th July The Times newspaper published a story titled “Bahrain; torture double standard”. It said: “Britain has been accused of operating “double standards” for turning a blind eye to human rights violations in Bahrain, while taking a much tougher stance with some other countries in the region. Nazeeha Saeed, a Bahraini journalist who was detained and tortured by her own Government, said that it was time the international community took stock of the human rights abuses going on there. The article added: “People think that the UK and the international community have been soft regarding violations of human rights and of freedom of speech …They say that they are ‘concerned’ about what’s going on but they don’t help the people there get justice. It’s double standards,” she said.

On Tuesday 16th July the Washington-based CATO Institute published an article on its website by Ted Gallen Carpenter titled “Bahrain Emerging as Washington’s Next Middle East Crisis”. It said: “The Obama administration, already preoccupied with the unpleasant developments in Syria and Egypt, may soon be facing a new crisis in the small Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain.  If violence in that country continues to grow, it will have a more immediate and significant impact on Washington’s role in the region…   There is little doubt that Bahrain’s political environment is increasingly volatile.  The country is on the front lines of the Sunni-Shiite struggle for dominance in the Middle East.  The Sunni monarchy of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa rules a population that is nearly 70 percent Shiite, and stark discrimination against the latter is evident in nearly every aspect of life. It further added: “Despite that crackdown, though, insurgents might well have toppled the monarchy if Saudi  Arabia and its Gulf allies had not intervened with 2,000 troops in March 2011.”  The article quoted Frederic Wehrey, a scholar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who noted in his important study on Bahrain that “the United States finds itself in the undesirable position of maintaining close ties with a repressive regime that has skillfully avoided meaningful reforms… .”

Bahrain Freedom Movement
19th July 2103

The military coup in Egypt has shocked those who aspire for democratic change in the Arab world and bring the Arab Spring to fruition. While accepting that the Muslim Brotherhood and President Morsi may have gradually become incumbent, other constitutional means, than the military takeover, must have been utilized to achieve political change within the constitutional framework. The military has always been linked to absence of rule of law and the marginalization of people’s participation in running their own affairs. While acknowledging the shortcomings of the elected regime, the military junta has been at the core of Egypt’s problems in the past five decades and cannot be allowed to replace the role of the Constitution. The Muslim Brotherhood have clearly been unable to form a strong leadership, create trust among the people or take real and strong action when needed.

Pressure is mounting on the European countries to abandon the policy of appeasing Gulf dictators, call for democratic change in that region and stand firm on the issue of human rights. This has come to light as the foreign ministers of these countries are preparing to go to Bahrain for the EU-GCC annual meeting in Manama this weekend. The silence by the EU on the crimes committed especially by the regime of the host country has been condemned by Bahraini human rights activists and their Western sympathizers. In the past two weeks activists from human rights bodies have travelled to Brussels to lobby for a humane stands by the EU delegations. They were urged not to shake hands with Alkhalifa torturers and those who have spearheaded the policies of hate and sectarianism like the foreign minister and the crown prince. Both are seen by Bahrainis as instrumental in what had befallen them in the past two years despite the Western attempts to present the latter as a “moderate& rdquo;.

The calls on the EU to take a pro-active stand in support of the pro-democracy movement and its leaders were also raised in several meetings and seminars held in London in the past few days to mark the International Day in Support of Torture Victims. Redress, the London-based body which supports torture victims, organized a seminar on Monday 24th June to highlight the policies of torture in Bahrain. Several speakers took part in the seminar including the Bahrainis people’s delegation consisting families and lawyers of those victims. Farida Ghulam, wife of the jailed liberal leader Ibrahim Sharif, Khadija Al Mousawi, wife of Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, Maryam Abu Deeb, daughter of Headteacher Mahdi Abu Deeb and Lawyer Mohammad Al Tajir, narrated details of the torture inflicted on their beloved ones. The audience was horrified by the crimes committed by Alkhalifa regime at the torture dungeons, especially those built in the basement of the National Security Agency (NSA).&nbsp ; On Tuesday 25th June, Human Rights Watch held a landmark seminar at their London office which was addressed by its Middle East Director, Joe Stork and the Bahraini people’s delegation. Mr Stork who has been working on Bahrain for more than two decades raised several points; Europe must act to curtail the Bahraini regime’s excessive violations of human rights, policy of impunity must be challenged head on, the Bahrain’s 13 (leaders of the 14th February Revolution) must be immediately and unconditionally released. He lambasted Alkhalifa for provoking the nationalities of 31 natives saying: “By doing so the regime has opted to become one of the very few repressive regimes that adopt this policy like Pinochet’s Chile”. 

On Wednesday Lord Avebury, the Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group organized a Press Conference at the House of Lords to mark The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Several speakers, Bahrainis and others, narrated horrific details of the torture inflicted by Alkhalifa on Bahrainis. Lord Avebury urged the UK Government to act in a responsible way against this policy and stop appeasing a regime whose main source of legitimacy to stay in power is the use of “systematic torture” as described by the Alkhalifa-funded Bahrain’s Independent Investigation Commission (BICI).

21st June, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement titled “Human rights record in Bahrain still abysmal - Europe must act” in which it urged EU representatives attending Manama annual meeting with GCC countries to act: “When European Union ministers meet their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council states for a summit in Bahrain on June 30, the dismal state of that island kingdom's human rights record needs to have a prominent place on the agenda. Despite King Hamad's claims of reform, Bahrain is clearly heading down the road of greater repression and the EU ministers should make a point of clearly and publicly saying so.”

A day earlier HRW launched a report titled “Interfere, Restrict, Control… Restraints on Freedom of Association in Bahrain “. This 87-page report examines restrictive laws and policies that stifle civic and political groups and trade unions. The report shows how authorities use unjust laws to restrict freedom of association by arbitrarily rejecting registration applications and intrusively supervising independent organizations. The government takes over and dissolves ­– more or less at will – organizations whose leaders criticize government officials and policies, and severely limits the ability of groups to raise money and to receive foreign funding.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
28th June 2013

http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/6173

Yousif is pictured left, with sign

Nasser and Khalid bin Hamad (Two sons of the king)

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights expresses serious concern about the continued policy of impunity and lack of accountability for those who participate in threats and human rights violations.

On the 16th of June 2013, Bahraini activist Yousif AlHoori protested in Berlin during the “Iron Man Race” in which Nasser bin Hamad and Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa (sons of the King) participated in. According to the information received by the BCHR, Yousif was surrounded by Nasser bin Hamad’s bodyguards, among them was bodybuilder Saeed AlJowhar, who took turns in reportedly beating and kicking AlHoori. Nasser bin Hamad personally reportedly threatened Yousif AlHoori that “he will show him”. TV host Tawfeeq Salhi who was accompanying Nasser bin Hamad, reportedly threatened AlHoori that his family will face retribution in Bahrain. Instead of arresting the bodyguards who physically assaulted AlHoori, German police arrested the activist and released him an hour later.

To add to that, Khalid bin Hamad reportedly threatened other protestors, Hussain Abbas AlKhal and Hussain Hameed, that they would face consequences if they go back to Bahrain.

Both Nasser and Khalid bin Hamad AlKhalifa have several allegations against them of their direct involvement in torturing Bahraini citizens. Given the brothers’ involvement in serious human rights violations the BCHR takes threats made by them very seriously. (Read cases of torture at the hands of Nasser and Khalid bin Hamad: http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4516 and http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5346)

The Bahrain Center for Center for Human Rights holds Nasser bin Hamad completely responsible should anything happen to any of Yousif AlHoori’s family members in Bahrain.

It is with great disappointment that the culture of impunity for Bahraini officials, including members of the Bahraini ruling family extends beyond Bahrain’s borders to countries which claim to respect human rights and accountability. When human rights violators, especially those involved in torture, are permitted to travel freely without any accountability for their crimes despite evidence against them it encourages them to continue and others to do the same.

It is of concern to the BCHR that Nasser and Khalid bin Hamad were allowed to participate in the Berlin “Iron Man Race”, instead of being arrested upon arrival in Germany. Although German police officers witnessed part of the beating of Yousif AlHoori, the officers arrested him instead of providing him with protection.

This is not the first time Nasser bin Hamad has enjoyed impunity in an EU country. In 2012 he attended the London Olympics despite a joint effort by BCHR and ECCHR to deny his visa application, which included the filing of a case against him in the UK courts providing evidence of his involvement in torture (Read: http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4516)

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the Government of Germany and other EU countries to respect their responsibility towards human rights, and to take steps against human rights violators who travel to Germany.

A new “Urgent Action” issued by Amnesty International has highlighted the plight of Hassan Mushaima and Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace , two of the most prominent leaders of Bahrain’s Revolution, calling for their release and demanding that they receive medical treatment. Titled “Jailed activists denied medical treatment” the Urgent Action has been released by the international body which has documented many reports on the serious human rights violations by the Alkhalifa regime in that Bahrain. It said: “Hassan Mshaima’ and Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, two of the 13 jailed prominent Bahraini opposition activists, have been denied urgent medical treatment. They are prisoners of conscience.” It further added: “Since mid-March the prison authorities have insisted that the 13 must wear prison uniform during visits allegedly to humiliate them in front of their families. The 13 have refused to wear the uniform and thus have not been able to see their families. Amnesty International has urged its members to: Urge the Bahraini authorities to provide Hassan Mshaima’ and Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace with any medical attention they may require, including access to regular check-ups in specialised hospitals, to release all 13 opposition activists immediately and unconditionally, since they are prisoners of conscience, convicted solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. It urged the Bahraini authorities to allow them immediate access to their families,, lawyers and to any adequate medical treatment they require.

In another development, Bahraini refugees in Germany have protested against allowing Alkhalifa thugs to pursue Bahraini refugees in their place of refuge. The Bahrainis have been protesting against allowing Nasser bin Hamad, the son of Bahrain’s dictator, who was attending horse racing when Bahraini protesters arrived at the race course, started shouting anti-regime slogans and calling for the arrest of the prince. He had been repeatedly accused of ill-treatment of prisoners, torturing detainees and threatening other Bahrainis who had called for a system based on “one-man-one-vote” system. They pursued Nasser but were stopped by his body guards and hitmen. The German police briefly detained one of the protesters, as calls by Bahraini human rights activists have continued for the arrest of Nasser bin Hamad who is accused of administering torture on prisoners. One of the protesters was set upon by members of the Death Squads accompanying Nasser, kicked and bea ten repeatedly under the eyes of the police.

Meanwhile the Bahraini Opposition Grouping in UK has organized a week-long programme of activities to mark the International Day in support of Torture Victims which falls on 26th June every year. The Grouping is holding a Press Conference on Wednesday 26th June at the House of Lords, a seminar by the Gulf Cultural Club in the evening of that day, another seminar (in Arabic) the following day and a protest outside Downing Street on Saturday 29th June. Also, Redress, which works to rehabilitate torture victims is holding a seminar at which families of the leading figures of the Revolution will tell the stories of torture inflicted on these senior figures in the Alkahlifa dungeons, built under the headquarters of the National Security Agency.

Under the headline “Spying software 'used in Bahrain to track activists” the World News website has recently published the following: “Finspy, UK-developed software that spies on computers and how they're used, has allegedly been sold to Bahrain to monitor pro-democracy campaigners. The Arab Spring exposed more than public anger over social issues. It also shed light on the high-tech tools used by repressive regimes to stifle dissent. In many countries the internet was simply shut down, but now we're learning about more sinister moves. A surveillance program called Finspy, produced by a British company, is just one that sits inside your computer, recording everything you say or write. Now evidence is emerging that the government of Bahrain is using the program to track pro-democracy activities.”

Bahrain Freedom Movement
20th June 2013

In a tragic development the torture inflicted on a young woman has led to miscarriage. Nadia Ali Yousuf Saleh, from Bani Jamra, who has been in detention since 30th May, had a miscarriage earlier this week. The six months woman had been subjected to horrific torture after her arrest and did not receive medical care despite her pains and bleeding. Her husband is also languishing in the Alkhalifa torture chambers for opposing the hereditary dictatorship. She was beaten with her husband shortly after their arrest and was transferred to hospital for a botched up treatment. She was transferred to the regime’s dungeons where she received more ill-treatment that eventually led to her miscarriage. The Alkhalifa have banned the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture from visiting the country for fear that he would expose more crimes committed by the ruler, Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifa and his clique.

“We will remove you, Hamad” was the slogan of the countrywide demonstrations throughout the country in the past two days, in reference to the Bahrain’s dictator. From five points, the demonstrators braved the attacks by the regime’s forces aiming to stop their peaceful marches. They called for the release of the political prisoners and called for the removal of the hereditary dictatorship from power. They also called for swift international actions against the regime’s torturers and those who have destroyed places of worship and targeted the women and children.

On 28th May Sayyed Hadi Sayyed Hameed, 26, from Karzakkan was martyred as a direct result of excessive chemical gas inhalation. He had been affected few days earlier when regime’s forces attacked peaceful demonstrators in the town. His funeral was turned into anti-regime protest with people chanting “Death to Hamad” in reference to the dictator who is wreaking havoc on the country. Sayyed Hameed had been arrested in 2008 and sentenced to three years imprisonment. He was subjected to severe torture while languishing in Alkhalifa torture dungeons. He is a celebrated freedom fighter who spent the best part of his life protesting against the most brutal and reactionary regime in the region.

In one of the most bizarre episodes the Alkhalifa court acquitted the killers of Fadhel Al Matrook who was martyred by police bullets on Tuesday 15th February 2011 (second day of the Revolution). The killer of another martyr, Hani Abdul Aziz, was reduced from seven years to six months. In recent weeks the same courts have sentenced up to 200 Bahrainis for jail terms of up to 15 years imprisonment for peaceful acts such as taking parts in protests, tweeting against the dictator or raising anti-regime slogans. Among these are under-age children.

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has issued an urgent action to stop ill-treatment of children behind bars. It said:  “Reports from Bahrain’s Jaw prison identified some of the youth that were reportedly tortured that day, amongst them two children, Jehad Sadeq and Mustafa Al Muqdad. To conceal what had happened, they were removed from their cells and held in solitary confinement. Jehad was reportedly beaten, cursed and insulted at the time of arrest. He was tried under the internationally criticized terrorism law and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment last month based on confessions extracted under duress.

Mustafa Al Muqdad, 16 years old, was arrested on 19 May 2011 after a house raid at dawn. He was reportedly tortured for two weeks after his arrest. According to the testimony, he was beaten with a plastic cable, deprived from sleep for three days and was forced to stand for days.  He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment at the National Safety court (vis-à-vis the Military court) which was later reduced to three years

In London, several Muslim organizations addressed the British Foreign Secretary asking him to act to stop the relentless attacks by the Bahraini regime against religious scholars. They said:  “We are very alarmed by these actions that the government of Bahrain and their security forces have embarked upon. This runs the real risk of escalating tensions through raising the stakes and agitating the population by targeting their senior religious leader. The forced entry into Ayatullah Qasim's home, as well as the attack on his family during the early hours of the morning, was a deliberate attempt to humiliate the Shia community in Bahrain. This represents a dangerous escalation, crossing a new red line that will have implications beyond just the Kingdom itself. We hope you will take a proactive stance to help in calming the current tensions in Bahrain and beyond.” The letter was signed by: Al-Khoei Foundation, The Council of European Jamaats, Dar Al Islam, Imam A li Foundation, Islamic Universal Association, Majlis Ulama Shia Europe, Muhammadi Trust, Rasool A’adham Foundation, The World Federation of KSIMC and World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League.

On another level, Zainab Al Khawaja, the jailed human rights activist has confirmed that a sectarian Apartheid regime is being implemented in her prison. The prison authorities have banned any interaction or mixing among the Shia and Sunni women prisoners. This action has coincided with the decision by the Alkhalifa regime to form an official militia groups comprising members of the Death Squads. This is yet another step to lead Bahrain into instability, chaos and absolute militarized dictatorship.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
30th May 2013

Serious escalation of state-terrorism has been reported in the last few days following the debacle of Bahrain’s dictator at the Ascot race course in London on Saturday 11th May . Many people have been arrested; most of them subjected to severe torture on the spots where they were detained. Harsh prison sentences have been passed against scores of Bahrainis. At least five people have been imprisoned for anti-regime tweets. Use of chemical gases has also been intensified, and many casualties reported in various parts of the country.

The long-awaited visit to Bahrain by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has been cancelled by the Alkhalifa regime. It had been postponed twice before and now it looks that it will not take place after all. People who know the regime have always said that it is impossible to allow any international individual or team to visit the country for the purpose of investigating crimes against humanity. In the immediate aftermath of the international outcry following the bloody attacks on Pearl Roundabout in 2011, the Alkhalifa were advised by their allies to form a commission to look into those allegations. On 23rd November 2011 the Commission, headed by Cherif Bissioni issued its findings confirming that the regime had used “systematic torture” against detainees and “extra judicial killings” had taken place. An independent investigator like the Juan Mendes, the UN Special Rapporteur on Tortu re would have certainly found evidence against the ruler and his clique that they are managing a regime whose policies had always sanctioned torture. At no point would the Alkhalifa abandon this crime against humanity. The cancellation of the visit is clear and damning evidence that they have not refrained from torture. It needs only one person to go around the villages and towns to collect testimonies of hundreds of victims of torture. The dictator, Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifa would have been implicated in those crimes against humanity.

The Alkhalifa regime has carried out a pre-emptive crackdown on citizens to prevent any disruption to the Formula 1 race scheduled to begin on 19th April. Tens of young Bahrainis have been summarily rounded up, tortured and dumped in torture dungeons. On Wednesday 10th April more than forty homes were raided by heavily-armed mercenary riot police and members of the Death Squads, and arrested at least 12 people from one town alone. They are: Hasan Jaffar Quwaied, Murtadha Ebrahim Tawq, Hasan Ebrahim Quwaied, Ahmed Abdulwahab Alkhayat, Mustafa Draboh, Ahmed Salman Alrafa’ei, jaffar Hasan Sultan, Hassan Ahmed Esmail, Hassan and Khalil Alhanan

Human Rights Watch confirmed the crackdown. Sarah Lea Sarah Leah Whitson, the HRW's Middle East director said on Wednesday 10th April: "Bahraini authorities are carrying out home raids and arbitrarily detaining opposition protesters in advance of the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend," the statement said. These raids and detentions suggest that officials are more concerned with getting activists out of circulation for the Formula 1 race than with addressing the legitimate grievances that have led so many Bahrainis to take to the streets," it read. Night-time raids of targeted people by masked officers who show neither arrest nor search warrants appear intended to intimidate them, their families and their supporters," it added.

Also The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses grave concern in regards to the escalated security measures, increased house raids and arbitrary arrests of citizens living in villages located near the Bahrain International Circuit, which is due to host the Formula 1 Grand Prix race on 19th April 2013.

A young Bahraini youth, Hussain Kadhem, is fighting for his life after he had been hit in his head with a shotgun canister fired at close range. He was taking part in a peaceful protest on Saturday 6th April in Sitra. His father was called by the hospital military men and asked to sign his agreement to carry out an operation. He is still in a critical condition.

On 8th April Alistair Burt, the Foreign Office Minister took some questions on his Twitter account about the situation in Bahrain. Apart from repeating old mantras about the need for genuine dialogue and praising the hereditary dictatorship for marginal administrative steps, Mr Burt lacked the vision for a real solution. He definitely did not promote forming a democratic regime and did not call for an end to the culture of immunity. However, he made one significant concession to Bahraini people when answering a question that said: Don’t you think that you Ambassador

are insulting the Bahrainis by saying that Iran is behind this massive movement? His reply was:  No clear evidence of Iranian involvement in 2011 unrest. But concerned Iran & others now supporting some radical opposition.” The implication of this answer is that UK Ambassador to Bahrain is wrong about Iran’s involvement, and more importantly, that the Saudi invasion and occupation of Bahrain had no justification and that both Alkhalifa and Alsaud were lying when they said Bahrain was under external threat.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia is preparing for real change in Yemen and has started to shield itself by building a fence, over 1,000 miles long, in order to seal off its troubled frontier with Yemen. The BBC has been told by Saudi border guards that security on the Yemeni side of the border has all but disappeared since the revolutions of the Arab Spring. The implication is that the Saudi regime fears more from the fallout of a democratic change in Yemen.

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), with the help of a medical consultant, gathered information and cases about the situation of medical services in Bahrain and the limited access to medical care. The report covered several aspects of the medical situation. The BCHR found evidence of continuous violations committed by the Government of Bahrain that included the breach of the Geneva Convention and the breach of medical neutrality.  The evidence also concludes that the medical services have been militarized and are used as a tool to target civilians. Changes in the health policies have been politicized to serve a political agenda.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
12th April 2013

As the Bahraini people continue their revolt against staging the Formula 1 race under the patronage of the Alkhalifa, the regime has intensified its crackdown against the pro-democracy activists, detaining and torturing them in revenge. At least fifteen people were arrested on Wednesday, taken to the torture dungeons and abused. More were snatched from Duraz, Sitra and other towns as pre-emptive desperate steps to stop people exposing Alkhalifa crimes to the world during the race. The walls in several towns and villages were decorated with paintings and cartoons highlighting the people’s predicaments as the regime’s mouthpieces went into full swing to present deceptive image of a country ravaged by Revolution. “Don’t race on our blood” is the main message to the teams and drivers of the F1, with cartoons depicting Bahrain’s dictator using people’s blood as fuel to the cars.

As the Formula 1 teams became under intensive pressure not to take part in the forthcoming race in Bahrain, the health of two of the most prominent human rights activists has deteriorated sharply in the past two days. Abdul Hadi Al Khawana, 51, and his daughter, Zainab, 29 began hunger strike last Sunday in protest at the way they were treated by the prison authorities and lack of access to their families. Mr Al Khawaja is protesting against the increasing brutality of the prison authorities, the use of torture even against those who had been sentenced and the monitoring regime of the family visits that had become less frequent. His daughter, Zainab is protesting against the way she has been prevented from seeing her three-years daughter, Joud. The health of both has deteriorated in the past two days and calls have been made to transfer them to the hospital for emergency treatment. Sources close to the Alkhalifa said that the regime prefers to have them dead as they have repe atedly challenged its policies of extra-judicial killings and systematic torture.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has issued a statement expressing concern at the health of Abdul Hadi and Zainab and calling for their immediate release. Also, Nabeel Rajab called Abdul Hadi’s wife urging her to remain composed and patient. He asked her to feel proud to have such husband and daughter. Despite his pains and chains, Mr Rajab has proven himself to possess great leadership and humane qualities.

A Kuwaiti blogger and human rights activist, Nawaf Al Hendal said on his Twitter on Thursday that he had been banned from entering Bahrain. He was on his way via the Bahrain-Saudi causeway, attempting to enter Bahrain when he was stopped and told that he was “persona non grata” and should go back to Kuwait. He described how a person in plain clothes informed him of the decision by the ruling family that he was “no longer welcomed in Bahrain”. Bahraini activists have apologised to Mr Al Hendal for being turned away by a murderous regime.

The people’s Revolution has continued unabated. The past week has seen protests and demonstrations in most areas, especially after night fall. Several people were injured, some of them seriously as the dictator continued to issue orders to his troops to shoot at peaceful protesters. The situation is becoming desperate especially that the “dialogue”  that started one month ago has practically come to a halt as Bahrainis declared their opposition to any political settlement that leaves the ruling family in charge. The jailed leaders have rejected this meaningless “dialogue” between the political societies and agents of the regime.

At another level, the ProPublica website reported that the International Peace Institute, a New York-based think tank closely associated with the United Nations, announced last month an agreement to open an office in Bahrain to “promote development, peace and international security.” Institute President Terje Rød-Larsen, a veteran diplomat in the Mideast who is also a United Nations under-secretary-general, said that taking money from Bahrain’s government would not compromise the institute’s work. He declined to say how much money Bahrain is providing. Rød-Larsen has been a frequent visitor to Bahrain in recent years, regularly meeting with government officials both in his capacity as the institute’s president and as a U.N. official. Organized as a nonprofit charity in New York, the institute had a budget of nearly $11 million in 2011 and Rød-Larsen received about $495,000 in compensation. According to the group’s 2011 annual report, its major donors that year included the United States, several governments in Europe, as well as Bahraini regional allies Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The institute’s international advisory council includes Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the former head of Saudi intelligence. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help put down the protests in Bahrain in 2011.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
22nd March 2013

The Saudi occupation of Bahrain on 14th March 2011 was marked yesterday by Bahraini people in their progressive, peaceful style; protests, strikes, sit-ins and calls for world bodies to take action against this illegal occupation. The 14th February Alliance had called for a general strike to take place yesterday. It was effective in most areas; shops and schools were closed, protests erupted at every corner of the towns and villages and several cities around the world observed the day with protests, seminars or statements. There was a unanimous verdict that the Saudis had committed a big crime by invading Bahrain. Its criminal act resulted in the killing of scores of Bahrainis, the detention and torture of more than four thousand people over the past two years, the destruction of more than forty mosques, the sacking of more than 5000 Bahrainis and the persecution of more than 70 percent of the population. The occupation had failed in achieving its main aim; the crushing of th e Revolution. Instead, the political strife has now reached the doorsteps of the Saudi royal family, with cities like Riyadh, Al Qaseem, Buraida, Al Jawf and others witnessing daily protests.

With the approach of the second anniversary of the Saudi occupation of Bahrain, feelings are running high among the people who want to see their country liberated from both the Saudi and Alkhalifa occupation. The 14th February Alliance has called for country-wide strikes on 14th March, the day the Saudi troops crossed the causeway between the two countries and re-set the military scene in the country. The mothers of the martyrs have become focal to the revolutionary movement and have been at the forefront of the calls for regime change. They have also urged people to participate actively in the coming activities against the Saudi occupation especially the 14th March strike.

The mother of Martyr Ahmad Farhan who was killed in Sitra the day after the Saudi invasion has expressed deep feelings in the name of her son’s blood, to fully support these peaceful actions. Several other mothers also expressed strong views calling for public participation in the anti-regime activities especially those aiming at ending the Saudi occupation.

The aim of the invasion of Bahrain was to crush the people’s Revolution which had started one month earlier. While the international community has remained largely silent, the people have campaigned against the military presence and warned other people in the GCC countries to express their rejection of military intervention by Saudi Arabia against their will. If the Saudi crime in Bahrain is unchallenged it will be repeated in other countries and the people will be kept at bay, unable even to organise peaceful protests against the hereditary dictatorship of the sheikhs.

The Bahraini Opposition in UK is organising several activities to mark the occasion and make other people aware of the situation. On Sunday 10th March there will be a Rally at Marble Arch which will be addressed by several people from anti-war movements and human rights activists. On Tuesday 12th March a seminar will be held at the House of Lords and will be addressed by several Bahraini speakers. The Gulf Cultural Club and the Open Discussion will hold a seminar on Wednesday 13th March at which notable speakers will participate including Professor Madawi Al Rashid, from King’s College, Professor Joshua Castallino, Dean of Law Faculty at Middlesex University and Jawad Fairooz, former MP from Bahrain.  There will be a protest outside Saudi Embassy on Wednesday.

In another development, Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of Zainab Al Khawaja who had not committed any crime punishable by civilised laws. It considered her “prisoner of conscience” and called for Zainab’s immediate and unconditional release. It also urged its members to write to the authorities to demand her release.

The human rights defenders from the Gulf countries and Yemen, convened their second Gulf Platform for Human Rights Defenders in Istanbul (1-2 March 2013). It was organized by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights. In their final statement they called for the release of all political prisoners in the GCC countries, allowing human rights activists free and unrestricted travel between those countries, stoping all forms of legal prosecutions, threats, intimidations, blackmailing, defamation, denunciation of activists, and the opening of a regional office for the UN Commission for Human Rights. They have also urged the UN Security Council to submit the Yemeni file to the International Criminal Court for investigation of war crimes that may have been committed by Ali Saleh’s regime.

In the past few days the people’s resolve to continue their struggle until the Alkhalifa regime has been brought down has become stronger following the total failure of the meeting arranged by the Alkhalifa regime between the political societies. While some of those bodies had thought they were going to negotiate with the Alkahlifa, the dictator’s court issued a statement insisting that none of the ruling family would participate, thus nullifying the initiative. There are now enormous pressures on those societies to withdraw from this poorly-presented PR show.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
8th March 2013