Bahrain: Alkhalifa revenge after dictator’s Ascot humiliation

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.

This escalation came in the wake of one of the most serious peaceful incidents in recent months. A young former prisoner Bahrainni youth, Sayyed Ahmad Al Wada’ei managed to reach the grand stand at Ascot race course and raise slogans against the dictator, next to the Queen. He was carrying a Bahraini flag and a banner calling Hamad a dictator and murder. He was filmed as he rushed towards Bahrain’s dictator, Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifa who was watching the race alongside the Queen. Police and body guards rushed towards the youth and arrested him. He was later released and asked to report to them again at a later date. Mr Al Wada’ei is a victim of the Alkhalifa hereditary dictatorship. In 2011 he was arrested, injured and tortured when Alkhalifa police and troops attacked the Pear Roundabout killing few people. His appearance at the “Shouting in the Dark” documentary showed him bleeding heavily after being struck by the Alkahlifa police and soldiers.

After the Ascot fracas, Bahrain’s dictator announced that he had naturalized 240 British citizens out of 9000 UK nationals residing in the country. This decision is seen as a bribe meant to solicit its support to defeat the people’s Revolution. He also said that the British should have remained in the Gulf and should not have withdrawn their forces in  1971. Who asked you to leave? He said.  The day before he had opened the newly-renamed Mons Hall at Sandhurt Military Academy. He had paid 3 million Pounds for its refurbishment and re-named in his name. A great controversy has erupted within the British military circles surrounding this change. Media and political analysts have argued against it saying that a historic piece of military heritage honouring those who had sacrificed themselves in the First World War must not be dishonoured in this way. A dictator like Hamad whose people have continued their calls for his removal is not worthy of having his na me attached to Mons Hall.

Repression in Bahrain has, meanwhile, continued unabated. Collective punishment has intensified as the people continued their struggle to achieve a democratic transition. Scores of people have been arrested and tortured. At least five Bahrainis have been sentenced to jail terms of one year each after being indicted for tweeting anti-regime slogans. Lawyer Mahdi Al Basri (25) was arrested on 11th March following a police raid on his home in Karrana. Four other men, Mahmood Abudl Majeed Abdulla Al Jamri (34), Hassan Abd Ali Issa (33), Mohsen Abd Ali Issa (26) and Ammar Makki Mohammad Al Aali (36) were arrested at dawn on 12th March. Yesterday Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action saying they may be “prisoners of conscience”. All five were sentenced under Article 214 of Alkhalifa penal code which criminalises “offending the emir of the country”. Last month more than 300 people were arrested as the Alkhalifa crackdown continued following the appoin tment of crown prince to the post of deputy prime minister.

Yesterday the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Bahrain urgently needs to reform its economy to stop its debt burden becoming unsustainable. “Overall fiscal deficits are projected to widen and public debt is estimated to continue on a rising path that could become unsustainable, reaching 61 percent of GDP as early as 2018.” It said in the report.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
17th May 2013