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Bahrain: Attacks on religious practices, persecution of opponents
As the Ashura processions and fervor were intensifying the regime’s forces waged several attacks to intimidate Bahrainis who have observed the occasion for centuries, long before the Alkhalifa occupied Bahrain. On Wednesday 13th November a wooden boat made to represent the salvation offered by following the Holy Prophet’s progeny was confiscated by members of the Death Squads operated by the royal court.[1] They defaced the structure and threatened more abuse of Bahrainis if they tried to prevent the attacks on religious practices and symbols of native citizens. Documented videotaped evidence showing regime’s thugs tearing and defacing banners in the streets of towns and villages have convinced Bahrainis that the Al Khalifa and Al Saud were out to uproot the native Bahrainis, their culture and religious rituals [2].The situation was made more tense when Alkhalifa interior minister, Rashid bin Abdulla Alkhalifa threatened the Hussaini congregation Halls of mo re reprisals and revenge after the season has ended. His threats implied that centuries old religious practices by over 70 percent of the population are a threat to others without specifying further. Bahrainis have defied the occupiers and took to the streets, defeating the regime’s thugs and Death Squads. They are now more emboldened to continue their Revolution to achieve fundamental political change in the country and rid it of the hereditary dictatorship. One of the main mouthpieces of the occupiers, Al Watan newspaper, has been beating drums of war urging the Death Squads to attack Bahrainis.
The attacks and intimidation of natives have continued unabated over the past few days. On 13th November, two Bahrainis returning from Kuwait were arrested at the airport [3]. Sayed Ali Sayed Salman and Hussain Ashoor were snatched and taken to unknown destination. It is feared that they may have been taken to the torture houses which are not listed official offices. All police stations have denied holding the two citizens. They have not been allowed either to contact their families or their lawyers. On the same day, a young Bahraini, Sajjad Al Alawi, 23, was arrested and tortured [4]. Another young Bahraini was also kidnapped. Amin Ma’tooq [5] from Iskan Aali was kidnapped on 11th November but nothing has been heard about him since.
Concern is rising for the well being of Ahmad Al Biladi and Akbar Ali [6] from Bilad Al Qadeem after they were sentenced to five years in jail on trumpeted charges. Their total sentences are now 8 and 34 years respectively after they had been convicted of other charges.
On Sunday 10th November Alkhalifa court sentence two men to life in prison and two others to 15 years for an alleged car bomb attack outside a mosque in July [7] No one was hurt in the explosion outside a mosque in al-Riffa, south of the capital Manama, where some members of the royal family live. The mosque was not in use at the time as it is used only for official functions. Observers who checked the images released by the regime said they found no destruction resulting from the alleged explosion; no shattered glass or twisted metal. The place was clean and neat.
One year after the Bahraini authorities had revoked the nationality of 31 opposition figures, Amnesty International [8] has called for its reinstatement. It said: “Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior must immediately rescind the decision to strip 31 members of the opposition of their Bahraini nationality made a year ago”. Hassiba Hadj-Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East Programme, said: “Stripping away the nationality of government critics shows that the Bahraini authorities continue to lash out and discredit anyone they deem a threat. Instead of addressing the criticism leveled against them, the authorities have found no other way to respond than depriving Bahraini citizens of their nationality.”
On another level the health of several jailed political leaders is rapidly deteriorating as a result of ill-treatment and lack of proper medical care. Mr Abdul Wahab Hussain suffers serious medical problems that have prompted several human rights bodies to demand immediate care for him. On 8th November Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action [9] calling for his immediate release and provision of proper medical care. It urges the Bahraini authorities “to provide ‘Abdelwahab Hussain urgent specialised medical care; calls on them to grant him immediate and regular access to his family; and urges them 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.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
15th November 2013
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1 https://twitter.com/
2 http://www.anhri.net/?p=85461
3 https://twitter.com/
4 https://twitter.com/
5 https://twitter.com/
6 https://twitter.com/
7 http://www.reuters.com/
8 http://www.amnesty.org/en/
9 http://www.amnesty.org/en/
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