Bahrain: Two new martyrs, more kidnappings and deeper repression

Within a week two Bahrainis were killed by the regime’s Death Squads and security forces. First came the martyrdom of Hussain Mahdi Habib, 20, from Sitra Al Kharijiya on Saturday 19th October. He was subjected to violent attack by members of the regime’s Death Squads, near A Malkiya Beach. He had earlier been sentenced to 15 years in jail for taking part in anti-regime protests and was able to escape from Alkhalifa torture chambers. Then came the brutal killing of Ali Khalil Al Sabbagh, 17, from Bani Jamra on Tuesday 22nd October. He was hit by plain-clothed members of the Death Squads using a strong “sound shot” that hit him in the neck. He was on his way to his home to get some food as he has been living in hiding for some time. More than 1000 Bahrainis have escaped Alkhalifa terror and are hiding in various places. His injuries confirm that he had been hit in the neck, contrary to the regime’s claim that he was carrying a “bomb” wh ich exploded and killed him. He was buried on Wednesday in the presence of thousands of people who were subsequently subjected to a vicious attack by riot police using chemical and tear gases.

As this state violence continues, so are the repressive measures being implemented by the regime. In addition to the excessive use of chemical and tear gases on civilian areas, the daily raids on homes have increased dramatically in the recent weeks. In the early hours of Thursday 24th October, at least ten citizens were abducted from their homes in the towns of Samaheej and Aali. On Tuesday more sentences were issued by the Alkhalifa-controlled judiciary. Four Bahrainis, Mohammad Abdul Amir Mushaima, Hussain Abdul Ghani, Ahmad Abdul Amir and Jassim Al Saffar were sentenced to ten years in jail each. One day earlier, Five years sentences were passed on Mohammad Ibrahim Al Masjan, Ali Ibrahim Al Sayegh and Ali Jaffar from Maqsha Town for their role in anti-regime protests.

The repression inside the torture dungeons has also intensified with raids on cells and beating of detainees. Family visits have also been curtailed. Today, the families were stranded for long times as they wanted to visit their sons languishing behind bars. They were ill-treated and threatened without justification. The two prominent figures; Hassan Mushaima and Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace have remained isolated from the world and denied urgent medical care for their serious illnesses including cancer, heart and neurological ailments. They have not been allowed family visits for more than seven months. Also, Zainab Al Khawaja, one of the most prominent human rights activists in the country has been summoned by her torturers and informed of a new trumpeted charge against her. The intention is to ensure that she stayed much longer in torture dungeons.

But perhaps the most significant development of the week has been the international campaign against shipment of up to 2 million chemical and tear gas canisters from South Korea to Bahrain’s ruling family. The campaign started after an official document from Bahrain’s ministry of the interior was leaked. It contains a list of up to 1.8 million gas canisters wanted by the Alkhalifa regimes from South Korea. News media and human rights bodies have condemned the deal and called upon the Government of South Korea to stop their shipment. The Financial Times, The Independent and New York Times published some details of the clandestine deals between South Korea and the Alkhalifa hereditary dictatorship. Several human rights bodies took up the issue and called for its annulment. More than 70 people have died as a consequence of such deals. Protests were held outside South Korean Embassy in London and petitions were signed calling for an immediate halt to the shipment of t hose lethal weapons.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
25 October 2013