Bahrain: Repression intensifies as outside activities rise

On Wednesday 14th November regime’s forces waged merciless attacks on people participating in the rituals marking the end of the mourning period of martyr Ali Abbas Radhi.
The 16 years old boy was killed Friday 9th November on his way to Friday prayers at Duraz Town. He was targeted and killed by members of the death squads under the command of the dictator’s court. They used chemical and tear gases as well as shotguns to disperse the thousands who ventured to attend the procession at the graveyard near the martyr’s home town of Samaheej.

In recent days the Alkhalifa regime has intensified its repression, in a last attempt to quell the demonstrations calling for regime change. It has now targeted civilian areas with systematic attacks, showering people with gases and ransacking their homes. Two days ago the towns of Sanabis, Ma’amir, Al-Jufair and Jidhafs had received heavy punishment. In addition to terrorising the occupants, the contents of the houses were damaged. The destruction continued for four hours from 1.00 am. Scores of people were arrested, tortured and taken to unknown destinations. At least 11 of them have been kept in the torture dungeons. This wholesale collective punishment is in revenge for the persistence of the people in their demands for the downfall of this dictatorial regime

Meanwhile the notable Reporters Without Borders Organisation has issued a statement denouncing the barbaric sentencing of a journalist in revenge against her for accusing regime’s supporters of assaulting her. The charges were brought against journalist Reem Khalifa after she had accused three doctors, who are regime’s supporters, of attacking and insulting her. She will have to pay a fine of 100 BD (210 euros) and a total of 500 BD in compensation to the doctors (BD 200 to each of the two she allegedly attacked and BD 100 to the one she allegedly insulted). The Organisation said: “The appeal court’s decision is just the latest in a series of rulings that demonstrate the Bahraini judicial system’s complete lack of independence. The court did not examine the evidence provided by Khalifa’s lawyer.”

The sister of a Bahraini on death row has been summoned by Alkhalifa torturers to be interrogated for talking to the public about the injustice meted against her brother, Abdul Aziz Abdul Redha. The young woman has been campaigning to get her brother released because he is completely innocent of the trumpeted charges trumpeted against him by the ruling family which is carrying a systematic programme of extermination against the native Shia population. The father of Martyr Ali Al Shaikh was arrested and sentenced to 15 days imprisonment for campaigning to get the killers of his son brought to justice.

The US-based “National Interest” electronic site has published an article titled “The New Crisis in Bahrain” by Ted Galen Carpenter alerting the West to the deepening crisis in that country. It said: “Bahrain is fast emerging as the new tinderbox in the Middle East. Although that country has not received much attention from the Western news media, which has been obsessed with Iran, Syria, and the U.S. presidential election, recent developments are profoundly disturbing.” Citing several appalling developments in recent months; the writer concluded: “The Bahraini monarchy is a thoroughly authoritarian regime that oppresses the Shiite majority. To continue backing that government merely because Iran supports the other side makes a mockery of Washington’s professed commitment to democracy and human rights. Policy regarding Bahrain should be high on the list of matters for reconsideration in President Obama’s second term.

A Press Conference was held on Tuesday 13th November at the House of Lords about the revoking of the nationality of 31 Bahrainis. Several of those affected by the draconian decision by the Alkhalifa dictatorship spoke about their disappointment and anger at stripping them of what is a natural right. However they were all adamant that this draconian step would only confirm their position that the Alkhalifa must leave the stage as they are incapable of adapting to modern laws and obligations. There was a consensus that the situation in Bahrain must not be allowed to get back to what it had been for the past decades under Alkhalifa hereditary dictatorship.

On Wednesday 14th November a seminar was also held at the Middlesex University by the Law School. Professor Joshua Costalino presented five speakers to assess the situation in the country one year after the Bissioni report and the UK Parliamentary Inquiry into FCO policies towards Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The speakers were: Dr Saeed Shehabi, Jalal Fairooz, Ali Al Fayez, John Labbuck and Tara O’Grady.