Rejection of regime’s political release ploy, Saudis continue abuse
There is almost a unanimous verdict by political prisoners, their families and Bahraini activists against the regime’s new ploy of “the alternative sentencing”. It is viewed as an attempt to stifle any future opposition to a hereditary dictatorship that has failed to adapt modern day governance. Senior political leaders who have spent more than 10 years behind bars have rejected this criminal khalifi ploy. Last week, Hassan Mushaima, the eldest political prisoner emphatically refused to accept this ploy saying that he was ready to spend the rest of his life in jail and continue his struggle to achieve justice, modern statehood and an end of the hereditary regime. Other prisoners issued statements against this dirty ploy. Many political prisoners issued statements rejecting their conditional release. Ali Abdulla Al Banna and his three detained political prisoners refused the regime’s ploy and said they prefer to live in dignity behind bars. Several other statements were also issued by prisoners.
The khalifi regime had to pay for the UAE’s support by attacking the resolution by the European Parliament (EP) criticizing it for human rights abuses. The resolution was issued on 13th September calling on member states to boycott Expo2020 and on international companies to withdraw their support. Last year the khalifis were themselves criticized for their own human rights violations. The new resolution states that the EP “deeply deplores the role of the UAE authorities in the extradition of the women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul to Saudi Arabia, where she has been imprisoned, tortured and persecuted for the advocacy of women’s rights. The EU Parliament also draws attention to “the sexual assault of British national Caitlin McNamara, where the accused perpetrator [the UAE’s Minister for Tolerance] was not investigated or held accountable”
On Sunday 19th September khalifi security forces detained three native Bahrainis from Al Sahla Al Shamaliya town for opposing their crimes. Hussain Khudairi, Kumail Al Khabbaz and Sayed Mustafa Al Talibi were taken away from their homes to the torture dungeons. Also, the regime’s criminal forces have summoned a former political prisoner, Ali Muhanna to appear at one of their torture centres because he had defended his son, Hussain who was severely tortured and abused in their custody. Dr Abbas Al Alawi has expressed his agony at the continuing detention of his son. He tweeted: “On this day 21st September 2013 my son Sajjad. Today he has completed half his prison term of 18 years”.
A senior leading opposition figure who has spent more than ten years behind bars has started hunger strike. Sheikh Mirza Al Mahroos is protesting against ill-treatment and lack of medical care. He suffers Colon disease and has been prevented from seeing his son who is detained at the same prison. A young detainee, Sayed Abbas Radhi has started hunger strike to protest the lack of medical care for his severe ailments and the lack of access to his lawyer. He told his mother: “Mum, forgive me, I am no longer able to tolerate the pain”.
Last week regime’s courts passed harsh prison sentences ranging between five and 15 years on ten native Bahrainis for opposing the khalifi dictators. The victims have denied involvement in any wrongdoing. Mahmood Abdul Aziz, Hassan Ali Ahmad, Mohammad Hamid, Ali Mahdi and Ali Abddulla were given 15 years each. Hassan Ali Ahmad and Abdulla Abdul Karim were handed ten years and heavy fines. Ahamd Mahdi and Alaa Hamid were given five years. Yasser Jawad received three years and a fine of quarter of a million dollars.
The fate of political prisoner, Alaa Nusaif, 25 is unkown following his transfer on14th September from his cell at Bloc 15 after showing flu symptoms. He is serving 28 years jail sentence for opposing the khalifi dictatorship. He was severely beaten for protesting against closing the only ventilation opening at his isolation cell. His family has not heard from him since 10th September.
A jeuvenile political prisoner has been subjected to horrific treatment by the khalifi torturers and subjected to forced disappearance. On 11th September, Hassan Mubarak, 15 was detained and denied contact with a lawyer. He was not charged or tried. His family expressed their fear for his safety.
Saudi security forces have recently kidnapped and murdered a Yemeni businessman, Abdul Samad Al Mohammadi in Jizan city, in the Southwest of Arabia. He was beaten to death in one of the most horrendous crimes of extrajudicial killings. On Tuesday 14th September Saudi authorities detained Dr Abdul Rahman Al Mahmood in Riyadh for unspecified reasons.
After the US State Department approved $500 million arms deal to Saudi Arabia human rights activists have expressed deep outrage. Dr Abdulla Al Awdah, whose father, Salman has been in detention for four years tweeted: “So is this the human rights-driven policy of Biden? Approving half a billion to the crown prince who waged the Yemen war that created the worst humanitarian crisis, killed Khashoggi, tortured prominent activists and women HRDs, and jailed so many including a few in my family
Bahrain Freedom Movement
22nd September 2021