Ukraine crisis engulfs GCC leaders, Freedom House: Bahrain is not free
The Ukraine crisis has embarrassed the political players in the Gulf. GCC regimes who are defended by the US have found themselves in awkward positions on the issue. While they owe their thrones to the US and its allies, their newly-forged links with Russia and China have forced them to remain effectively silent on the crisis. The West is not happy with this position and wants them to take clear stands and increase their oil and gas production to offset the Russian supplies. The war on Yemen has pushed Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to sign arms deals with Moscow because the US and European governments are concerned that weapons they sold to Riyadh are being used indiscriminately against civilians. The US and Europe “tend to want a settlement” in Yemen, something that evokes skepticism in many of the Gulf states. These regimes don’t want to burn their bridges with countries such as Russia and China. Experience has shown that European and American positions are changeable especially with the dismal records on democracy and human rights in these countries.
In its annual report the New-York based Freedom House has again designated Bahrain as “NOT FREE”, granting it 12 out of 100 on its Freedom Index. For political rights Bahrain was granted 2 out of 40, and 10 out of 60 on civil liberties. In Its Overview, Freedom House said: Bahrain’s Sunni-led monarchy dominates state institutions, and elections for the lower house of parliament are no longer competitive or inclusive. Since violently crushing a popular prodemocracy protest movement in 2011, the authorities have systematically eliminated a broad range of political rights and civil liberties, dismantled the political opposition, and cracked down harshly on persistent dissent concentrated among the Shiite population.”
Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders has said that she had written again “to urgently renew and underscore my concern for the severely deteriorating health condition of Abduljalil Al-Singace. She said she had not received a reply yet adding; “In the communication we urgently renewed and underscored our serious concerns relating to the health of Mr. Al-Singace and the confiscation of his research materials, and expressed fresh concern as to the alleged suspension of his video calls with his family. In expressing these concerns, we reiterated our strong belief, as previously communicated to the Bahraini Government, that the sentence under which Mr. Al-Singace remains detained is based solely on his legitimate, peaceful advocacy for the respect and protection of human rights in Bahrain.”
On Monday 28th February the khalifi regime issued jail sentences of up to 15 years against four Bahraini natives: Two of them are under-aged. Yousuf Yasser was given 6 months, Hassan Mubarak, 3 years, Jassim Mohammad 10 years and Salman Ali Salman 15 years. Their crimes? Demanding democratic transformation in a country ruled by hereditary dictatorship. The khalifis also imposed lengthy prison sentences on two children. Mohammad Jassim Habib has been given 15 years, and his brother Jaffar ten years
On 27th February the second session of the trial of the six Sitra children who spent more than two months behind bars for opposing the khalifi dictators was held. Instead of ordering the immediate release as demanded by Human Rights Watch, the judge, Mohammad Al Ma’awdah adjourned the trial until 6th March.
Saudi political detainee, Mohammad al-Utaibi is complaining of continued abuse and denial of basic rights. He was sentenced to 17 years jail for his human rights work. He had been detained in May 2017 while on his way to Norway via Qatar. The Qatari authorities handed him to the Saudis who charged him with forming unauthorized organization and sedition. Since October 2019 Saudi young blogger Abdul Aziz Al Awda has been languishing behind bars. His crime was supporting Palestine and rejecting the normalization with the occupiers. In April 2021 he was tried by The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh and sentenced to five years. Calls have been made for his immediate release
Saudis have been baffled by the sudden announcement about what the official propaganda called “Foundation Day”. On January 27, King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree designating February 22 as a national holiday called the “Founding Day.” This day commemorates “the beginning of the reign of Imam Mohammed ibn Saud and his foundation of the first Saudi state,” which took place, according to the decree, in February 1727. A few days after the announcement, a logo for the event was launched with the slogan “The Day We Started. Opponents have criticized the move which links the future as well as history of the country to those who used violence to subjugate the natives and spread mayhem. Saudis want to determine their own destiny and end this vicious circle of hereditary dictatorship, oppression and antiquated hereditary rule.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
2nd March 2022