UK’s weak leadership continue defending Bahrain’s dictators, Saudis agonised under MBS
The UK government failed to raise the most pressing Bahraini human rights cases with the kingdom’s authorities during high-level meetings earlier this year despite implying it had done so, a freedom of information request has revealed. Among the cases of imprisoned human rights defenders that Lord Ahmad, the minister responsible for human rights, neglected to press during a 13-14 February visit to Bahrain was that of Abduljalil Singace, an academic who is serving a life sentence over his participation in the 2011 uprising. An independent commission, established by the king of Bahrain, found that he has been tortured while imprisoned. He has been on hunger strike demanding the return the manuscript of his culture book for almost a year.
Political prisoner Akbar Ali Ali who was sentenced to 60 years had been only 15 when he was snatched by the khalifis who tortured him mercilessly. He is now unable to grasp what had happened to him. He was electrocuted twice; the first by the torturers and the second by the psychologists who are trying to offset the effects of torture.
Sayed Reda Ali Mahfood, a political prisoner at bloc 15 has not been heard of for over two weeks. The inmates are forced to stay 23 hours a day in their cells and prevented from buying their needs. Once they managed to buy them, they are confiscated the following day. Another victim of this policy is sayed Adnan sayed Majed, held at bloc 7. He has not contacted his family for the past 12 days. Sayed Hassan Salman Fadel was only 15 when he was incarcerated by the khalifis and handed seven and half years and almost $20,000 fines. Three years ago he was transferred to the isolation prison to lose whatever had remained of his childhood. He has undertaken seven hunger strikes to demand an end for his isolation but the khalifis refused to grant him his wish.
In the early hours of Sunday 19th June scores of regime’s militia dressed in ISIS-style outfits targeted the house of a native Bahraini woman and snatched her to the torture chambers. The people of her town, Sitra, were woken up by the noise of the khalifi attackers who took away Mrs Fadeela Abdul Rasool, her husband Sayed Radhi Al Alawi and his brother brother, Sayed Jaffar. They are accused of sheltering their son, Sayed Mohammad al Alawi who was being treated at the psychiatrist hospital for severe depression and other mental health issues. He left the hospital and went to the family’s home. One hour later the regime’s torturers arrived and took him back to their torture cells. He is serving an 18-year prison sentence for opposing the khalifi hereditary dictatorship.
The family of political prisoner Hussain Al Sa’di, who has acute Sickle cell disease and heart malfunction has complained of medical negligence by khalifis including their agents at their pseudo-ombudsman offices. Political prisoner, Jassim Mohammad Kuwayid has been denied medical treatment for his numerous cysts in his feet and thighs. His condition has recently worsened but has not received treatment. He is left to die slowly. The sister of Ali BuHamid, a political prisoner at Bloc 7 of Jau prison is also denied medical care. The inmates of that bloc are also denied the freedom to exercise their religious rituals.
The khalifi dictators have summoned scores of native Bahrainis to Al Nu’aim police station for interrogation about their active participation in a protest two months ago in support of Palestinian cause and calling for the liberation of Al Quds from the Israeli occupation. Peaceful protests and expression of opinion are not tolerated by the hereditary dictatorship.
One month ahead of President Joe Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia, the District of Columbia is renaming the street in front of the Saudi embassy Jamal Khashoggi Way, trolling Riyadh for its role in the killing of the dissident Saudi activist and journalist in 2018. With members of the D.C. Council in attendance, a Jamal Khashoggi Way sign was unveiled directly in front of the embassy’s main entrance. “We intend to remind the people who are hiding behind these doors … that we hold them responsible and we will hold them accountable for the murder of our friend,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of DAWN, the pro-Arab world democracy organization founded by Khashoggi prior to his death. Whitson also criticized what she called the “shameless capitulation” of the Biden administration for seeking improved relations with the Saudi government and scheduling an official presidential visit to the kingdom.
Yesterday, Saudi activists marked five years of Mohammad Bin Salman’s rise to power with feelings of disgust, disappointment and frustration. Since his father, Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud succeeded to the throne in January 2015, his son Mohammed bin Salman has gained ever-greater powers and influence. In 2015, he was appointed Defence Minister, Deputy Crown Prince and Chair of the kingdom’s vast sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), before being made Crown Prince on 21 June 2017 and becoming de facto ruler of the country. In those five years, repression has intensified; women incarcerated, religious scholars detained and tortured and hundreds beheaded and crucified. This year over 100 innocent people were slaughtered by the regime headed by MBS. President’s Biden forthcoming meeting with MBS next month has been widely criticised.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
22nd June 2022
