Executed Bahrainis remembered, calls to release Emirati, Saudi activists
Today marks the third anniversary of the criminal execution of two native Bahrainis by the blood-stained khalifi hands. In the early hours of 27th July 2019 Ahmad Al Malali and Ali Al Arab were led from their cells, blindfolded and taken to the gallows. They were shot dead in cold blood. The orders came from the current dictator, Hamad bin Isa al-khalifa after a farce trial that was condemned by international human rights bodies like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the UN Human Rights Council. Three years on and their mothers have not stopped weeping for their sons whose lives were cut short and brought to an abrupt end by the ruling gang. Bahrainis marked the anniversary in various ways. Many people visited their families to comfort them and made a presence at their graves to pay tributes.
The leader of the UK’s House of Commons has supported calls for the release of imprisoned Bahraini opposition figures, the first time campaigners say the government has made such a call publicly. This came after the foreign secretary, Liz Truss failed to remember any time that he raised any human right case with any GCC official. The comments from Mark Spencer came during business questions on 21st July in the commons. He was responding to concerns raised by Scottish National Party MP Martyn Day over Dr Abduljalil al-Singace, an academic who is serving a life sentence over his participation in Bahrain’s 2011 uprising. Singace, 60, has been on a hunger strike from eating solid foods for just over a year, in protest against his treatment in prison, including the confiscation of a book on linguistics that he had been working on for four years.
Yesterday regime’s forces detained young native Bahraini Fadel Khdair from Sitra area for no lawful reason. It is seen as part of the persecution of the majority Shia Muslim population. Two days ago, two Bahrainis were also detained from the town of Daih: Hussain Mohammad Eid and Hussain Hani. Last week Ahmad Hussain Hamadi was snatched from the khalifi court which issued a lengthy prison sentence against him on orders from the royal court. His crime: demanding an end to the khalifi hereditary dictatorship.
When the political inmates at the Central Jaw Prison defied the khalifi orders and held celebrations last week to mark an important religious function on the advent of Eid Al Ghadir they were punished severely. They were denied family visits and were banned from calling their relatives. They could also face more severe punishments and some of them may be transferred to solitary confinement as had happened in the past. Taekwondo champion, Ali Omran who was given 42 years jail sentence has begun hunger strike to protest the lack of medical care. As a result, his left arm has been praralysed. The monther of political prisoner, Mohammad Jaffar Mohammad has confirmed that she had been denied visits to her son. All contacts with him have been cut for the past three weeks. She is extremely concerned for his well-being.
A bizarre development within the ranks of the khalifi tribe has spilled over and began to affect Bahraini citizens. One of their academics, Dr Mail Al Khalifa who has been an ally of the former prime minister, khalifa bin Salman, was abruptly sacked from her position at the ministry of culture for refusing to shake hands with the Israeli ambassador to the khalifi court. The dictator’s office took an immediate decision to sack her and relieve her of her other “royal” duties. One of her associates, Dr Nader Kadem, a native Barhaini Shia Muslim citizen, was arrested. No reason was given for his detention and speculations have gone wild about the whole episode. The internal rivalries within the khalifi circles have been laid bare at a time of tension in the country resulting from the khalifi normalization with the Zionist regime. Calls from academics and journalists have been made for Dr Nader Kadem to be released immediately and unconditionally.
The khalifi torture offices have summoned three activists for further interrogation about their peaceful activities including calling for the release of the political prisoners. Hajji Majid Abdulla (Hajji Sumood), Ali Muhanna and Abdul Nabi Al Hawwaj were contacted by the torturers and told to appear at specified torture centres.
On 17th July Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken completed his eight-year prison sentence passed by the UAE government against him. On 2nd July 2013, the Abu Dhabi Federal Supreme Court issued verdicts convicting 69 accused members of the UAE94 group, with Dr. Al-Roken sentenced to 10 years in prison and placed on probation for another three years. The trial lacked minimum international standards of fair trial and due process. Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken is an internationally recognised human rights lawyer and an academic specialising in constitutional law. He previously held the position of head of the Emirates Jurists Association, which the authorities arbitrarily dissolved. He has authored a number of books, written many articles, and appeared in television interviews, speaking on various topics. He was awarded the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize for the year 2017, in addition to other awards for his hard and dedicated work in the field of human rights.
On 18th July Saudi businessman, Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed Baaboud, was arrested, in a raid on his house in Jeddah, without knowing the reasons for the arrest. Dr Abdulla Al Awdah, son of detained scholar, Salman AlAwdah has expressed dismay at the efforts of the US administration to rehabilitate the Saudi murderous regime. He tweeted: “If the US admin gives MBS immunity in court over the most documented assassination, it would give MBS a licence to kill,”
Bahrain Freedom Movement
27th July 2022
