More Bahrainis detained, More Saudis, Emiratis persecuted
The khalifi “Ombudsman” office has been used to give false statements about the religious persecution including the denial of rituals linked to Ashoora (Imam Hussain martyrdom). Prisoners in several blocs have been banned by regime’s thugs from exercising their rights. When the news of the ill-treatment leaked out the whitewashing procedure was immediately implemented and false statements were published. The political prisoners immediately reacted angrily to these blatant lies. Inmates at Jau Prison, building 7 which accommodates Shia political prisoners are denied their religious rights to observe the commemoration of Muharram, the most important event for Shia Muslims. Inmates are confined to their cells for 23 and a half hours everyday.
Since the beginning of Muharram last weekend, regime forces have been in action in many areas, tearing down banners and flags from the roads leading to town and villages. For hundreds of years native Bahraini majority has been marking Ashoora in their own styles and traditions, including raising banners and flags. Since their violent occupation of the land, the khalifis have adopted policies to alter the identity of the country and waged wars against the beliefs of the persecuted majority population. Images and clips have been circulating on social media that show regime’s forces provoking the people by tearing down their banners.
Calls have been made by human rights activists to open an investigation into the serious torture inflicted on native Bahraini detainees. Ali Isa Ali and several others at Cell No 8 of Bloc 10 at Jau prison were subjected to horrific treatment and severe torture for exercising their religious rights. They were ruthlessly punished for marking Eid Al Ghadir which has been marked by native Bahrainis for centuries, well before the khalifis invaded Bahrain.
Regime’s courts have ordered the detention for one week of four under-aged children from the town of Sitra. The arbitrary decision was imposed on: Fadel Abbas Khdair, Hussain Mohammad Ali, Majeed Hussain and Jaffar Ali Sangoor. Another court has renewed the detention of four other native Bahrainis from Duraz: Mohammad Habib Baddao, Ahmed Abdulla Marhoon, Hussain Isa AbuRwais and Hassan Mohammad Muslim. Another jail sentence of one year has been issued against two young natives from Abu Quwwa town: Sayed Abdulla Al Ghuraifi and Sayed Fadel Sayed Abbas. Ahmed Ali Hubail from Sitra has been remanded in custody for one week for opposing the hereditary dictatorship. Few days ago Ahmed Salman was abducted from the courtroom and taken to torture cells to serve a jail term imposed by the regime. Amnesty International (MENA region) has issued an Urgent Action calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the jailed Bahraini academic. It said: Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace’s health condition has now reached a point of grave concern, as he has been on hunger strike since July 8, 2021. He has served over 11 years of a life sentence in prison for his peaceful role in Bahrain’s 2011 uprising.
Ahmed Jaffar, the political refugee who was handed to the khalifi torturers by Serbia is undergoing serious abuses. He has been transferred to the notorious Jau prison where he is serving prison sentences issued against him in absentia. Mohammad Hassan Jaffar has been severely punished for exercising his religious rights inside jail in line with many others. Abdul Zahra Mushaima, a young Bahraini activist was in the best of health when the khalifis detained him. But when his health deteriorated he was released. He was subjected to horrific treatment and was subjected to severe torture and denial of medical care until he became seriously ill. Now he lost the ability to move.
Religious scholar, Mohammed Reda Al Salman, from Ihsaa Province in Eastern Arabia has been given two and a half years jail sentence for opposing the Saudi regime. On Monday, Saudi Appeal Court increased earlier sentences on Sheikh Ibrahim Al Nasser from the Eastern Province to 15 years jail. The first sentence was only three months, increased to six months on first appeal, then to four years. The new sentence reflects its political nature. ALQST said that Yemeni prisoner in Saudi Arabia Nabeel Faisal Sulaiman Eida is on hunger strike in protest against treatment he had faced, including torture, sexual harassment and denial of medical treatment. His case highlights the patterns of abuse in Saudi prisons. ALQST also said that the Supreme Court overturned the decision to release Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Abdul-Latif, and he will be tried again, after the end of his current sentence.
The United Nations Committee Against Torture expressed concern over the torture and ill-treatment of Yemenis by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) armed forces, state security agencies, and non-state armed groups. It called for a “viable pathway” through which victims can seek justice. The committee made the remarks during its concluding session on Friday 29th July, as it highlighted the UAE’s involvement in the ongoing Saudi-led war on Yemen. It also assigned special responsibility to investigators and prosecutors that work with crimes of torture and abuse, calling for a viable pathway for victims to seek justice, redress and rehabilitation.
Calls have been made for the release of Emirati academic and activist, Mohammed Al Roken who has completed his ten year prison sentence. He was arrested on 17 July 2012 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was due to be released on 17 July 2022 but is still in detention.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
3rd August 2022