More Bahrainis forcibly disappeared; Saudi children sentenced to death
Fears are growing for the life of the Bahraini political prisoner Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace who has been on hunger strike for more than one year. Since his case became prominent after completing 400 days of hunger strike last week, he has been experiencing intimidation and harassment by the guards at Kanoo Center where he has been held for over one year in what amounts to solitary confinement. Late at night, officers insist on entering his room when the lights are off, interrupting his sleep. The head of guards who stormed his cell three nights ago were heavily armed. It is feared that the royal court may have given the orders to liquidate him. Friends of the regime are alerted to this possible eventuality with the hope that they would stop the dictator from assassinating any native Bahraini political prisoner.
The religious persecution of the native majority population took a sharp turn this month as people marked Ashoora. Regime forces removed Hussaini banners and flags at several towns including Saar, Aali, AlZahra City, Malikiya and Al Hourah. They also intimidated the people through their intensive security presence at entrances of towns and profiling many.
Two more Bahrainis were arrested on Thursday 18th August after being ordered to appear for questioning at the Criminal Investigation Directorate. Hamid Ahmed and Qassim Hassan were detained for a week ‘pending further investigation’.
The family of political prisoner, Ahmad Sayed Ali have called on the khalifi regime to provide medical treatment for his chronic abdominal illness and high temperature. Ahmad Al Sheikh is a young native Bahraini from the town of Nuwaidrat. This week he was stunned when the Dry Dock prison officials told him that he would be remanded in custody for sixty days. Few days earlier he was given sentenced to one week in custody by a “judge”. Another victim of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been admitted to hospital a few days after his “release” from jail. Hassan Abdulla Habib was diagnosed with MS and released last Friday. His condition worsened and was transferred to hospital. After being forcibly disappeared by khalifi jailers for 12 days, Mohammad Jum’a Al Khor called his family for few seconds only before the phone was cut off. He was pleading for his life before the phone was cut off. His worried mother said: “His call has killed me.” He accused one of the torturers of gross human rights violations.
It is feared that at least 15 political prisoners are being forcibly disappeared. On Monday their families called for clarification from the regime about the fate of their children, to allow them to contact their relatives and allow family visits in order to know the circumstances of their sudden disappearance.
It has been confirmed that cruel sentences were passed by Saudi courts on three brothers for participating in peaceful protests in Qatif ten years ago. Sayed Sadiq Taher Al Shamimi, 35 years, his brother, Sayed Hadi, 30 years and Sayed Reda 15 years were handed these draconian sentences
The storm following the sentencing of woman activist, Salma al-Shehab has continued. The United States has raised “significant concerns” with Saudi Arabia over a 34-year prison sentence imposed on women’s rights activist Salma al-Shehab, the State Department said on Monday. “We have raised our significant concerns with Saudi authorities,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said of the sentence given to the Saudi woman for following and retweeting dissidents and activists on Twitter. “We have made the point to them that freedom of expression is a universal human right to which all people are entitled,” Price said, adding that it should “never be criminalized or punished.” The University of Leeds where Salma has been studying tweeted: “We are deeply concerned to learn of the recent development in Salma’s case and are seeking advice on whether there is anything we can do to support her. Our thoughts remain with Salma, her family, and her friends among our close-knit community.” A court in Riyadh has sentenced Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, to 10 years in prison, after overturning the previous acquittal.
Saudi Arabia has resumed sentencing teenagers to death for protesting against the regime, despite promising earlier to end the practice. Human rights monitors have recorded seven cases in which the death penalty has been sought, handed down or confirmed on appeal for crimes by minors. On July 31 a young man called Jalal al-Labbad was convicted and sentenced to death on a range of charges including demonstrating. He was 21 when he was arrested, in 2017, but was accused of having attended demonstrations and funeral protests years beforehand. On August 8 the specialised criminal appeals court upheld a death sentence against Abdullah al-Derazi, who was 19 when he was arrested in 2014. He was accused of participating in demonstrations, marches, funerals for victims, distributing water during the demonstrations. Prosecutors are demanding the death penalty for five other young men on trial for similar offences.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
24th August 2022