End Bahrain’s sponsorship of Royal horse show, Stop Saudi NEOM executions
At least 14 British MPs have signed an Early Day Motion 1125 titled: Bahrain’s sponsorship of the Royal Windsor Horse show. It expresses strong concern at Bahrain’s ongoing sponsorship of the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2023, to which the King of Bahrain has been a regular visitor since 2012, despite the Kingdom’s appalling human rights record under his rule”. The EDM “condemns reprisals and harassment against the family members of those choosing to protest against King Hamad’s repressive rule and presence in the UK”, “opposes the invitation of King Hamad to the Royal Windsor Horse Show and Bahrain’s sponsorship of the event” and “calls on the Royal Windsor Horse Show to uphold its own human rights policy adopted in 2021 and prevent the show from being used to sportswash the reputation of the Bahraini regime.”
After almost two years of a virtual hunger strike, Dr Abdul Jalil AlSingace has developed serious ailments that could be detrimental to his life. He is showing symptoms of Vertigo; losing balance and suffering dizziness in addition to irregular blood sugar levels. This is made worse by the lack of medical care which appears to be intentional. Dr AlSingace is being held in virtual solitary confinement at Kanoo Medical Centre. He is also demanding the return of his literary book that the prison officials had confiscated because it does not align with their ideas on the history and culture of Bahrain.
On Friday 5th May, another young Bahraini has been hauled off to prison to serve the remainder of a previously issued sentence. Hassan Fadel Al-Bahhar was detained and taken to the torture chambers for holding views contrary to those of the regime.
On 4th May Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders tweeted: I wrote to the Government of Bahrain regarding the allegations of torture, ill treatment and poor prison conditions of human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, including the restriction of communication with his family.
On 1 April 2011, Sheikh Mirza Al Mahroos was arrested from his home by masked security forces from the Ministry of Interior without a search or arrest warrant. He was then beaten during the 30-minute drive to the National Security Agency (NSA) Headquarters. The US-based Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) has called on the Bahraini authorities to immediately release Sheikh Mahroos, who was not provided with a fair trial and due process rights and to investigate the allegations of torture and ill treatment and hold perpetrators accountable. Furthermore, ADHRB calls on the Bahraini authorities to provide Sheikh Mahroos with access to adequate medical care for his several health conditions.
Another Bahraini political prisoner Hussein Hani Marhoon has launched a hunger strike to protest the denial of medical care and the lack of accountability towards the guards at the notorious Jau prison who had assaulted him. Sheikh Zuhair Ashour’s convulsion in late April at Jaw Prison provides clear evidence of the deliberate medical negligence policy used against political prisoners by Bahraini authorities. When Ashour’s cellmates sought treatment, a policeman named Tawfiq callously replied, “Let him die’.
Several native Bahrainis were summoned to appear at the torture dungeons following their open support to a senior jailed political figure. They include fathers of martyrs: Jawad Al Sheikh, Abdul Hadi Mushaima, Hajji Abdul Nabi Al Hawwaj and Hajji Munir Mushaima. They had expressed solidarity with Abdul Wahab Hussain, 68, who is denied medical care and medicines for his serious neurological ailments.
Saudi dissident Mohammed al-Qahtani had, once again, had his trial postponed until next week. He was not present at the court on Monday. Some diplomats tried to attend for the second time and were denied entry. Human rights bodies have called on the Saudis regime to respect its international engagements and allow for independent monitoring of trials.
On 3 May 2023, The Guardian newspaper published an article covering the UN experts’ serious concerns about the Saudi NEOM project and the ongoing persecution of the Huwaitat tribe. A group of UN experts (including 5 Special Rapporteurs and 2 Working Groups) have expressed alarm at the forced evictions, arbitrary arrests, torture, long prison terms and death sentences linked to the megacity project. Three members of Huwaitat tribe face execution for opposing the Neom project. They called on Saudi Arabia to halt their imminent execution. Mr Shadly Ahmad Mahmoud Abou Taqiqa al-Huwaiti, Mr Ibrahim Salih Ahmad Abou Khalil al-Huwaiti and Mr Atallah Moussa Mohammed al-Huwaiti were sentenced to death on 5 August 2022, and their sentences were upheld by the Specialised Criminal Court of Appeal on 23 January 2023. Three other members of the Howeitat tribe were sentenced to severe prison terms: Mr Abdelnasser Ahmad Mahmoud Abou Taqiqa al-Huwaiti was sentenced to 27 years; Mr Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud Abou Taqiqa al-Huwaiti was sentenced to 35 years; and Mr Abdullah Dakhilallah al-Huwaiti was sentenced to 50 years.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
10th May 2023