Political arrests intensify in Bahrain, Saudis kill Ethiopian refugees
As the political strife continues in Bahrain, the khalifi hereditary dictators have intensified their repression. On 21st August native Bahraini youth, Mohammad Hassan Al Qassab, from Abu Saiba, was arrested in a vicious raid on his home. His belongings were also confiscated. From Abu Quwwa town Sayed Mohammed Sayed Majed was also detained in a house raid. His personal belongings were confiscated by the attackers.
As hundreds of political prisoners continue their hunger strike for a third week, domestic and international support for the prisoners has been pouring in. Over 700 prisoners are taking part in this unprecedented strike with several of them collapsing every day. The temperatures in the country are very high while the regime continues its refusal to listen to their humble and reasonable demands. Many are determined to continue their action as their families and activists intensify their support. Many of the strikers say they are continuing their action. Jaffar Naji Ramadan said he was continuing his hunger strike until the demands are met. Another political detainee, Sayed Ahmed Sayed Mahdi said: We are on hunger strike because we are denied our rights and religious freedom. Fourteen NGOs have written to the UK’s foreign secretary urging him to intervene in the case of the Bahraini political prisoners. The European Parliament has called for their release especially the sick.
Fears are growing for the life of a senior political and religious figure. Last week, Sheikh Mirza Al Mahroos was rushed to hospital from his prison cell after his health had deteriorated. He is suffering from various ailments including heart condition. Mohammed Hassan Al Raml was rushed to hospital after he suffered stomach bleeding. Another prisoner, Abbas Abd Ali Hussain was also taken to hospital two weeks after he started his hunger strike. They are all victims of repression and medical negligence.
The case of the political prisoner, Ahmed Jaffar who had been handed by the Serbian authorities to the khalifi tortures remains a mystery. Last week he was transferred to solitary confinement after he protested his situation and presented some demands. He was subjected to horrific torture in recent days. On his 2nd day of hunger strike, he was pepper sprayed in the face, his hands and legs tied, then he was thrown into solitary confinement. The use of solitary is one of the reasons for the mass hunger strike.
On 18th August A dozen human rights groups called on US President Joe Biden to press Bahraini authorities to immediately release Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja. He one of Bahrain’s most prominent human rights defenders, who was imprisoned in 2011 for leading peaceful protests seeking fundamental freedoms. They called for his immediate and unconditional release. On 17th August Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action calling for the release of al-Khawaja. It said: Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a prisoner of conscience who has been arbitrarily detained since 2011. He must be immediately and unconditionally released.
The US-based Freedom House has also called for his release: We again call for the immediate & unconditional release of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, Bahraini-Danish human rights defender and winner of our 2012 Freedom Award. Al-Khawaja launched a hunger strike two weeks ago. We are deeply concerned about his rapidly deteriorating health.
The invitation extended by the UK Government to the Saudi notorious crown prince is causing a backlash and dismay amongst human rights bodies. Alqst, a Saudi NGO said it is “dismayed at the UK Government extending an invitation to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and de-facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman. This does a grave disservice to Saudi human rights victims and further emboldens the authorities to commit gross violations with impunity.”
On 21st August, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report that Saudi border guards shot people attempting to cross the border at close range, and in some cases asked them which of their limbs they would prefer to be shot. People who attempted the journey described seeing “women, men and children’s bodies strewn across the mountainous landscape severely injured, already dead and dismembered”, according to HRW. The 73-page report, which is based on witness interviews and analysis of photos, videos and satellite imagery going back to 2021, builds on a mounting body of evidence of serious human rights violations along the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border. Saudi authorities are spending billions on sportswashing to improve their image. Yet out of public view, Saudi border guards killed 100s of Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers trying to cross into Saudi Arabia, including women and children,
Bahrain Freedom Movement
23rd August 2023
