Bahraini political prisoners suspend hunger strike, Saudi man executed
Tension is rising in Bahrain’s notorious Jau Prison following the end of the hunger strike by hundreds of inmates. They decided to end their action after the khalifis appeared to have ordered the prison officials to cave in to their demands. For five weeks the native Bahraini political prisoners were forced to use hunger as a weapon against the khalifi dictators, demanding the right to proper medical care, longer daily outing from their cells and removal of the glass barriers that have been among the worst inhumane crime committed by the dictators. The barrier has, for the past 12 years separated the detainees from their loved ones including their children, wives, parents and other siblings. The world has stood in solidarity with the native Bahrainis against the khalifi invaders. Their crown prince ordered his torturers to acquiesce to those humble demands for the time being. For his victims this represents a moral victory that will herald the end of his tribal rule. The political prisoners remain vigilant and ready to resume their strike by the end of the month if the regime reneged on its promises.
The end of the hunger strike came after many prisoners had fallen, some of whom were rushed to hospital. Among them were Saeed Abdullah Al Aali (from Sitra), Hassan Ali Mahdi (Al Malikiya). Political prisoner Ahmed Mohamed Abdullah has lost 20 kilograms during the month-long hunger strike in Jau Prison.
Meanwhile more native Bahrainis have been detained by the khalifi tribal rulers in the past week. Among them are four young boys from Karzakkan Town who were detained yesterday: Jassim Mohammed Taher Al Jabal, Mohammed Khalil Ibrahim Ali, Hussain Ahmed Hussain Al-Kish and Mohammed Mirza Mohammed Abu Hassan. A 56-years old native citizen has also been arrested following his remarks against the political naturalisation policy of the khalifi dictators. He was particularly incensed by the institutionalised discrimination against native Bahrainis in the police service.
The human rights activist, Maryam Al Khawaja plans to travel to Bahrain in the coming days, accompanied by some journalists and human rights activists in a quest to get her father released. Agnes Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders announced that she would join a Miss Al-Khawaja in her trip. She tweeted: “On behalf of@amnesty10 million supporters globally, I will be joining Maryam Al-Khawaja in traveling to Bahrain this week to call for the release of her father, Abdulhadi al Khawaja, unjustly imprisoned for more than 12 years and for that of all prisoners of conscience”. She also urged the Biden administration to ask his guest, the khalifi crown prince, who is visiting Washington to release the political prisoners. The mother of Mohammed Al Daqqaq was summoned by the torturers and threatened with severe consequences if she continued campaigning for the release of her son from jail.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Bahraini political prisoner, Ahmed Jaffar who has been on hunger strike for few weeks had been subjected to a tirade of physical and psychological torture. It said that a Syrian torturer used offensive language, swearing and sectarian threats to intimidate him. He said to him: We brought you to these cells in order to assault (sexually) your mothers
Following another execution on Friday 8th September, the Saudi authorities have now executed 100 individuals in 2023. Almost half (46) of those were killed by ta’zir (the judge’s discretion). The latest execution was reported by the official Saudi News Agency, without naming the victim. Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director, said: “In clear contrast to Saudi Arabia’s repeated promises to limit its use of the death penalty, the Saudi authorities have already executed 100 people this year, revealing their chilling disregard for the right to life. “The authorities’ relentless killing spree raises serious fears for the lives of young men on death row who were under 18 at the time of the crimes.“
This week, Saudi woman activist, Areej Al-Sadhan tweeted the following about how the Saudi torturers dealt with her detained brother: “Is this the hand you tweet with” they said as they broke my brother’s hand and smashed his fingers. My brother was in the intensive care unit for days fighting for his life.The regime had placed him under enforced disappearance for years in order to hide the torture.“
Six years ago scores of activists, academics and activists and thinkers were detained by the Saudi regime. They include Dr. Ali Hamza al-Omari who currently faces the death penalty for exercising his right to freedom of expression. Also, Islamic scholar Hassan al-Maliki continues to face trial, in which the Public Prosecutor is seeking a death sentence. He was detained in 2017. The charges against him are vague and contravene his right of free expression. They include “lack of commitment to good citizenship”.
Saudi courts have sentenced a blind woman, Sakeena al-Othman, to 40 years in prison. Several other women were also handed lengthy jail terms on similar charges (including HR activist Salma al-Shehab, who was given a 27-year sentence for tweeting).
Bahrain Freedom Movement
13th September 2023