More Bahrainis detained, Khashoggi remembered 5 years after murder
On 28th September two native Bahraini brothers were detained by the khaliifi regime at the Bahrain-Saudi causeway. Nasrallah ِ Al Seeb and his brother Mohammed Ali, from Karzakkan were snatched and taken to the torture chambers and their fate remains unknown. Two minors, Mohammad Hassan Radhi and Mohammad Abdul Zahraa were sentenced to one year in prison for their anti-regime views..
On September 29, 2023, the United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, presented the annual report of the UN Secretary-General on intimidation and reprisals against those cooperating with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms. The report expressed concern over continued acts of reprisals against human rights defenders in Bahrain, including Mr Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, Mr Abduljalil al-Singace and Sayed Ahmed al-Wadaei. Saudi Arabia had the highest number of mentions in the reprisals report, due to its consistent pattern of reprisals against human rights defenders.
Speaking at current session of the UN Human Rights Council the Danish delegate pointed out that Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja’s case involving his arbitrary arrest and torture was appearing for a fifth time in the Secretary-General’s annual report on cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights. “However, Mr. Al-Khajawa is still in detention and his health status and access to adequate medical care remain a source of serious concern,” the Danish statement reads. “Furthermore, we note other cases of concern in Bahrain. This year, we have reportedly witnessed the largest hunger strike in the history of Bahrain, with inmates – including Mr. Al-Khawaja – protesting against arbitrary detention and demanding better conditions in prison.”
The Italian newspaper Tuttosport announced that Bahrain’s Investcorp had made a substantial bid of €1.3 billion to purchase Inter Milan football club. This news has sparked legitimate worries about the Social Insurance Organization’s financial resources. The Social Insurance Organization has been experiencing investment losses, with its profits appearing disproportionately small in comparison to its substantial assets, valued at 2.6 billion dinars in fixed and movable assets. While some Gulf countries invest in clubs and sovereign funds, their primary goal is not financial return. Instead, they view such investments as complementary to their other endeavors. In the case of Bahrain, however questions arise about the purpose of investing in a football club and the anticipated indirect benefits. Bahrain has previously experienced losses in investments, which drain the country’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, notably with the purchase of the struggling McLaren car company. These risky investments have been made unilaterally by the government and the ruling regime without adequate accountability. Sportswashing has become a convenient way to distract attention away from human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Ahead of the fifth anniversary of the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a joint statement was signed by 17 human rights bodies. It called on the US administration to sanction the Saudi crown price for his role in the murder: The statement says: We, the undersigned organizations, hoping to honor Jamal Khashoggi’s memory, call on the Biden administration to reverse its current policy and prioritize significant and genuine human rights improvements by the Saudi government. The Biden administration should not continue to look the other way as the relentless crackdown on human rights continues to escalate in Saudi Arabia. Such scrutiny is essential to achieving Saudi Arabia’s own Vision 2030 objective of “creating a vibrant society in which all citizens can thrive and pursue their passions.” It will also demonstrate to the world that the United States remains committed to upholding the UN Charter and international law, as reaffirmed in a recent joint statement with Gulf Cooperation Council member states. Groups of different backgrounds protested outside Saudi embassies in London, Washington and elsewhere. Press freedom groups have called on Congress to pass new legislation protecting media workers as they marked the fifth anniversary of Khashoggi’s murder. The Khashoggi Act, introduced Monday, would allow lawsuits in the United States against governments implicated in extraterritorial repression. A separate Khashoggi Resolution pledges U.S. action to hold the Saudi government accountable for human rights abuses
The people of the Eastern Province of Arabia are being subjected to a process of ethnic cleansing by the House of Saud. For several years the regime has been re-designing the region to enforce this process through deception. Under the pretext of “modernising” the region the heritage of the natives has been targeted for obliteration. This week bulldozers have been in action demolishing Aman Mosque, Al Khidr Hussainiya (Shia Muslim congregation hall) in Al Shuwaika and al-Alwan mosque in Kuwaikib district. Many houses and other structures have been demolished in what is see as a policy of ethnic cleansing targeting the Shia natives there.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
4th October 2023