Bahraini Pro-Palestine activists held, Saudis unfit to host internet meeting
Young Bahrainis have continued to pay with their freedom for supporting the people of Gaza. Four young men have been arrested for taking part in protests against Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Hussein Al-Jaziri, Mohammad Abdul Rida Buhamid, Hussein Abd Ali Marhoon, and Murtada Al-Samahiji were detained during a police raid in Karzakan. Also, regime courts have extended the imprisonment of six native Bahraini political prisoners for two more weeks; Hassan Rabi’ (from Sitra), Abbas Aqeel Hani (Duraz), Mohammed Hussain Ahmed (Sanabis), Sayed Hussain Abbas Al-Alawi (Karbabad), Ali Hassan El Ekri (from Daih) and Abdul Rahman Al Hussaini (from Manama). They were detained on 26th October after the regime forces attacked a pro-Palestine demonstration in Sitra. A 15 years old boy, Sayed Mohammed Al Alawi has had his detention extended by 15 days. Mohammed Yousuf (from Sanad) also had his detention extended by 15 days. Two other young citizens were detained and charged with supporting the Palestinians. On Saturday 11th November Mohammed Hussain Jassim Al Sawlah, 17 (from Sanad) was arrested and detained for 15 days. On 15th November Ali Al Baqqali, 17 (from Jid Hafs) and Ali Hamida, 16 (from Sanabis) were also detained and remanded in custody. Two other young native Bahrainis have been detained for supporting the people of Palestine. On 19th November the khalifi prosecutors ordered the detention of Hussain Al Jaziri (from Sitra) and Mahmood Abd Ali Marhoon (from Malikiyah) for seven days which are likely to be extended.
Throughout the week there protests were held in various parts of Bahrain in support of Gaza. The towns of Duraz, Sanabis, Aali and Sitra joined in these protests.
Danish human rights activists have, once again, raised the case of a senior Bahraini political prisoner. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is an internationally recognized, award-winning human rights defender. He co-founded both the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), of which he is also the former president. In 2013, a member of the European Parliament nominated al-Khawaja for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in calling for the Bahraini government to respect human rights and pursue peaceful political reform. The authors of the article said: The time for strong, public action to secure his release is now. The Danish government should seize the fleeting momentum that has been created by recent developments.
A former Tory MP has said he will step down at the next general election after being found guilty of racially abusing a Bahraini activist. Bob Stewart, who surrendered the Tory whip and now sits as an independent in Beckenham, south London, was found guilty of telling Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei to “go back to Bahrain” during a confrontation in central London in December last year.
Yesterday, websites belonging to Bahrain’s foreign and information ministries were hacked by a group calling itself Al-Toufan (The Flood). The group said it targeted the government sites in response to “abnormal statements” by members of the kingdom’s ruling Al-Khalifa clan on the Gaza genocide. Al-Toufan carried out other cyberattacks in recent months. In February, it marked the 12-year anniversary of Bahrain’s pro-democracy uprising by hacking websites belonging to Manama’s international airport, the state news agency, and the chamber of commerce. Speaking ahead of an annual security summit in Manama last Friday, Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa condemned Hamas for its October 7 attack on Israel and called on the group to release Israeli captives.Al Khalifa was echoing similar condemnation from Bahrain’s foreign ministry, which had previously described Hamas’ operation as “a dangerous escalation”.
Detained Saudi fitness trainer Manahel al-Otaibi has been denied any family contact since 5 November. This raises further concerns about her wellbeing. Al-Otaibi has faced abuse in prison and has been placed in solitary confinement.
At the Alternative Human Rights Expo II held ahead of COP28 in UAE the UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders Michel Forst spoke about the urgent need to better support those who are at the forefront to protect the future of our planet. Several speakers from the GCC countries addressed the virtual “Alternative Human Rights Expo 2) which was held on 15th November. Lina Alhathloul called for the release of the Saudi women human rights defenders Salma Al-Shehab, Manahel Al-Otaibi and others imprisoned in violation of their basic rights. These include Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani and NEOM activists. Hamad Alshamsi spoke about Emirati prisoners of conscience and called for their release.
More than 70 digital and human rights organisations wrote to the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, urging him to reverse the decision to allow Saudi Arabia to host the next Internet Governance Forum annual meeting. The organisations expressed concern that Saudi Arabia’s deeply troubling human rights record would effectively make it unviable for civil society bodies to freely and safely participate in the meeting, given the serious physical and digital security risks facing those attempting to peacefully voice dissent in the country.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
22nd November 2023
