Bahrain’s Martyrs Day marked, Saudi woman forcibly disappeared
The khalifi dictatorship has arrested Ibrahim Sharif, the outspoken national political figure for opposing the khalifi participation in the new military alliance to defend Israel. Mr Sharif tweeted against this alliance in line with the national mood that supports Palestine and condemns the Zionist aggression on the Palestinians. As the pro-Palestine protests continue in various parts of Bahrain the regime’s forces have also escalated their repression and detentions. On 15th December three native Bahraini youths were arrested after a peaceful protest in Sitra had been attacked. Mohammed Yousuf Al Tamer, 17, Hussain Jawad, 16 and Ahmed Khalifa Al Basri, 17 were snatched by the khalifi jailers. On 18th December native youth, Mohammed Abdul Hassan from Al-Ne’aim was detained in a raid on his home in the town of Saar. He had been sentenced for five years in absentia for his political views. At least four youths were also arrested in the town of Duraz. The 17-year-old grandson of Bahrain’s highest Shiite religious authority Sheikh Isa Qassim had his detention extended by at least 30 days. Mahdi Nasser Ahmad was arrested for taking part in pro-Palestine protests and has been in jail since November 2. Two days later, the khalifi prosecutors extended the detention of Murtada Rassel Al Samahiji, 18, from Malikiya town for 15 more days.
The Martyrs Day of Bahrain (17th December) was marked with passion. People took part in countrywide protests calling for an end to the policy of impunity that has protected the killers of the Bahraini youths for the past half a century. Pictures of the martyrs were held by protesters amid calls for a fundamental political change that will lead to upholding justice and punish killers and torturers. Demonstrations were held in Sanabis, Adliya, AlDair, Duraz and other places. On Thursday 14th December the Bahraini opposition in UK held a seminar and Press Conference which was addressed by MPs and activists. The significance of the Martyrs Day was highlighted. On Friday night (15th December) Bahraini activists held a vigil outside the khalifi embassy in Belgravia, holding candles and banners with the names and pictures of some of the martyrs.
The Bahraini National Initiative Against Normalisation issued a statement condemning the dubious alliances that are created to serve the interests of the Zionist enemy. The campaign is led by the political and civil society institutions. The statement called for Bahrain not to become part of such alliances which places national interests at risk. It came after the visit by the American secretary of state, Lloyd Austin, to Bahrain to prop up support for a new alliance that was shunned by other Gulf and Arab states. It aims at protecting the Israeli ships sailing in the Red Sea through Bab Al Mandab Straits. In recent weeks some cargo ships ferrying goods to Israel were targeted by the Yemenis who support the Palestinians.
Bahraini political prisoner Ayoub Adel Ahmed had to spend 21 days in intensive care because the authorities of the notorious Jau Prison had delayed his access to desperately needed medical treatment. According to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, the 31-year-old was urinating blood and suffering from severe abdominal pain when he requested treatment. Prison authorities ignored his appeals for two days. When he was finally taken to the hospital, he came close to developing kidney failure and other health complications.
Human rights observers have continued their interests in Bahrain. Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch tweeted: Bahraini authorities continue to hold human rights defender Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, as well as Hassan Mushaima, a 75-year-old who has been held since 2011 for his political activism, despite alarming worsening health. Both should be released immediately. Amnesty Bahrain also tweeted: Bahrain denied Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja proper healthcare for most of 2023, canceling medical appointments or making him wait for hours inside an unventilated truck partition to attend. With proper care he might have avoided medical emergencies, including this one.
Bahraini political prisoner Muhammad Al-Singace has been on hunger strike for the last three months and is suffering from dangerously low blood sugar. In November, he was taken to the Jau Prison clinic following a sharp drop in blood pressure and diabetes complications. The activist, who spent the last decade in prison on false charges is demanding a retrial and an investigation of his torture. Political prisoner Jassim Khalil Al-Saffar has also launched hunger strike to protest the denial of medical treatment. Al-Saffar, who suffers from a chronic skin disease and other health complications is denied proper treatment.
Seven years ago, Saudi Arabia’s authorities arrested human rights activist Essa al-Nukheifi for his peaceful human rights work. His six-year sentence expired more than one year ago. Yet, instead of being released, he has been forcibly disappeared since 15 October 2022.
Yesterday The European Saudi Organisatinon for Human Rights (ESOHR) raised the case of the disappeared Saudi woman, Aisa Al Nejaibani. She had criticised the role of the care homes in the country. Since July 2019 Al Nejaibani has been banned from leaving the Orphan House in Qasseem, arrested and disappeared. Her case has exposed the false pretentions of the Saudi regime about empowering women.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
20th December 2023
