Revolt in Bahrain’s juvenile prison, concerns for 3 Saudis on death row
The khalifi security forces have detained native Bahraini Mahdi Sadiq Al Nayem from Muharraq in unexplained circumstances. He was transferred to the Dry Dock Prison. His detention has been extended by 30 days for supporting Palestine. Another Bahraini youth, Yousuf Ahmed, was also detained. On 20th December regime’s courts issued a six-month prison sentence against political prisoner, Hussain, Jawad Al Juffairi, 16 (from Sitra). He was detained on 15th December and accused of opposing the khalifi dictatorship. Another Bahraini youth, Reda Al Uraibi was also given six months jail sentence.
The revenge policies by the khalifi regime have intensified with detention and abuse of young natives. On 20th December Mohammed Abbas (from Aali Town) was arrested as he crossed the causeway to Saudi Arabia. Then they extended his detention for seven more days. Political prisoner, Sayed Mohammed Majed Adnan Nasser Hashim, 19 (from BuQuwwa Town) was arrested on 22nd August in a raid on his home by regime’s militia. On 24th December his detention was extended by 30 more days. On 26th December the regime’s prosecutors extended the detention of three native Bahrainis. Mohammed Hani Mohammed, 2 (from Al Zahra city), Hussain Abd Ali Marhoon, 18 (from Malikiyah) and Hussain Al Jaziri, 19 (from Sitra). They were given 15 more days in detention for supporting Palestine. On 26th December the regime’s prosecutors extended the detention of Mohammed Abdul Hadi Al Sakran (from Samaheej Town) for another 15 days for supporting Palestine and taking part in a pro-Palestine protest near the Bahrain International airport. On 20th December regime’s courts extended the detention of two native Bahraini political prisoners by 60 days. Ahmed Khalifa Al Basri, 17 and Mohammed Yousuf Al Tamr, 16, from Sitra had been arrested on trumped up charges.
More than 200 prominent nationals have signed a petition calling on the dictator to release the prominent nationalist figure Ibrahim Sharif. He was detained more than a week ago for criticising khalifi decision to join the Red Sea Alliance against the people of Yemen. On 22nd December a protest was held at Adliya District of Manama calling for khalifi withdrawal from the notorious alliance and the release of Mr Sharif. Six national political societies have also signed a statement calling for his release. International human rights bodies have condemned his arrest. Human Rights First issued a damning statement about the case.
Eight jailed Bahraini opposition and religious leaders condemned their country’s inclusion in a US-led Red Sea naval coalition and called on Manama to sever ties with Israel. A joint statement signed by the prisoners of conscience, including Sheikh Ali Salman, Hassan Mushaima, Abdul Wahab Hussain, Abdul Jalil Al Singace and Abdulhadi Al-Khawajah, describes the recently assembled multinational coalition as an attempt by “America to protect Israeli shipping lines.” It added: “We call on the [Manama] regime to heed the demands of the Bahraini people from all factions and withdraw from this coalition, sever relations with the Zionist entity, and close [the Israeli] embassy in Bahrain,” reads the statement from the Bahraini political prisoners. The statement also calls for the release of a fellow opposition figure, Ibrahim Sharif.
Bahraini activists gathered to mark nine years since the arrest of the country’s opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman and to call for his release. He was arrested on 24th December 2014. The gathering was also used to show support for the Palestinians in Gaza.
On Sunday 24th December the young inmates at the Dry Dock prison started a protest to call for improvement of their well-being. They went on hunger strike calling for better treatment, improved food quality, allowing them to get clothes from their families and allowing better family visits. They are also calling for general repairs in the prison buildings, including the water heating system especially in winter.
Serious concerns are growing for the lives of three Saudi nationals falsely accused and condemned to death by the regime courts. On 23rd January 2023 Saudi Arabia’s Specialised Criminal Court of Appeal (SCC) upheld death sentences against three members of the Huwaitat tribe. Shadi Ibrahim and Ataullah al-Huwaiti in relation to their peaceful opposition to forces evictions and residents displacement for the state-led Neom megacity project. This ruling is subject to appeal in the Supreme Court: if the Supreme Court also upholds their sentences the three men will be at risk of imminent execution.
There has been a significant development in the Belgian court case related to crimes against humanity committed by Saudi officials against Human Rights Defenders, including Loujain al-Hathloul. The Brussels’s court of appeal has decided to make a referral to the European Union Court of Justice (CJEU) procedure. In the Court of Justice, each case is assigned 1 judge (the “judge-rapporteur”) and 1 advocate general. Cases are processed in 2 stages: Written stage. The parties give written statements to the Court – and observations can also be submitted by national authorities, EU institutions and sometimes private individuals.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
27th December 2023