In the past few days many native Bahraini youths were detained by the khalifi dictators for taking part in peaceful protests to mark the 13^th anniversary of the 14^th February Revolution. From the town of Daih Redha Khalid Khamis, 16 and Sayed Ahmed Al Falla, 14 were arrested on 14^th February after the regime’s forces attacked a peaceful protest. Jaffar Taqi Al Halwachi from Manama was detained in unknown circumstances. On 15^th February Yasser Ammar Ibrahim was arrested for taking part in a protest at Karranah town. Four others were also arrested: Abbas Fadel, Haidar Radhi, Ali Mohammed Al Khayyer and Muntadhar Mohammed Al Khayyer from Daih town.

In the early hours of Saturday 17th February regime forces carried out vicious raids on several homes at Al Maqsha’ town. Two native Bahraini youths were detained in these raids: Jaffar Al Masajjan and Hussain Shakir Al Mawali. The raids continued for two hours during which the regime’s thugs confiscated a number of computers and telephone devices. Another Bahraini man, Ali Hammam was also arrested. Some of the detainees were subsequently freed after they had been ill-treated.

Under the heading: “13^th anniversary of the Bahrain pro-democracy uprising” a new Early Day Motion was tabled for signatures at the UK Parliament on 19^th February. It was sponsored by John McDonnell, MP. It noted “the 13th anniversary of Bahrain’s 2011 uprising, when widespread protests demanding democratic change and decrying structural inequalities, corruption, oppression and a lack of government representation were met with government violence and repression, in which dozens of individuals were killed and hundreds arrested, some of whom are still imprisoned”. The EDM “raises the alarm that Bahrain’s rights record has since deteriorated and opposition leaders and human rights defenders, including Abduljalil Al-Singace, Hassan Mushaima, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Abdulwahab Hussein, languish behind bars and calls for their release”. It also “decries that Bahrain holds 26 prisoners on death row at imminent risk of execution, many of whom allege torture including Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa”. It “calls on the Government to reinstate Bahrain to the Foreign Office human rights priority list, given Bahrain’s rights record”. The EDM “calls for consideration of Magnitsky sanctions for those known to be perpetrators of human rights atrocities; and raises concerns that millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money continue to be spent on technical assistance to Bahrain through the Gulf Strategy Fund, despite evidence that it has supported institutions including the Bahrain Interior Ministry and the Ombudsman which have been implicated in torture, death penalty and whitewashing abuses.” It is now open for signing by the MPs.

Despite the intense repression, Bahrainis continue to march in the streets—in support of Palestine and to demand the release of those still behind bars. “As torture has failed to break their will, resilience endures.” There were several protests in Sanabis, Karranah, Abu Saiba, Duraz, Sitra and Karzakkan. In addition to marking the country’s Revolution, the protesters expressed support for the Palestinians in Gaza and call on the khalifi dictators to cut links with the forces of occupation.

Prominent human rights activist, Maryam al-Khawaja, who resides in Denmark has been diagnosed with a certain type of blood cancer. She has been started on a course of treatment. Yet she has defied the disease and continued her protest in Copenhagen. She has been calling for the release of her father, Abdul Hadi  al-Khawaja who has been in jail for 13 years. She is also protesting the bombing of Gaza. Her courage has surprised many as she continues her activism while she is undergoing a course of Chemotherapy treatment.

The Saudi authorities have arrested Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Suwailem, one of the sheikhs and teachers in the Al-Suwaidi neighborhood in Riyadh. They did not specify the reasons or motives for the arrest. In the past few weeks the Saudi authorities arrested several activists, preachers and lawyers. Omar Al Khawli and Tariq Al Shami, two lawyers were arrested. From Riyadh the detentions included Khalid Al Khathiri and Abdul Rahman Al Suwailem. Yemeni activist, Fahad Ramadan has been in detention since November for criticising the crown prince. In recent days several football fans from the Eastern Peninsula were detained for shouting slogans in a football match. It was followed by the dissolution of the Management Board of Al Safa Club

Saudi activist Abdulrahman al-Khalidi is under an order of deportation from Bulgaria to Saudi Arabia, where he would be at substantial risk of grave rights violations. Several international NGOs are calling on the Bulgarian authorities not to hand Mr al-Khalidi to the Saudi regime. ALQST urges the Bulgarian authorities to immediately cancel his deportation. It said: “It’s shameful that an EU member state is planning to deport a peaceful Saudi activist back to Saudi Arabia, where he would almost certainly face arbitrary arrest and other abuses. The Bulgarian authorities should urgently halt al-Khalidi’s deportation”.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

21^st February 2024