Life imprisonment for Bahrainis, Young Saudi activist beheaded
Families of political prisoners held several protests calling for the release of their loved ones. On Thursday 20thJune they made their voices heard outside the regime’s human rights committee and near the Ombudsman’s office. This is to compliment the protest by the prisoners at the notorious Jau prison which has now lasted 80 days. On Friday 21st June, the worshippers in Duraz participated in a protest calling for the release of prisoners and severing links with Israel.
On Monday 24th June regime forces detained six natives from the town of Karzakkan, 77 days after they had been “pardoned” by the dictator. On 9th April the six were among other political prisoner who had been released to mark the Eid Al Fitr at the end of Ramadan. Abdullah Abbas Mohammed Abdul Rasool Darwish, 17, his brother Moammed, 18, Mohammed Jassim Al Qattan, 17, Hussain Ahmed Hassan AlKesh, 19, Mohammed Khalil Al Karrani and Mohammed Shawqi Salman Ahmed Mohammed, 18. They were summoned to appear at Rounabout 17 of Hamad Town and were taken away to serve a three month prison sentence imposed on them by regime’s courts for taking part in a peaceful protest.
On Monday 24th June a khalifi kangaroo court issued a prison sentence on six native Bahrainis. Amjad Sanad and Mohammed AlNubool who were present at the court were given life imprisonment and fined 100,000 Bahraini Dinars (around $250,000). Four others were also sentenced to life in absentia. The two were arrested one year ago and their homes raided and searched. No incriminating evidence was found, yet the arbitrary sentences were imposed within the policy of revenge adopted by the regime against the natives.
The family of senior political figure, Sheikh Mirza Al Mahroos has expressed deep worry about his deteriorating health. Last week he was rushed to hospital after collapsing with severe pain in his cell. The prison officials have declined to inform them of the health of Sheikh Al Mahroos. He was detained in March 2011 with other senior opposition figures, ill-treated and sentenced in an unfair trial.
On 19th June regime’s security officials arrested a native Bahraini on his return from Germany. Hussain Abbas Ali was transferred to the Dry Dock prison. His family is extremely worried as he suffers serious epilepsy and could collapse with dangerous bouts any minute. They offered to bring his medicines to him in jail, but their offer was rejected.
Yesterday a khalifi court extended the detention of a young native. Alaa Yasser Abdulla was arrested on 16th June after being pursued by regime’s forces in the alleyways of Abu Saiba town. He was remanded in custody for 15 more days. This extension often happens when the torturers find no evidence to charge the detainee that could be used by their courts to extend his detention. Summary justice is routinely enforced by the regime in its attempts to subdue the native activists.
Bahraini political prisoners have sent letters of support and respect to jailed leaders. A group of activists, led by Sheikh Jassim Al Khayyat visited the families of Hassan Mushaima, Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace, Sheikh Mohammed Habib Al Miqdad and Sheikh Abdul Hadi Al Mokhowdar to hand them the letters. Those leaders are serving life imprisonment imposed by the khalifi dictators.
The health of a political prisoner is rapidly deteriorating but he is not getting adequate treatment. Ali BuHumaid, brother of martyr Abdul Reda BuHumaid, is suffering serious illness which has deteriorated as a result of the lack of medical care. On Sunday he was rushed to the A&E at Salmaniya Hospital. Despite the seriousness of his illness he was repeatedly turned back when he visited the clinic at Jau Prison.
Bahrain’s highest Shiite religious authority Sheikh Isa Qassim is calling on both the Bahraini people and government to help former political prisoners, who spent years behind bars and now struggle to cover the cost of everything from medical treatment to providing for their children. In a statement on Tuesday, the cleric said a “generous society” shouldn’t allow these men and their children to face these burdens alone. “This is not a case of begging,” Sheikh Qassim explained and described the former prisoners as “a group of honorable people” who made sacrifices for others’ rights. The cleric also said the government “bears the greatest responsibility religiously, legally, and rationally because it is the root of the problem.”
Yesterday the Saudi regime executed another political prisoner for opposing the hereditary dictatorship. Abdulla Ali Mohammed Al Mheishi was beheaded after being accused of “Heraba” which implies challenging the regime. He received grossly unfair trial and was held incommunicado for years. The young man from Al Awwamiyah town in the Eastern Province was tortured to extract false confessions which were used as a basis for the verdict. There is now growing fear for the life of underaged Saudi young citizen, Yousuf Al Manasef who faces similar fate and could be executed any day. Saudi cleric Amir al-Muhalhal was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison, after being arbitrarily detained in October 2020 for peacefully exercising his right of freedom of expression. Calls have been made by NGOs for his immediate release.
The Saudi authorities’ slow and defensive response to the shocking death toll during this year’s hajj pilgrimage is serious cause for alarm. It is widely reported that at least 1300 pilgrims lost their lives as the temperatures soured in Mecca. The Saudi authorities have been asked to be transparent, and grant independent investigators access to the country to investigate the events of Hajj.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
26th June 2024