Crackdown on Bahrainis after Ashoora, Saudi & UAE persecute HRDs
Several native Bahrainis were detained last month for taking part in religious processions. Among them were: Hassan Al Hayki, Hassan Jaffar Marhoon, 16, Ali Saeed Sdaif, 16, Hassan Mohammed Al Abbood, 18, Fadel Abbas Hassan Mahdi, 18, Hajji Munir Mushaima, brother of martyr Sami Mushaima, Kumail Abdul Karim, Ahmed Yousuf Al Musalli, Ali Muhanna, Ali Hammam, Ali Nasser, Sheikh Abdul Amir MalAllah, Saleh Isa Saleh Ali (Karranah), Ahmed Hussain Al Hamadi (Karranah), Usama Mohammed Ubaid (Demstan), Mohammed Jaffar Mohammed (Saar), Abdullah Mohammed Abdulla, Mahmood Abdullah Yousuf Aman, (Ma’amir), Hussain Moosa Hassan (Duraz) and Ahmed Mahmmod Dhahi (Sitra).
Regime’s prosecutors have ordered the detention of four native Bahrainis for “illegal gathering and prayers” on the eve of Ashoora. Hassan Al Hayki, Fakhri Rashid, Sayed Mohammed Al Alawi and Hassan Ali Eid were accused of performing “unlicensed prayers” in Manama. They were remanded in custody for seven days.
On Friday 27th July, young native Bahraini Karrar Ali Hassan Mohammed Radhi, 18, from Shahrakkan town was arrested. He was summoned to appear at the notorious CID headquarters where he was abused, threatened and detained. His brother, Hussain, is serving a prison sentence of 48 years. On Saturday 28th July regime’s forces arrested Hassan Al Zaaki, 25, from Maqaba town. He was summoned by the CID department where he was interrogated and detained.
Yesterday an elderly citizen was summoned by the security services officers for interrogation. Jamshir Fairooz, 63 has always been in the regime’s limelight and was often detained and interrogated. He is the brother of two former MPs who had fled the country and now live in exile in UK. Under-aged citizen Fadel Khalil Ibrahim, 17, from Karbabad, was arrested last Friday 26th July. On Monday 29th July he was accused by the prosecution of illegal gathering at a public place and was remanded in custody for seven days.
The fifth anniversary of the execution of three native Bahrainis was marked yesterday in several parts of the country. Ali Al Arab and Ahmed Al Malali were executed by the regime after a show trial after they were convicted on false accusations. They maintained their innocence until their last breath in the early hours of 27th July 2019. Bahrainis have been in shock and anger at what they view as “sectarian” killings without a due process of the law. Many human rights bodies had urged the khalifi regime not to carry out the execution, but to no avail
Yesterday the illegal detention of a senior religious scholar was extended. Sheikh Isa Al Qaffas was detained on 22nd July for leading prayers. His detention has now been extended for two weeks more. Another senior religious scholar was also detained. Sheikh Mahmood Al Aali was remanded in custody for one week. This is part of a sectarian policy against the majority native Shia Muslim population.
Protests continued last week. On Friday 26th July, there were massive demonstrations in Duraz, Bani Jamra, Abu Saiba, Karranah, Al Dair, Samaheej, Saar, Bilad Al Qadeem, Al Markh, Karzakkan, Demstan, Al Daih, Nabih Saleh, Ma’amir and Sitra. Protesters were calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the Bahraini political prisoners.
On Tuesday 23rd July, political prisoner Mohammed Abbas Abdul Rasool was transferred to solitary confinement at the Dry Dock prison for no clear reasons. This is a serious human rights abuse as people are forced to live in small isolated cells with no communication with the outside world.
Saudi human rights activists and bodies like Alqst participated in a side event in Geneva on the issue of human rights in the country. Former woman political prisoner Lina Alhathloul focused on the Saudi authorities’ silencing of women human rights defenders (WHRDs). ALQST and Global Citizen network presented a petition calling on the Saudi authorities to end their use of the death penalty for offences committed by minors. So far, it has attracted the signatures of over 17,000 people.
It has been six years since the last reported sighting of Saudi preacher Sulaiman al-Dowaish, who was previously arrested in April 2016 for tweeting critical comments about the king and crown prince. Following his arrest, he was brutally tortured by high-ranking officials.
The authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have detained, convicted and sentenced to long prison terms 57 Bangladeshi protesters based on their participation in peaceful demonstrations across the UAE. The investigation was launched, trial commenced and verdict rendered in 48 hours. Earlier this month the Abu Dhabi federal appeals court had convicted 53 defendants, including “leaders and members of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood organisation”. Human rights groups said the accused were human rights activists, government critics and democracy advocates.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
31st July 2024