Sectarian policies inflict Bahrainis, Executions unsettle Saudis

Continuing its sectarian policy, the khalifi tribal rule has sentenced a Shia Muslim scholar and orator to three months jail sentence for preaching during Ashoora. Sheikh Abdul Amir MalAllah criticised Yazid, the killer of Imam Hussain in his speeches. In recent years the khalifi regime has become affectionate of the despotic Umayyad rule in the early period of Islam and modelled their rule on the Umayyad rule that introduced vicious and cruel practices including severing limbs, chopping heads and obliterating the bodies of the victims. Shia Muslims consider the Umayyad rule as despotic, cruel and immoral and present the case of Imam Hussain as the most horrific example of this policy. That approach angers the regime.

On 27th August two native Bahrainis were detained. Abbas Muslim and Ali Matrook were arrested for no clear reason except their rejection of the khalifi regime and its policies. They also took part in a religious procession to mark the Arbaeen. Many young natives are subject to severe persecution.

The family of Ali Al Majed, a political prisoner at the Dry Dock jail, have expressed their grave concern for his health. On Monday he called them to say that the prison’s management had denied him proper medical care despite his repeated requests. He suffers severe back pain caused by a dislocated disc. Ali Al Majed returned to Bahrain from exile on 3rd July 2024 and was stopped at the airport. He was taken to the prosecutor’s office for further investigation where serious charges were fabricated against him.

An elderly Bahraini citizen has had his detention extended by two more weeks. Jamshir Fairooz,65, was arrested two weeks ago for taking part in Ashoora activities. He has committed no punishable crime. On Ashoora eve he had performed prayers in the street with many others who pray together to mark Imam Hussain’s martyrdom. He has been arrested many times in the past three decades.

Bahrain’s khalifi rulers have been forced to agree not to recruit any more foreign athletes until 2027, World Athletics said. It’s not the first time khalifis have faced scrutiny over hiring foreign athletes and doping, particularly among the roster of athletes who were naturalized. Bahrain’s team in Paris included Kenya-born Winfred Yavi, who won gold in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, and Nigeria-born sprinter Salwa Eid Naser, the silver medalist in the 400. Neither athlete was accused of any wrongdoing. Native athletes have been sidelined for political considerations; some of whom are in jail for opposing the hereditary dictatorship. The regime has used sportswashing as a policy to enhance its image and change it from the one linked to torture and repression. The hiring of foreign athletes is another method of sportswashing. Bahrain’s dictator has give3n up on natives whether in politics, sports or ability to defend his tribal rule.

The plight of native Bahraini political prisoner, Mohammed Hassan Al Raml, 63 has been haunting the country for months. He has been denied proper medical care and his health is rapidly deteriorating. He has been vomiting blood for some time. He has also been denied suitable food in line with what the doctors have suggested. In a recent voice message Mr Al Raml described how his back problem was not addressed in a proper way. Described his condition as the “dying soul” and feels betrayed by the human rights bodies, especially those under the influence of the regime. He called for pressure on the regime to stop the deterioration of his health. He complained of being shackled day and night despite his ailing condition.

On 22nd August Saudi regime detained an elderly citizen from Al Rabi’iya in the Eastern Province. Hajji Yousuf Al Sadiq, 62 was re-arrested a few hours after he was released from prison. He had served over a year at the CID jail for unexplained reasons. Another Saudi citizen from the Eastern Province, Abdullah al-Derazi remains at imminent risk of execution for alleged offences committed as a minor. It is now 10 years since his arrest. Calls are made by human rights and political bodies to the Saudi authorities to quash the death sentence passed on al-Derazi and other juvenile defendants.

Detained Saudi fitness trainer Manahel al-Otaibi has been denied any family contact for three weeks. This raises grave concern about her wellbeing, with al-Otaibi subjected to vicious abuse in prison, and Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Committee failing to address complaints.

Last week the Saudi regime beheaded a native from the Eastern Province on trumped up charges. Court documents reviewed by ALQST recording 58-year old Abdul Majeed Al Nimr’s preliminary sentencing make no mention of any link with Al Qaeda. This claim that appeared in the documents presented to the court suggest that the Ministry is deliberately misrepresenting the facts of the case for political purposes. The man was unjustly killed without a fair trial. This is another extra-judicial killing. Initially on 25th October 2021 the Special Criminal Court (SCC) sentenced Al Nimr to nine years and a travel ban. But the Appeal court changed the sentence to execution, although the ministry of the interior did not ask for this at the beginning. He was subjected to most horrific forms of torture that compelled the officials to transfer him to hospital for immediate treatment to his torture wounds.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

28th August 2024