Bahrainis are sceptic about prisoners release, three executed by Saudis
The recent releases of many of the political prisoners from Bahraini jails have exposed the extent of repression in the country. No other Gulf country has waged such a war on the natives in recent years. Thousands were imprisoned illegally, many have spent over 13 years behind bars. The releases are seen as a victory for the victims who refused to submit to the hereditary dictatorship and have endured years of ill-treatment, torture and abuse. Despite this, regime’s torture chambers are still open, receiving new political prisoners and holding old detainees. The present ruler had committed heinous crimes against the natives, and he must stand trial for what he had done.
On Sunday 8th September the Public Prosecution ordered the detention of religious scholar, Sheikh Hussein Al-Qafoud and Islamic eulogist Fawaz Abdulnabi. The detention came shortly after they had been freed from prison in a royal pardon of more about 150 political prisoners. The two men were detained over remarks they made following their release, affirming their readiness for more sacrifices. Sheikh Al-Qafoud was serving a life sentence prior to his release, while Abdulnabi served five of his 15-year sentence. The public prosecutor’s office ordered that Abdulnabi be jailed for at least 90 days ‘pending an investigation’.
Habib Mahdi was one of those who were released on 5th September after years of incarceration. But within a day he was taken back to prison to serve six more months. The family was told that this sentence had been imposed on him in 2016, i.e. more than eight years ago. No one knew of this sentence and the family has been stunned. This may explain why the public reaction to the recent releases has been muted. Native Bahrainis always expect to be imprisoned by the khalifi dictators.
After more than 13 years of imprisonment, three of which in a virtual solitary confinement, Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace is passing through a critical moment of his life. He has been on hunger strike for more than two years, refusing to take solid foods in protest against the conditions of his jail, the confiscation of his literary manuscript and the unfair trial he had received in 2011. Khalifi dictators have deprived him of all forms of diagnostics, including MRI, eye tests, teeth check-ups and Neutral conductive test for his nerves. Specialist have been banned from seeing him. Medicines have not been provided on regular basis including for heart and ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts). He has also been denied family visits or contacts with the outside world.
Continuing its corrupt policies, the khalifi dictator exploited the recess of the powerless “parliament” and issued a decree to raise the ceiling of national borrowing to BD 18 billion Bahraini Dinars ($48 billion). The current debts stand at BD 16 billion ($42.5 bn) On 1st September the ruler issued Decree No 10 for 2024 to allow further borrowing for the eighth time during the current “parliamentary” period. The government will borrow BD 839 million ($2.22 bn). The details of how these huge debts occurred is a top secret. It is widely believed that the royal court swallows most of it to provide for the lavish expenses by the dictator. The royal court is not only milking the country to the limit but pushes to accumulate extra debts beyond limits. The debt to GDP ratio is rising beyond 130 percent.
On 9th September the Saudi regime executed three people in Riyadh allegedly on terror-related charges. The individuals Talal Al-Hudhali, Majdi Al-Kaabi and Raed Al-Kaabi, were executed for “committing criminal acts … including treason, providing support to terrorist entities, and communicating with them, adopting a terrorist approach that permits the shedding of blood, money and honour, and inciting people to carry out terrorist acts with the aim of undermining the security and stability of society.” The kingdom has carried out 150 executions since January against individuals many of whom involved in political activities.
Since the beginning of the year ten people from Qatif Province were executed on political charges. The cases of only four of them were known to the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) before their execution. Today most of those condemned to death are from the same region. They are condemned for taking part in peaceful political protests and calling for rights.
In an open letter, forty NGOs have called on Saudi Arabia to free all individuals arbitrarily detained solely for their online expression ahead of hosting the 2024 United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh. It will be held in mid-December.
On 6th September A protest was held in front of the Saudi embassy in Norway in solidarity with Manahel Al Otaibi who was arrested because of tweets about women’s rights. This is at a time when MBS (Saudi crown prince) claims to reform the women’s rights file which has become extremely oppressive and bad under his rule. Women have repeatedly been detained and abused by Saudi police.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
11th September 2024