Bahraini families protest death sentences, Saudi beheadings increase
On Friday 29th November the families of Bahraini death row prisoners staged a protest outside the notorious Jau prison calling for their immediate and conditional release. They also called for the right of the political prisoners to contact their families and also receive family visits which have been stopped for several weeks. The mother of death row political prisoner, Hussain Ali Mahdi has called for the release of her son and other prisoners from the khalifi jails. She has maintained her son’s innocence while the regime could not prove his alleged guilt. Also, the families of 12 native Bahrainis on death row staged a protest on Friday 29th November. They want to know what happened to them as there have been no visits for some time. They are also concerned for those who were moved to isolation cells.
The ban on Friday prayers in Duraz has continued for nine weeks. The town of Duraz where the prayers were held every Friday is under a virtual siege. On Fridays, worshippers are prevented from reaching the Imam Al Sadiq Mosque where the prayers were led by Sheikh Ali Al Sadadi who had been detained. Calls have been made to allow the prayers but the regime has continued the ban. This is a serious act as it amounts to religious persecution of the overwhelming majority population.
On Thursday 28th November regime’s courts extended the detention of Mohammed Al Jaziri (from Sitra) for 30 more days. Regime’s prosecutors have ordered the detention of under-aged Bahraini boy for joining a protest. Ali Hussain Al Matook, 15 (from Karranah town) who was detained on 26th August has had his detention extended by two more weeks. During the interrogation sessions the boy was not allowed to have a lawyer. His arrest has angered many people as he will lose on his education and school attendance.
The management of Jau prison has decided to deny the political prisoners at Blocs 8 and 10 the right to buy their essential items from the prison canteen, without giving the reasons. This is an evil step intended to make the lives of the political prisoners more difficult.
A young Bahraini political prisoner has been subjected to abuse and torture at the Dry Dock prison. Sayed Hassan Jawad was detained recently for taking part in a peaceful protest in support of the people of Lebanon and Gaza. When the pressures on him intensified he went into a strike. Instead of improving his treatment he was beaten up severely to force him to end his strike. The prison cameras were switched off while the beating took place. He is now in a poor physical condition as a result.
Human rights activists and organisations have called on the khalifi regime to release the native Bahrain political prisoners and to stop the new policy of psychological torture on the prisoners that has intensified. Instead of heeding the calls the regime has opted to grant conditional releases to small groups in order to test whether the “former” prisoners would give up their political rights. Anyone who is on a conditional release is not allowed to exercise the basic political rights such expression of opinion in the media, joining a peaceful protest or signing statements calling for legitimate rights. This form of releases is tantamount to torture as the people and their families remain in constant fear that they may be arrested again.
Yesterday the Saudi Interior Ministry said that the authorities had executed one citizen. It said that Salem bin Salman bin Eid Al-Atwi, a Saudi national was accused of dealing in Amphetamine tablets (some form of drugs) inside the kingdom. He was sentenced to death which was carried on 2nd December at Al Jawf town. Yesterday, Tuesday, three Egyptians were also beheaded on the same charge: Thamer Faraj Sanousi Mesbah, Ahmed Ali Younus Qa’id and Islam Mohammed Ahmed Al Sayed were killed in Tabuk city in Northwestern Arabia. On Monday 2nd December Waudaihaa bint Abdulla Al Shammari, a Saudi woman citizen was executed near the Northern border for allegedly killing her husband. On Saturday the Saudis executed two citizens describing the killing as a punishment for “betraying their country, committing criminal acts, possessing arms and associating with a terrorist organisation to carry out terrorist acts inside and outside the kingdom”. The two: Mohammed bin Dhafer Al Amri and Abdulla bin Kheder Al Ghamdi were sentenced to death which was carried out in Riyadh to add to a list of more than 200 executed so far this year. These charges are often used as a pretext for executing people almost every week. Many of these victims were more likely involved in peaceful anti-regime protests calling for freedom and rights.
The Saudi authorities have executed at least 295 individuals this year, a record number. This raises fears for the lives of those at risk of execution, including child defendants. Activists have urged people to sign a petition calling for the death sentences to be quashed.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
4th December 2024
