Scores detained by Bahrain’s regime, more executions by the Saudis
Repression by Bahrain’s regime has intensified in the past few weeks. In December there were 19 arrests (seven were summoned and detained, 6 arrested at ports, some were detained while visiting police stations and two handed themselves to serve sentences imposed by the courts. One person was snatched from the street. Scores more were interrogated after taking part in anti-regime protests. 36 women were summoned for interrogation.
On Tuesday 31st December a Bahraini youth from Duraz town was arrested. Sayed Ali Nazar Al Mousawi was summoned by to the CID offices where he was detained. No explanation for his arrest was given.
Political prisoner Jaffar Radhi Abdul Abbas, 39, is suffering serious health problems after he had become ill and did not receive adequate medical care. On 6th January he sent a message to his family in which he said: “I feel I am dying”. According to other prisoners, Jaffar has been suffering severe pain in his stomach associated with vomiting. He has now served more than 12 years of his 32 years prison sentences. Instead of treating him professionally, he is being given intravenous liquids to reduce pain.
Also, the health of Mohammed Majed Esa Al Abbar, 29, from Manama, has been deteriorating. He is suffering serious leg and knee injuries that prevent him from walking. His daily sufferings include the lack of suitable sanitary facilities such as toilets given his injuries. He is forced to use the Eastern toile with extreme pain. The prison officers have refused to transfer him from his second-floor cell to ground floor to enable him to join other prisoners in the daily outing in the courtyard.
On 6th January regime’s prosecutors extended the detention of Sajjad Al Ujaimi fifteen more days. He was arrested on 12th December after he had been summoned by the CID officers. He was charged with using social media to call for protests and solidarity with Bahraini martyrs. Also, the prosecutors extended the detention of two political prisoners for 30 more days. Abbas Awn and Hussain Al Samahiji, both from the town of Samahij were arrested on 29th September after taking part in a peaceful protest.
The political prisoners at the notorious Jau prison have complained of the cruel treatment by the prison officers. They said they are being denied the right to exercise their religious duties in their cells. The regime maintains that these practices lead to sectarianism. The prisoners said that they are routinely punished for practicing their religious duties. Religious rituals have been practiced by the natives for centuries before the khalifi occupation.
On Monday 6th January people participated in a peaceful protest against the continued arbitrary detention of native Bahrainis. Similar protests were held last Friday in Duraz and other places.
Political prisoner, Ali Abdulla Al Arnout has been transferred to solitary confinement for protesting against the abuse of the prisoners during their daily outing to the courtyard. The officers have also deprived the prisoners at blocs 3 and 5 from calling their families because of their insistence on exercising their religious rights. They have been asking for prayers books and newspapers.
The suffering of Mr Hassan Mushaima, the eldest political prisoner continues after 14 years in regime’s jails. He is now 77 and has been held in a room at Kanoo Medical Centre for the past three years. He is subjected to institutional medical neglect despite his ailments. Fifteen years ago he was treated for Cancer, but has since developed several other ailments. He has serious degeneration in his knee, for which he has not had any treatment for the past three months. He also lost his hearing in the right ear which he developed after he was repeatedly slapped on the head during interrogation. He is diabetic, but his sugar levels are not regularly checked. In addition, Mr Mushaima has been prevented from going outside his cell and has not been exposed to the sun or natural light for three years. This is torture in its most inhumane forms.
On 6th January Saudi authorities executed a citizen after being convicted on a murder charge. Jaber bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Sharahili was beheaded in Riyadh. On 1st January the Saudi authorities executed six Iranians accused of drug smuggling. They were killed in the Eastern Province after their conviction was approved by the king. The six, Jassim Mohammed Sh’abani, Abdul Reda Younus Tanqasiri, Khalil Shahid Sameri, Mohammed Jawad Abdul Jalil, Mahdi Kan’an Ghanemi and Hurr Mohammed Sha’bani were charged with drug smuggling and were sentenced to death. They were subsequently beheaded following approval by the Saudi king. There were 117 executions linked to drug smuggling in 2024.
A Kuwaiti activist has been detained by Iraqi authorities and handed to the Kuwaiti government Salman Al_Khaldi was arrested on 1 January in Iraq and extradited to Kuwait. Human rights bodies have called for his release. Alqst (a Saudi human rights body) has called for UK Government’s urgent intervention with the Kuwaiti authorities and to provide him consular assistance. He has been living in UK as a refugee.
On 6th January Yesterday, Saudi human rights activist Essa al-Nukheifi was finally released from prison. He had been forcibly disappeared for over two years. He had completed the six-year prison sentence imposed on him in October 2022.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
8th January 2025
