Bahrain’s Independence Day observed, Saudi executions surge in 2025
To mark the “Independence Day” Bahrainis have started a programme of actions against the khalifi hereditary dictatorship. When the British protection of Bahrain ended on 14th August 1971 the country should have adopted a democratic form of government to fulfil the ambitions of generations of natives who had struggled against the colonialists. Instead, Bahrain has been ruled by an absolute tribal dictatorship that marked the bleakest era in its modern history. Yesterday, Bahraini opposition in UK held a special event to mark the occasion. A seminar was held in London addressed by several speakers and attended by supporters and journalists. Bahraini speakers called for a democratic system of government and appealed to UK to fulfil its promises that it had given before its withdrawal, to uphold the rule of law and give power to the people through a constitutionally-elected government. It is now half a century since the khalifi tribe abrogated the constitution and dissolved the elected parliament. The people have resisted fiercely and suffered immensely. Many Bahrainis were murdered by the khalifis, thousands detained or exiled and many banished. Yet, the struggle to achieve freedom and democracy will continue until justice and democratic transformation have been achieved.
The trial of three Bahraini under-aged youths has been adjourned. The three: Ahmed Abdulla Al Abbassi (from Karzakkan town), Ali Hussain Al Zaaki (from Maqaba town) and Sayed Mohsin Hashim (from Abu Saiba’ town) were arrested on 22nd February for taking part in a peaceful funeral procession. The trial has been set for 31st August. This means the innocent youths will have spent six months without trial on trumped up charges.
The Bahraini participants in the annual Arba’een march in Iraq have raised the pictures of their imprisoned sons to show to the world. Among them are the fathers of Sayed Mahmooud Adel and the father of death row prisoner, Hussain Ali Mahdi, pledging to remain faithful to the blood of the martyrs.
On 9th August six political prisoners started hunger strike calling for proper medical treatment. The prisoners at the Central Jau prison are: Ahmed Saeed Mahdi (from Daih town), Mohammed Saeed Saleem (from Demstan town), Sadeq Jaffar Al Zuhaira (from Dar Kulaib town), Hussain Ahmed Al Saafi (from Sitra), Hassan Al Ghasra (from Bani Jamra town) and Ali Abbas Isa (from Dar Kulaib town).
For more than a week, political prisoner, Ahmed Saeed Al Qubaiti has been on hunger strike. He is protesting his illegal detention and demanding immediate and unconditional release. The regime’s agents visited him and discussed his demands but no solution was agreed.
Regime’s institutions are adopting a policy of revenge from the political prisoners. The ministry of education is refusing to let former prisoners continue their secondary studies. Ali Abdul Aziz who spent nine years behind bars is struggling to get a place to complete his secondary education and is facing a brick wall from the authorities. He was a student at Sheikh Abdulla school before his arrest in 2016.
On Friday 9th August, Bahrainis took part in a national protest in support of the people of Gaza. The participants gathered near the town of Salmabad. The protest was organised by the Bahrain Society Against Normalisation. The participants raised slogans calling for opening the crossings and ending the normalisation process championed by some Arab regimes including the khalifi dictators of Bahrain.
On 11th August Human Rights Watch issued a News Release titled: “Saudi Arabia: Executions Surge in 2025”. It said: “Saudi authorities have been carrying out an unprecedented surge in executions in 2025 without apparent due process”. It added: “The June 14 execution of Turki al-Jasser, a journalist known for exposing corruption within the Saudi royal family, raises concerns that the Saudi government is using the death penalty to crush peaceful dissent.” Saudi authorities had executed at least 241 people in 2025 as of August 5, with 22 executions in the previous week alone, according to the international human rights organization Reprieve. It reported that the number of executions in 2025 would exceed all prior records if executions continue at the same rate. “Saudi authorities have weaponized the country’s justice system to carry out a terrifying number of executions in 2025,” said Joey Shea, researcher for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates at Human Rights Watch. “The surge in executions is just the latest evidence of the brutally autocratic rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”
On 7th August 12 human rights NGOs called for the immediate release of Saudi human rights defender Mohammed al-Bejadi, still held two years after his sentence ended. They also called for the release of all others who are still held beyond completion of their prison sentences, and all individuals who are imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
13th August 2025