Bahrainis marked Martyrs Day, FIFA pressed on 2034 Saudi World Cup
The annual Martyrs Day has been marked by the people of Bahrain. They marched in the streets of towns and villages holding the pictures of the martyrs killed by the khalifi clan over the past three decades. In Samaheej, ِAbu Saiba’ and Duraz towns protesters chanted against the torturers and killers and called for an immediate end of impunity. They were marking the Martyrs Day which was designated by the people to remember those killed by the regime, starting from 17th December 1994. On that day two young Bahrainis, Hani Khamis and Hani Al Wasti, were mowed down by the khalifi agents as they marched in the town of Jidhafs. That day became a turning point in the relations between the people and the khalifi junta.
In London, the Bahraini opposition held a seminar in Central London to mark the day yesterday. Human rights and political activists spoke about the suffering of the Bahraini people and urged the defenders of the regime in London and Washington to stop supporting the khalifi dictators.
As the Martyrs Day (17th December) approached, the khalifi regime started to enforce its draconian laws and repressive measures. On Monday 15th December, native Bahraini youth, Ali Sadeq from Iskan Jidhafs was detained by regime’s militia in civilian clothes. They emerged from their unmarked car, stopped another car, pulled down Ali and subjected him to summary justice causing him grievous bodily harm. On the same day, Mohammed Al Singace was detained for protesting his dismissal. He is known for the two loafs he holds while protesting alone outside the ministry of Labour. On Friday, Mohammed Al Hujairi was also arrested outside Al Qadam’s mosque. He was selling small cups to earn his livelihood. On Monday his detention was extended by the regime court for one more week.
On Tuesday 16th December three under-aged political prisoners began a hunger strike to protest their illegal detention and delayed trial. Ahmed Al Abbassi (from Karzakkan town), Abdul Hadi Abdul Zahra and Hassan Matar (both from Aali town) have been held at the Dry Dock prison since they were detained in November. They faced continuous harassment at police Station 17.
Two professional people working in the advertising business were detained. Hussain Al Sammak and Sayed Baqir Al Kamil were arrested after they had prepared a commercial advert for tyres. No reason for their detention was given. The commercial presents criteria for “good tyres” and has no political implications.
On Friday 12th December groups of people visited the graves of mothers of Bahraini political prisoners. They wanted to offer their moral support to the families of detainees who have suffered for many years as their loved ones remain in the khalifi torture cells. Prayers were recited for the deceased mothers who carried their grief to the grave, and a speedy victory for the people.
Human rights groups have called on FIFA to take urgent action and make hosting rights conditional on meaningful rights reforms. A year after FIFA awarded Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup, serious risks remain unaddressed and grave abuses persist. A coalition of 15 rights NGOs, trade unions, fan groups, and organisations representing migrant workers has issued an urgent warning over the escalating human rights risks linked to the 2034 FIFA World Cup. They urged FIFA to take immediate, concrete action – developed through meaningful stakeholder consultation – to remove the taint of human rights abuses from the tournament, and to press the Saudi authorities to implement essential human rights and labour reforms
Yesterday, Tuesday 16th December, Saudi authorities executed another Egyptian national, Essam al-Shazly, for non-lethal drug-related offences, despite UN experts urging Saudi Arabia to halt such executions. He was subjected to acts of torture and ill-treatment throughout his detention. “The fact that Saudi authorities are poised to surpass last year’s record-high execution toll underscores a grim disregard for the right to life and repeated calls from UN experts and civil society” – Nadyeen Abdulaziz, of UK-based human rights group (Alqst), told Middle East Eye. Since the beginning of the year 340 people have been executed by the Saudis. There were 338 Saudi executions in 2024.
Calls have been made for the Saudi authorities to free a woman activist. Amani Al-Zain was arbitrarily arrested on 17 May 2020 by the Presidency of State Security on direct orders from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Her detention continued with no public trial. She is an Internet activist who used her Twitter account to express different opinions. She has been an opponent of the arrests and killings by the authorities. She worked as a Human Resources Manager at the Hala Group of Companies in the Middle East.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
17th December 2025