Bahraini juveniles persecuted, Saudis continue crackdown

Yesterday, the khalifi tribal junta issued a one-year jail sentence against three juveniles; Their fourth high criminal court issued the sentence on Ali Ahmad Khamis, 17, Hassan Jaffar Hassan, 18, and Mahdi Abdul Wahab, 17. Human rights campaigners have criticized this “sham justice” and called for their immediate release.
A Melbourne soccer player wrongfully detained in Thailand and released following a campaign led by former Socceroo Craig Foster is suing the federal government for negligence and breaching its duty of care. Hakeem al-
Araibi, tortured in Bahrain and granted a protection visa by Australia, was on his way to a belated honeymoon with his wife in November 2018 when he was detained on arrival at Bangkok’s Suvamabhumi Airport. Thailand was acting on an Interpol red notice issued by Bahrain for his extradition. But it was invalid and Mr Araibi should never have been detained because a red notice cannot be issued against a refugee from the country they initially fled. Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw later acknowledged that a trail of bureaucratic bungles by agencies within the Department of Home Affairs led to his detention. By the time Home Affairs confirmed that he was a refugee, Mr Araibi was already behind bars and remained in Thai prisons for more than two months. Interpol then cancelled the red notice on the basis he was a refugee. Thailand, which is not a signatory to the refugee convention, proceeded with Bahrain’s extradition request before eventually releasing him on February 11, 2019. A statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria by Holding Redlich lawyers on behalf of Mr Araibi, says he suffered injury, loss and damage, including post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and lost income.
A new “Banned” list of political prisoners has been issued by the khalifi officers of the notorious “jau” prison. People on the list are banned from moving around the prison or going for medical treatment. The list includes many political prisoners including Sadiq Al Mokhowder whose total prison sentences exceeds 100. Regime’s prison officers have refused to grant political prisoner Mohammad Jaffar Saud Fateel proper medical treatment for his sudden illness. They refused to take him to hospital despite deterioration of his condition.
On Saturday 26th June (the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture) Reprieve issued a statement saying: “Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa are both victims of torture in Bahrain. They were tortured in the country’s broken justice system. Husain said his torture was so severe he wished for death. His ‘confession’ was used to sentence both men to death . But together, we’re fighting for them and other victims of torture around the world because there is no room for torture in justice.” It continued: “Last year, Mohammed and Husain lost their last legal appeal. Bahrain’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, confirmed their death sentences. The only hope they have left is a pardon from Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.” It continued: “ The UK government has the power to help push for this royal pardon. UK institutions helped fund and train the Bahraini security bodies that whitewashed the torture of both men. But last week, Boris Johnson tried to meet with Bahrain’s Crown Prince in secret, avoiding the pressure the Reprieve community has put on him to speak up for Mohammed and Husain . He didn’t get away with it. The meeting was covered everywhere, from the Daily Mail to the Guardian.
On July 6, a secret hearing in Saudi Arabia in Salman Al Audah’s trial will take place at the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh. This will happen after prolonged continuous ill-treatment. His son, Dr Abdulla tweeted: “My father is still in solitary confinement since day one of his arrest in 2017.” The High Criminal Court in Riyadh has also decided to increase the prison sentence of Dr Yousuf Al Ahmad from four to 13 years.
Saudi police have detained Asma AlSubaie over her twitter activities. Despite the release of two other women activists, Mrs Naseema Al Sadah and Samar Badawi the crackdown on activists has continued. The two had served three of five years prison sentence.
Saudi woman activist, Areej Al Sadhan has tweeted about her jailed brother, Abdul Rahman. She said: “My brother is facing brutal injustice in Saudi (jail), three years of enforced disappearance and horrific torture, followed by a sentence of 20 years for tweeting. The court hasn’t responded to the appeal. He is still barred from family contact.”
Reprieve, which campaigns against the death penalty has taken up the case of a Saudi detainee on death row. It said: Abdullah al Howaiti, a child defendant, faces the possibility of being executed for a crime he did not commit. Here is what you need to know about his case: He was 14 years old when he was arrested. He was held incommunicado for four months and tortured. He was forced to ‘confess’ to a crime he couldn’t have committed. He has an alibi for the time of the alleged crime. He was sentenced to death for that crime in 2019 when he was still a child. Reprieve investigators, lawyers and campaigners are fighting for his life and freedom.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
30th June 2021 (info@vob.org, www.vob.org)