Bahrain: UK government urged to stop the theft of the Four Seasons Hotel by the Al Khalifa after they had snatched the Grosvenor House
Human rights activists and supporters of the people of Bahrain have called for a serious stand by the British Government against the persistent use of torture by the government of Bahrain, as UK’s Prime Minister met Bahrain’s dictator in London.
Sheikh Hamad is on a visit to London to open the Four Season Hotel which he has purchased with the looted money of Bahrainis. Activists have shamed the Coalition Government to take up the issue and block the take over of the prestigious hotel, accusing the Al Khalifa rulers of Bahrain of theft, extortion and torture. “This money does not belong to the Al Khlaifa; it has been snatched by the ruler and his clique from the oppressed people of Bahrain”, said one of the political activists monitoring the takeover of the Park Lane hotel. His family also bought the Grosvenor House Hotel for which they paid more than £700 millions stolen from Bahrainis.
The ruler has kept his UK visit secret in order not to avoid the embarrassing prospects of counter demonstrations and protests. He is considered to be among the worst rulers who have ever ruled the country, especially in the way he occupied large sways of land including the large island of Umm Al Na’ssan, Hwar and the various residences on the main land. Bahrainis have been confined to small dwellings at best; many seeking rented accommodation in building complexes owned by the Al Khalifa occupiers.
Following the oppressive court verdict last week that sentenced seven innocent Bahrainis to life behind bars has led to spiralling protests in many areas of Bahrain. Today, the people of Sanabis demonstrated on the main road against the continued imprisonment of the Bahraini hostages. The main road leading to Al Dana Mall was completely closed for 45 minutes. Several demonstrations took place in various parts of the country in the past few days. On Wednesday 14th July, the families of the hostages staged a protest at Al Ma’amir town where the group came from. They marched in the streets of the town and ended near the main town’s entrance. The participants expressed their anger and protest by sitting on the ground, with women wearing white shrouds as an expression of defiance and readiness to die at the hands of the Al Khalifa Death Squads, notorious for merciless attacks on Bahraini men and women. On Tuesday 13th July, those Death Squads went on the rampage in Sitra island. Several houses were raided and youth arrested. The aggressors, who were mostly foreign mercenaries were accompanied by a bus for to transport the hostages to the torture chambers.
More than seven youths were arrested. The arrests came in attempt to quell the rising unrest in the country. Two young Bahrainis were arrested earlier in the week: Jaffar Abdul Hamid and Ali Abdul Hamid. A third brother, Jaffar Abdul Hamid was subsequently arrested and taken to a secret jail where torture is routinely administered on detainees.
The anger is rising throughout the country in response to the intensive use of shot guns against protesters. The latest victim was Ali Al Saeed who was severely injured by the Death Squads. He was taken to Salmaniya Hospital last week. When protesters went to visit him, the hospital was encircled by the riot police for hours. They were led by a cleric, Sheikh Mohammad Habib Al Miqdad who was alo targeted and injured with a rubber bullet to his back. The injured victim was subsequently snatched from the hospital bed by members of the Death Squad and taken to an unknown destination. His crime is his participation in a pro-democracy protest. It has been confirmed that Kumail Hussain Al Manami has been transferred to solitary confinement for more than a week. He has been suffering a state of depression following his ordeal of torture and persistent threats. He has also been threatened that his wife would be raped infront of his eye.
Last week a big demonstration took place in the heart of the capital, Manama. It was held under the slogan “Together against the illegitimate constitution and marginalisation of the natives”. Demonstrators held banners and placards with slogans like: “No to imported people”, “No to mercenaries”, “Yes to national identity, yes to the native people”. It was attended by scholars, writers, men and women. The final communiqué was read by a young cleric, Sheikh Saeed Al Nouri in which he held the Al Khalifa the responsibility of the continued unrest. He called for an immediate halt of political naturalisation that amounts to genocide. Towards the end of the demonstration, a recorded statement by Mr Hassan Mushaime, the Chairman of Haq Movement, who is receiving treatment in London for cancer, was read to the people. The main roads were blocked by the mercenaries of the riot police and people were intimidated and threatened as a way to dissuade them from participating.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
16th July 2010