Bahrain: War on freedom of expression continues with attacks on AFP and DPA
The ministry of censorship run by the ruling family has reprimanded the correspondents of two international news agencies working in Bahrain.
Mohammad Fadil of the Agence France Press (AFP) and Mazin Mahdi were summoned by the officials of the ministry of information, run by Mai Al Khalifa and told to change their line of coverage to favour the regime or their offices would be closed down.
The ruling family has been angered by the leaking of the news that it had granted Bahraini nationality to members of Al Qa’ida as part of the genocidal project against the natives. It was reported that terrorist acts were being planned by Al Qa’ida against foreign forces in the country and that the perpetrators are naturalised foreigners. It is understood that both agencies are locked in negotiations with the ruling family to solve the problem. Censorship by the ruling family has been practiced over the years and DPA was targeted in the nineties. On Tuesday 1st July 19977, Ute Meinel, DPA Correspondent in Manama, was expelled after being given 24 hours to leave the country.
As part of the policy of censorship, the ministry of information compiled a list of “unwanted” Lebanese publishers and handed it to the shipping company responsible for shipping books from Lebanon to the book fair scheduled for 17rh March. The list comprised of 25 publishers whose books must not be brought into the country. This clampdown against the freedom of expression comes at the backdrop of the deteriorating political situation in the country over the past few months and the expectations that more anti-regime protests are underway. The failure of the ruler’s programme has infuriated senior members of the ruling family, especially with the international insistence that torturers must not be sheltered by Sheikh Hamad who had issued the notorious decree law 56 eight years ago.
Meanwhile, concern has been widely expressed by the people about the health of a Bahraini youth who has been subjected to ill-treatment since he had been arrested on 18th November 2009. Ali Ibrahim Alhmad Al Salmabadi was taken to the Interrogation Centre which is notorious for the torture techniques it employs against detainees. There Ali was subjected to electric shocks, beating and hanging from the feet and hands for hours until he “confessed” to a crime he had not committed. His health deteriorated rapidly to the extent that the torturers released him to avoid his death in their hands. He remained in coma in hospital and his life hangs in the balance. His family refrained from talking about their son for fear of reprisals. His torturers are being sheltered by the Law 56 decreed by the ruler.
The anger of the people has remained high as more Bahrainis are arrested and tortured. Yesterday the people of Maqsha went out to protest against the minister of the interior who is conducting immoral policies against Bahrainis. They burnt tyres at the Budaya Road and chanted anti-regime slogans. The foreign-staffed riot police attacked the demonstrators and raided the village. On Sunday, the youth of Dair went out at dawn to write slogans on the walls of the town. They called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained Bahrainis. On 27th and 28th January several villages and towns witnessed more protests against the ruling Al Khalifa junta who have plundered the country, its wealth and lands. Daih, Sanabis, Malikiyah and Sitra Jidhafs, Abu Saibe’ and other places became scenes of hide and seek between Bahrainis and the foreign-staffed riot police. Bahrainis are now determined to force the Al Khalifa occupiers either to agree to a constitution written by the people or leave the country since they have lost the popular and constitutional legitimacy.
The ruling family has, once again, carried out a foolish act against the people. Early this morning its riot police and Death Squads attacked the religious symbols of the Bahrainis along the Budaya Road, tearing banners and removing black cladding. Bahrainis have been preparing to commemorate the Arba’een (the 49th Day after the events of Karbala) as they have done for hundreds of years. The foreign occupiers targeted Marwazan, Jidhafs and Sanabis. Anger has spread to all areas and a spate showdown is expected between the Bahrainis and the occupiers in the next few days.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
2nd January 2010