Bahrain is back to the black days when torturers’ rule OK

The plight of about 30 Bahrainis languishing in Al Khalifa torture chambers has become a serious cause for worry among the people. Most of them have spent more than 18 months behind bars for trumpeted charges invented to justify their incarceration.

 Among them is a young Bahraini jailed, tortured and abused allegedly for possessing information about the torturers within the Al Khalifa notorious secret service. Hassan Salman, 26, was arrested on 14th May 2009 as he entered his office. He was led away to the torture centre at Al Adliya. He was then led to his flat which was thoroughly searched. Their belongings were confiscated including some CDs and private family photos. The Al Khalifa then took him to the prosecution office where he has been incarcerated ever since. Although all investigations were completed, this Bahraini young man has remained in dire conditions behind bars where the administration of torture is routine. He was paraded in front of an Al Khalifa kangaroo court which decided to intensify his ordeal by repeatedly extending his incarceration. On 12th July he was paraded again at the court which, once again, decided to postpone the hearing until 12th September. Time appears to be of no value especially when dealing with a real Bahraini.

Mr Hassan lives at the town of Sanabis which had its share of repression by the Al Khalifa. Although his lawyers requested a bail out, the Al Khalifa judges turned down the request. He is now back in the torture cells with a gloomy future ahead of him.

On another level, the ruling Al Khalifa family has extended its repression against Bahrainis by insisting on blacklisting activists and asking other GCC countries to ban them from entry. On 9th July a young Bahraini was stopped at Dubai airport and told that he was banned from entering the United Arab Emirates, on the basis of “information supplied by the Bahraini authorities”. Mohammad Salman, 28, was detained at a room within the airport for several hours before returning him back to Bahrain. No reason or explanation was given to him for this action. Mr Salman is one of those arrested in the notorious case of Al Hujjaira, announced by the Al Khalifa last December. Thirty five people, including Mohammad Salman, were arrested, tortured and subjected to horrific ordeal for more than four months before they were released by a sudden decision by the ruler.

Reliable information suggested that he had been told that the stage-managed show was weak in presentation and content and that any further court appearances by the defendants after the 24th March trial would become a trial of the regime not the victims. The feeling of defeat has pushed the Al Khalifa to more desperate acts including sponsoring terrorist acts against activists inside and outside the country. Earlier this month another activist who was in detention with Mr Salman was arrested by the Syrian authorities as he tried to enter the country on his way to Iraq. He was subsequently released.

In another, and potentially more serious development, the Al Khalifa has decided to shun the international community by promoting torturers to public offices. Instead of heeding the call for the arrest and trial of torturers they have been sheltered, promoted and offered prestigious position within the political hierarchy. The most notorious torturer in the history of Bahrain has announced his candidacy to the shura council, whose 80 members are half-appointed half-elected. Although it is an ineffective body, the election or appointments of torturers as members confirms the long-held charge against the Al Khalifa that they are not fit to rule as they respect their own rules and laws that prohibit the use of torture.

Since the present ruler inherited his position after the death of his father in 1999, other torturers have been awarded medals, appointed advisors, ambassadors or director generals in some government departments. The message is loud and clear; the Al Khalifa cannot be bound by domestic or international laws or conventions. For Flaifel to become an elected member of the shura council, all values and principles have to be abandoned and any human agenda will be uprooted.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
16th July 2009