The bleak future in Bahrain

The political horizon in Bahrain is transforming rapidly as the gap between the people and the ruling family becomes wider. The developments of the past six months have indicated a more sobre situation with both sides grinding their axes for eventual showdown. The level of mutual hate has reached unprecedented levels; with both sides employing the tools at their disposal.

While the people have restricted their attacks to verbal description of the dictatorship, despotism and corruption, the ruling family, especially the forces at the royal work have spared not means of attack against the Bahrainis. The head of Sheikh Hamad’s palace is a known sectarian figure who has been attacking the native majority Baharna in his colloquial poems. According to a recent article published by the Los Angeles Times, Khalif bin Ahmad Al Khalifa has always favoured hawkish approach towards the Shia Muslims of Bahrain, including the use of severe force to undermine their existence and rights. He is known to be close to extremist groups and has been pivotal in the policy of demographic change in the country. Many of the “new Bahrainis” come from regions known to cultivate extremism and terrorism. In a recent letter to the US President, the woman activist, Ghada Jamshir, has appealed for a rethink of the US policy towards Bahrain in light of the excesses of Khalid bin Ahmad.

Recent events have confirmed the long-held suspicion that the ruling family have decided to adopt Khalid bin Ahmad’s “final solution” that aims at exterminating the natives so that the ruling family may complete its designs on the lands it had occupied. Several events are testimony to these new policies. First came the mass arrests that started in December 2007 and continued for the following twelve month. The domestic and international pressures forced the ruler and his clique to climb down and release most of the political prisoners.

It was an episode reminiscent of the events of the nineties. The results were the same. Gross violations of human rights were reported. Bahrain was, once again, brought to the forefront of the countries who routinely abused political detainees and violated its obligations under the international conventions regulating human rights of prisoners. Second came the summary punishment of activists. The mass arrests were replaced with targeted arrests against those who are considered “hardliners” in their demands for their rights. The short periods of arrests (lasting between few hours to two days) enabled the members of the notorious “Death Squads” to inflict maximum pain on the detainees. Among the first victims of this kind of horrible retribution was Ali Jassim who was killed on 17th December 2007. The killers have been shielded by Sheikh Hamad regimes. The third phase has been used in recent weeks, and involves more dangerous treatment including executions and assassinations. Last month Moosa Jaffar Mulla Khalil, 32, was assassinated by a car bomb planted by the Death Squads under the command of Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, sectarian head of the royal court.

These developments are dangerous and could lead to the much-anticipated Armageddon.. The victims have now become more resolute in demanding the end of the mentality of occupation employed by the ruling Al Khalifa family. Where the extremists amongst the ruling family are directing the assault on public liberties, human rights and political agenda, their victims have now realized that it would be futile to expect real changes among members of the Al Khalifa. The ruler has sided with the hardliners. Websites, run and managed under the supervision of the royal court have become hotbeds for extremists and killers. In recent weeks, direct threats against the lives of political activists have been made. No effort has been made by senior members of the Al Khalifa to disown these threats or condemn them. In addition to the threats of force, media attacks have become more vicious.

The ruler has apparently embraced some of the extremists to wage verbal and religious attacks against the pro-democracy activists inside and outside the country. Among them are members of the ruler’s councils, elected or appointed. In these circumstances concerns have been made to the international community. Specific demands have been made by representatives of the Bahraini people for UN agencies and human rights bodies to intervene to protect native Bahrainis from the dangers of extinction. The threat is real. With an estimated 50 thousands foreigners granted Bahrainis nationality every year, the natives have become under threat unless international intervention is made.

While the scenario is bleak, the eventual outcome is brighter. With the civil resistance to the Al Khalifa policies of occupation on the rise, it is hard to see how the Al Khalifa occupiers could make an exit from the quagmire. The threats against the lives of the opposition figures have infuriated the opposition. Last month a senior religious scholar residing in the holy city of Najaf received warnings of a terrorist attack by people contracted by the Al Khalifa to liquidate Sheikh Mohammad Sanad. Since then, his personal protection has been enhanced, while senior religious scholars, including Ayatuallas Sayyed Ali Al Sistani, have pledged their solidarity and support against those whose lives are threatened by despotic regimes. It is now expected that Bahrain will enter into a Summer of Fury as both sides have taken the decision of confrontations on local and international streets. The people, once again, appeal to other forces in the arena to urge them to take more responsible stands in defending the existence and rights of the native Baharna natives. As no wise man is known to be speak openly about these issuew with sheikh Hamad and his lieutenants, Western democracies are urged to take firmer and more principled stands against population engineering, political depravity and dictatorship.

The interests of all sides are inter-twined; the only way to secure these rights is through transparent policies towards the regimes which are most vicious and backward. No one is asking for donations, but the Bahraini pro-democracy activists will continue their relentless struggle until their legitimate rights are secured within their own country. As the recent events have shown, the Al Khalifa allies will always find themselves in defensive positions when it comes to the principles of reforms, establishing the rule of law or ending the demographic engineering plan. The Political naturalization has become a sham in the history of the Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s seeks to distance itself from the history of occupation, domination and servitude.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
29 May 2009