Bahrain: Serious developments are helping to defeat the Al Khalifa dictatorship

The developments of the past few weeks have created new realities that have, according to informed sources, forced the rulers and his clique to reconsider the ill-advised decision to arrest Bahrainis,incarcerate and torture them.

The subsequent kidnap by the Hamad’s Death Squads of Mr Hassan Mushaime’ and Sheikh Mohammad Habib Al Miqdad, has now become a serious embarrassment to the regime. The international lawyers who had attended last month’s show trial of what has now become known as the “Al Hujjaira Group” have confirmed that the only avenue available to the ruler is the immediate and unconditional release of the Bahrainis, before his closest allies in the West totally give any hope in his wisdom. They also said that the parading of the Bahrainis on TV screens allegedly “confessing to their crimes” has destroyed Hamad’s case. They added their observations have led them to believe in several facts: first that the Bahrainis had been severely tortured. Second; that there was no case against them and that their detention is punishment for speaking out against the hereditary dictatorship.

Third; that the longer they keep these people behind bar the more complicated the case becomes and the more likely that the ruler and his aides could become target for international criticism. Forth, that the ruler and his aides are guilty of crimes against humanity.

The ruler is reported to be so furious at the failure of his ministers in stemming the flow of criticism from various international bodies and news agencies. The latest criticism came from the US-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) who issued a damning statement against the regime arguing that it is waging a war against freedom of expression at a much wider scale that had been assumed. News agencies have also taken serious interest in the events of Bahrain. Last week the New York Times published a long piece with images showing the Bahrainis resisting the Al Khalifa occupational forces. Yesterday, The Financial Times published another piece titled “The Kingdom burns at night” that describes the ongoing resistance to the Al Khalifa dictatorial rule. Two days ago, Reuters published a report on the House of Lords event. It was taken by several news agencies and satellite stations around the globe. It is now clear that the Al Khalifa have lost the media and human rights wars despite pumping in millions of dollars to woo journalists and others.

Similar sentiments were aired at the Press Conference organized by Lord Avebury, the Parliamentary Human Rights Group on Wednesday 8th April.

Several speakers took to the platform to condemn the Al Khalifa ruling family for its cruelty and serious abuse of human rights. Among them were human rights activists and victims of torture. Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace addressed the conference via a pre-recorded message in which he vowed to continue his struggle against the despotism and absolute monarchy. Another participant was Mr Maitham Badr Al Sheikh, who was released last week from  his illegal detention after his health had deteriorated. He is now plagued by Mutliple Sclerosis and doctors had warned the ruler that he would die if he remained in prison. In his open testimony to the London conference, Mr Al Sheikh gave a graphic account of the torture he had endured during his incarceration for more than 15 months. He was arrested on 21st December 2007 for his participation in anti-government protests.

For ten days he was repeatedly tortured with electric shocks, hanging from both hands and legs, and deprivation of sleep. He knows his torturers.

For the following two months Mr Al Sheikh said he was held in solitary confinement and subjected to enormous physical and psychological torture.

According to one human rights lawyer present at the conference the testimony was damning enough to serve a write against Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and several of his lieutenants for crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile the streets of Bahrain are boiling. Yesterday, fires were seen on Sheikh Jaber Highway, the main road near Sitra Petrol Station and other places. The wave of illegal arrests has continued however. On 6th April, Mohammad Makki Traif, 19, from Sanabis was arrested after a dawn raid on his house spearheaded by members of the Death Squads. The day before, Taher Al Sami’, 16 was taken as a hostage to force his brother to hand himself to the torturers. Imad Yaseen, 19 , was also arrested. Alawi Al Sharakhat, 16, was arrested in the early hours of yesterday as he laid in bed. Many children have been seriously injured by air guns used by the Death Squads, as they took part in peaceful demonstrations.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
10th April 2009