Bahrain: Alleged “victim” had died five months before his killing, as US Congress open the institutionalised discrimination
Among the significant events that happened over the past few weeks, two stand out as devastating to the image and reputation of the ruling Al Khalifa family in Bahrain.
First came the important discovery that Majed Asghar Baksh, the supposed “victim” of the “molotov-throwing Bahraini murderers” had died five months before the alleged crime that led to his “martyrdom” in the service of the ruling family. Then came the briefing at the US Congress about the institutionalised discrimination against the majority of Bahrain’s Shia Muslim population. Both developments had shaken the foundation of the hereditary dictatorship and led to serious questions about the legitimacy of the regime and its ability to rule in accordance to international standards of justice, transparency and popular consensus.
Last December a group of Bahraini youth were arrested, tortured and falsely accused of killing an “armed policeman”. It was also claimed that they had confiscated some arms from other policemen. Among them were Hassan Abdul Nabi, Maitham Bader Al Sheikh, Naji Fateel and Mohammad Al Singace.
They were subjected to horrific torture including sexual attacks, electric shocks, beating and deprivation of sleep. Despite numerous protests by them at their brief court appearances, often presided over by a member of the ruing family, no independent inquiry has been formed to examine the allegations of torture. Last month, their lawyers came to the kangaroo court with documented evidence that their alleged victim, a Pakistani policeman, had died in July 2007, i.e. five months before he was “killed” by the protesters. These documents are papers from the ministry of the interior detailing his entitlement for compensation towards his years of service that must be given to his relatives. It was a real fiasco that the ruling family thought would not be discovered. Instead of heeding the calls for the immediate release of those prisoners of conscience the Al Khalifa are exacting more revenge against these hostages and their families. Several of their relatives have been threatened with grave consequences if they did not keep quiet about the suffering of their beloved ones. Many human rights activists, lawyers and observers have expressed shock, anger and disbelief that such a crime would be committed by a regime against their citizens. The ruling family has now registered another low moral grounds for the continued detention and torture of Bahrainis for a crime that never was. They are now waging a witch-hunt to know the source of the leaking of the documents of the deceased.
The briefing that was held at the US Congress on Wednesday 15th October, was seen as yet another sound victory for the victims of the hereditary dictatorship in Bahrain. Senator Wolf of Alabama had called for the briefing about the institutionalised discrimination against the majority of Bahrain’s population. Three witnesses were invited from Bahrain: Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace, Nabeel Rajab and Miss Fatima Al Khawaja. The three delivered detailed and documented accounts of the policy of discrimination, as representatives of the ruling family listened in disbelief. How could such a briefing take place especially the ruling family had appointed a Jewish woman as the Ambassador to US. Several officials and agents of the regime were present at the briefing but they remained tight-lipped as they listened to irrefutable evidence against this hereditary dictatorship.
The event became a legal document with the Congress while international news media presented reasonable coverage.
Meanwhile, the anger of the ruling family at the turn of events against their wishes could not be concealed. Attacks have been waged against human rights activists to the extent that Anwar Abdul Rahman, the editor of Akhbar Al Khaleej, became so angry that he used offensive language against respectable people like Lord Avebury. The personal attacks that are being waged on daily basis against the activists are a sign of desperation on the part of the regime and its mercenaries who have failed to contain the anger of the Bahrainis or to curtail their worldwide anti-regime activities. In the past three months several articles were written against the granting Bahraini victims the right to political asylum.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
20th October 2008