Bahrain: a week of fury as repression intensifies
A week of fury has been announced by the Committee of Activists and Prisoners of Conscience in Bahrain during which calls for the release all political prisoners will be made. Among the proposed activities are:
A vigil tonight outside the house of Ali Jassim, who martyred on 17th December 2007, A procession by cars outside the Torture Headquarters tomorrow night, Another procession by cars on Sunday morning outside the ministry of justice while groups will attend the summary trial of some of the victims of torture. On Monday (14th July) groups will raise slogans at the main shopping malls in the capital, calling for the release of the torture victims. On Tuesday another procession by cars will converge on the house of Martyr Ali Jassim, another one will start from Sitra through Isa Town and Sihla, a third one will start from Bani Jamra towards Jidhafs, the fourth will start from Al Seef Mall and proceed towards Jidhafs.
On Wednesday several protests in villages. On Thursday a procession by cars will start from Exhibition Road and raise pictures of martyrs and prisoners. Finally on Friday afternoon another procession will take place starting from Jiyan Mall.
This is in response to the ongoing summary trials of tens of prisoners of conscience whose crime had been to take part in pro-democracy marches and anti-corruption processions.
Today, a delegation representing the eight Bahrainis held hostage by the Saudi authorities has made its way towards Riyadh. They will be allowed to see their sons two months after they had been snatched by the Saudi authorities at the instigation of Bahrain’s ruling family. The prisoners are:
Majeed Abdul Rasool Slman Al Ghasra, Abbas Ahmad Ibrahim, Sayyed Ahmad Alawi Abdulla, Isa Abdul Hassn Ahmad, Mohammad Hassan Ali Marhoon, Mohammad Abdulla Al Mo’men, Ibrahim Marzam and Mohammad Mahdi. The meeting with the hostages will take place at the notorious prison of Al Ha’ir in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. This is the second visit since the arrest of the hostages more than two months ago. The Bahrainis were snatched by the Saudi security forces on the instigation of the rulers of Bahrain. Many Bahrainis have either been arrested or expelled by governments of other Gulf states on instructions from Manama.
Many websites have recently been closed on orders from the royal court as the level of anti-government activism intensifies. The order came after the attack on the most eminent religious scholar was attacked by agents of the ruling family. Instead of calming the situation, the ruling family ordered the closure of several website which are critical of the authoritarian rule of the Al Khalifa. Among those affected was the site of the electronic newspaper, Awal, which was gaining popularity and becoming more critical of the regime.
On Wednesday, 9th July, two young Bahrainis were sentenced to one year jail sentence for expressing anti-government views. The two youth; Abbas Ali Mohammad Al Fardan and Jamil Abdulla Abdul Karim were subjected to ill-treatment and torture.
Several societies have launched an anti-torture campaign to counter the intensification of the use of torture. They are also calling on the government to sign the two special conventions on political and social rights and the economic and cultural rights. The images of tortured victims have caused real anger among the citizens. Majeed Al Qattan, for example, is a young Bahraini who was subjected to horrific treatment at the hands of the death squads while taking part in a peaceful demonstration. He had to undergo an operation to the side of the head for wounds inflicted by members of the death squads. This has led to popular calls for an international intervention to stop these inhumane practices.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
11 st July 2008