Bahrain: A new martyr in the struggle against the Al Khalifa dictatorship

Ali Jassim, 31 was taking part in a peaceful demonstration today, on
the Day of Martyrs, when he was mercilessly attacked by members of the
Al Khalifa Death Squads.

He was left for dead. His family took him to the hospital. But it was two late. Ali Jassim was murdered by these vicious troops who have been instructed to maim or kill Bahrainis.

Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has now entered the books of history
as one of the most vicious dictators of the Middle East. Few months
ago, a young man, Abbas Al Shakhouri, was killed by his death squads.

No one has been arrested or charged for his murder. Two other young
men were also murdered by Hamad’s killers; Mahdi Abdul Rahman (July
2006) and Mohammad Juma’ Al Shakhouri (2001). The last martyr of the
intifada, Nooh Khalil Al Nooh, was killed by Hamad’s death squads. In
none of these cases the killers were either arrested or tried. In
2002, Sheikh Hamad issued his notorious Law 56 that decreed impunity
to killers and torturers.

Today’s murder happened on a day of enormous activities in most parts
of the country. The people were commemorating the Day of the Martyrs
to mark the day when in 1994 the prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa
Al Khalifa, gave orders to the security forces and riot police to use
live ammunition against peaceful demonstrators. Two Bahrainis were
killed; Hani Khamis and Hani Al Wasti. Since then the people have
commemorated 17th December as the Days of the Martyrs. This year,
however, the activities dominated the whole country. The activities
started last week when the people commemorated the first anniversary
of the demise of Sheikh Abdul Amir Al Jamri. On Thursday night 13th
December, the security and riot forces attacked a peaceful
demonstration wounding and arresting several young men. In many
villages, the people declared their intention to take part in today’s
demonstrations and pickets. The walls in Al Malikiyya, Karzakkan,
Sitra, Al Ekr, Sanabis, Jidhaf and Duraz were covered with anti-regime
slogans. Coupled with several pickets by the unemployed over the past
few weeks, the situation has become volatile. What made the situation
worse, has been the interview that the prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa
bin Salman Al Khalifa gave to the Kuwaiti, Al Siyassa, in which he
stood by his repressive policies of the nineties and said that he was
ready to use the same policies again. The absence of any sign of
remorse convinced the people that they were dealing with a monster
whose thirst for blood has no bounds.

The cold-blooded killing of Ali Jassim has turned the country into a
political inferno. Bahrain is now bracing itself to a winter of fury
as the people of Bahrain have become more blatant in their rejection
of the Al Khalifa rulers who have occupied their land and enslaved
them for so long. There are now voices calling for an end to this
bloody and black era. Calls have been made to the United Nations to
intervene in support of the people of Bahrain especially in the light
of the continued demographic transformation being implemented by
Sheikh Hamad and his clique.

Today’s events have overshadowed other events such as the crackdown
against demonstrators in many parts of the country, the arrest and
torture of many youth and the maltreatment of detainees. One young
man, Sayyed Ahmad from Sanabis, was subjected to horrific treatment
last week for taking part in a peaceful demonstration in his town.

During his interrogation at the torture chambers, he was repeatedly
beaten on the same wounds sustained during the demonstration. When he
complained to the prosecution, he was told the police were acting in
self-defence. This lack of any respect of human rights has caused
enormous distress among human rights activists. Today’s events have
also caused distress to many. Those who saw the martyr, Ali Jassim,
during his post-mortem, were horrified by the extent of his injuries.

Photos were taken of the body of this young and healthy young man. The
injuries reflected deep enmity and lack of respect of the human soul,
and is likely to lead to more protests and demonstrations by the
people.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
17th December 2007 (Day of the Martyrs)