Bahrain: four developments indicate serious rise in tension

The reverberations from the decision by the ruling family to put three activists on trial are taking new dimensions. The situation in the country is expected to take a new turn to the worse as the civil resistance movement takes deeper roots in the Bahraini society. The situation is becoming more polarised as the people become further disenchanted with the policies of the Al Khalifa hereditary dictatorship.

Preparations are being made to turn the show trial into a day of public fury and expression of total rejection of the antiquated regime. The problem is further complicated by the fact that the political process initiated by the present ruler, Sheikh Hamad, has been exposed as nothing more that an attempt to annihilate the natives of the country through a process of sectarian cleansing unseen in any other country in the world in cotemporary history. Several negative developments have taken place in the past few days that has confirmed the people’s fear of a
First came the decision by Sheikh Hamad to put three activists on trial for expressing views undesirable to the ruling family.

Mr Hassan Mushaime’, the Secretary-General of Haq Movement (the only movement in the country that has crossed the ideological and sectarian prejudices and include members of all persuasions), Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, the President of the Bahrain Centre of Human Rights and Shakir Mohammad, an activist have been targeted for persecution by the ruling family for their outspoken criticism of the authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hamad ordered to appear before an Al Khalifa-appointed court on 21st of May. The three had been arrested on 16th February and released on the same day when the people reacted angrily and the country was poised for a new uprising. The proposed trial is considered as further clampdown against freedom of expression and curtailment of public liberties.

Second came the rejection by the ruling family of a proposed questioning of Ahmad Atiyyat Allah Al Khalifa for his part in directing a secret net whose main aim is to enforce sectarianism in the country and create discord among the people. His activities had been documented by Dr Salah Al Bandar, a former advisor to the ministry headed by Ahmad Atiyyat Allah Al Khalifa, whose brother was the notorious torturer whose trial is demanded by the victims. Some members of Sheikh Hamad’s half-elected Shura council had, under public pressure, demanded the questioning. Sheikh Hamad refused the request, a step that has angered even those who thought they would be able to make headway through participation in the political process under the domination of the Al Khalifa dictatorship.

Third was the trial in absentia of Dr Salah Al Bandar for exposing the existence and details of the secret web under the direct control of the royal court, headed by Atiyyat Allah. Instead of heeding the calls to sanction the criminals whose aim has been to fragment the society on sectarian basis, the Al Khalifa have decided to criminalise Dr Al Bandar. Observers have taken their decision to prosecute Al Bandar as a further sign of the ill-intentions of the ruling family which had occupied the country by force in 1783 and have never integrated within the Bahraini society. The secret web had been formed to change the demography of Bahrain after the failure of the Al Khalifa to integrate within the native population  (Shia and Sunni). The ruling family has now condemned Dr Al Bandar to one year imprisonment in a show trial that lasted only a few minutes.

Forth came the continued show trials of young activists who protest against the increasing dictatorship of Sheikh Hamad and his clique. The latest to be tried in these Al-Khalifa run courts are: Karim Ahmad Khamis, Nasser Sharif and Ahmad Mirza, all from Jid Al Haj village. They were arrested on 14th April as they prepared to take part in a peaceful demonstration to protest against the decision to persecute activists. Further protests are planned for Tuesday and Friday. On 19th and 20th May more protests are planned as the country braces itself for major showdown between the people of Bahrain and the Al Khalifa occupiers.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
7th May 2007