Bahrain: When peaceful expression of opinion is criminalised
A kangaroo court yesterday, presided over by s foreigner, refused to order the release of two citizens after eight weeks in illegal detention.
The two, Dr Mohammad Saeed Al Sahlawi and Hussain Al Habshi, were arrested on 16th November for possessing leaflets calling for the boycott of the elections of half the members of Sheikh Hamad’s shura (consultative) council. The Egyptian judge, on orders from the Al Khalifa ruling family, charged the prisoners of conscience with two offences; possessing anti-regime leaflets and by inference, urging a regime change. Human rights activists who had followed the proceedings of the court appearances, ridiculed both charges and called for their immediate release. However, the Al Khalifa hereditary dictatorship is attempting to exploit this case in order to deter others from taking similar stands against their rule.
The Committee to Defend Activists and Prisoners of Conscience said that yesterday’s court setting marked the beginning of a serious attack on freedom of expression guaranteed international conventions, especially article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 19 of the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights which was signed by Bahrain on 20th September 2006. It urged human rights bodies “raise their voices in protest against these acts that undermine the stability of the country and the rights of its citizens”.
On another level, voices of concern have been raised about the ill-treatment of several young men arrested last week and subjected to horrific torture on direct orders from the royal palace. An uprising against the Al Khalifa cruelty was in the offing as news of torture spread among the people. The heavy-handed approach by the security forces in handling the case, especially the unprovoked attacks on houses, created enormous tension and led to deep feelings against the Al Khalifa occupiers.
In total eleven people were arrested; four of them were accused of attacking a police vehicle, the rest were “witnesses”. All were subjected to horrific treatment by the police in order to extract confessions. The youth remained steadfast in their positions and dealt a blow to the morale of the death squads. Protests were being prepared when Sheikh Hamad and his torturers realised the danger and ordered the immediate and unconditional discharge of the detainees. Calls have now been made for the arrest those torturers who ill-treated the innocent detainees. The Al Khalifa were forced to release them as their continued detention became an embarrassment and a cause for more political troubles.
Meanwhile, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has issued an analytical study of the plot by the Al Khalifa occupiers against the natives of the country. The study is under the title: Conspiring Against the Shia of Bahrain: An overview of the classified study at the heart of the Bandargate scandal; Islamist groups penetrate and influence government and society. It highlights the plot which is tantamount to ethnic cleansing, and urges a vigilant approach to the policies of the present regime.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
8th January 2007
