Bahrain: Attacks on freedom of expression herald a new era of extreme repression
The attack on freedom of expression continued unabated with Government’s death squads assuming new role in attacking those who venture to express themselves. When people decided to express solidarity with the prisoners of conscience languishing in Al Khalifa torture chambers Sheikh Hamad dispatched heavily armed forces to the spot where the demonstration had been planned to start, preventing people from approaching the area and pointing their guns to the heads of would be protesters. Manama suddenly became like a garrison with death squads roaming its roads especially in the vicinity of the planned demonstration.
This development followed last Friday’s demonstration in support of the political prisoners who have been in jail for four weeks without charge of trial. They are accused of possessing leaflets calling for the boycott of last month’s pseudo-elections of half the members of the powerless shura council. International human rights organizations have been urged to protest this flagrant attack on basic human rights contrary to what the Al Khalifa hereditary dictatorship presents to the outside world.
On another level, Bahrainis living in exile organized an effective protest against the Al Khalifa’s policies. On Monday 11th December scores of Bahraini exiles gathered outside the Dorchester Hotel in Central London to present the case of the Bahraini people to the outside world. Inside the Hotel, the Bahraini embassy was holding its annual reception party on what they consider the national day of Bahrain (16th December). Diplomats and other dignitaries had been invited to attend, and the protesters distributed abundant literature to them. Several of them expressed sympathy with the protesters and were seen taking the literature inside the main reception hall.
Large banners were raised as well as pictures of the political prisoners. Some journalists took particular interest in the issue of freedom of expression, and they were angry that in this day and age, people are locked up behind bars simply because the possessed anti-regime literature. The picket became noisy towards the end as the participants raised anti-Al Khalifa slogans, to the irritation of the embassy staff who were seen in a state of panic and confusion.
Meanwhile the people of Bahrfain are preparing to commemorate the Day of the Martyrs which falls on 17th December. It was on that day in 1994 that the prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, gave clear orders to the riot police and members of security forces to use any power necessary to quell the demonstrators. Two young Bahraini citizens were gunned down as they demonstrated peacefully in Jid Hafs and Sanabis.
Many others were subsequently martyred in the following four years. The last of the martyrs of the intifadha (uprising) was Nooh Khalil Al Nooh, a young man in his early twenties who was kidnapped by Sheikh Hamad’s death squad and tortured to death. His body was dumped near his house. The body showed extensive torture. The photos were circulated to the world, and the Al Khalifa were so exposed and embarrassed that they hurried to sign the Convention Against Torture (CAT) as a means of quelling the international anger at the way they had treated Mr Al Nooh. The planned demonstrations and pickets are likely to be faced by the ruthless secret service, but the planners have vowed to continue their preparations nevertheless.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
15th December 2006
