Bahraini human rights violated again

This video says about itself:

SISMEC Presents: Mariwan Hama and Human Rights in Bahrain

Mar 28, 2013

“Reporting on Repressive Regimes in Gulf Countries”

Mariwan Hama shares his experience investigating human rights abuses in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, touching on the nation’s security complex, geopolitical context, changing ethnic configuration, and current political events. Hama spent five days earlier in the year visiting Bahrain for HRW, documenting the ongoing struggle for democracy in a repressive regime successfully tempering their Arab Spring.

From the Bahrain Freedom Movement:

Urgent Appeal: Bahrain – Prominent Human Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Reportedly Missing

17/05/2013 – 4:57 p

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) express grave concern over the news of the removal of Nabeel Rajab from his cell to an unknown location.

Nabeel Rajab called his wife on 14 May 2013, telling her that he had witnessed the torture of young political prisoners at the hands of prison guards at Jaw prison. He raised his voice telling them to stop, and when they realized that he had witnessed what was happening, they quickly left. Nabeel Rajab asked his wife to request that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visit him in prison so he can give them his testimony of what he had witnessed. Rajab’s wife received a phone call that evening informing her that Nabeel was reportedly removed from his cell that night by prison guards and was not returned.

Bahrain must release five Twitter users jailed for allegedly insulting the King: here.

Also from the Bahrain Freedom Movement:

Bahrain: Alkhalifa revenge after dictator’s Ascot humiliation

17/05/2013 – 12:00 p

erious escalation of state-terrorism has been reported in the last few days following the debacle of Bahrain’s dictator at the Ascot race course in London on Saturday 11th May. Many people have been arrested; most of them subjected to severe torture on the spots where they were detained.

Harsh prison sentences have been passed against scores of Bahrainis. At least five people have been imprisoned for anti-regime tweets. Use of chemical gases has also been intensified, and many casualties reported in various parts of the country.

This escalation came in the wake of one of the most serious peaceful incidents in recent months. A young former prisoner Bahrainni youth, Sayyed Ahmad Al Wada’ei, managed to reach the grand stand at Ascot race course and raise slogans against the dictator, next to the Queen [of England]. He was carrying a Bahraini flag and a banner calling Hamad a dictator and murder. He was filmed as he rushed towards Bahrain’s dictator, Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifa who was watching the race alongside the Queen.

Police and body guards rushed towards the youth and arrested him. He was later released and asked to report to them again at a later date. Mr Al Wada’ei is a victim of the Alkhalifa hereditary dictatorship. In 2011 he was arrested, injured and tortured when Alkhalifa police and troops attacked the Pearl Roundabout killing people. His appearance at the “Shouting in the Dark” documentary showed him bleeding heavily after being struck by the Alkahlifa police and soldiers.

After the Ascot fracas, Bahrain’s dictator announced that he had naturalized 240 British citizens out of 9000 UK nationals residing in the country. This decision is seen as a bribe meant to solicit support to defeat the people’s revolution. He also said that the British should have remained in the Gulf and should not have withdrawn their forces in 1971. Who asked you to leave? He said.

The day before he had opened the newly-renamed Mons Hall at Sandhurst Military Academy. He had paid 3 million pounds for its refurbishment and re-named in his name. A great controversy has erupted within the British military circles surrounding this change. Media and political analysts have argued against it saying that a historic piece of military heritage honouring those who had sacrificed themselves in the First World War must not be dishonoured in this way. A dictator like Hamad whose people have continued their calls for his removal is not worthy of having his name attached to Mons Hall.

Repression in Bahrain has, meanwhile, continued unabated. Collective punishment has intensified as the people continued their struggle to achieve a democratic transition. Scores of people have been arrested and tortured. At least five Bahrainis have been sentenced to jail terms of one year each after being indicted for tweeting anti-regime slogans. Lawyer Mahdi Al Basri (25) was arrested on 11th March following a police raid on his home in Karrana. Four other men, Mahmood Abudl Majeed Abdulla Al Jamri (34), Hassan Abd Ali Issa (33), Mohsen Abd Ali Issa (26) and Ammar Makki Mohammad Al Aali (36) were arrested at dawn on 12th March. Yesterday Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action saying they may be “prisoners of conscience”. All five were sentenced under Article 214 of Alkhalifa penal code which criminalises “offending the emir of the country”. Last month more than 300 people were arrested as the Alkhalifa crackdown continued following the appointment of the crown prince to the post of deputy prime minister.

Yesterday the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Bahrain urgently needs to reform its economy to stop its debt burden becoming unsustainable. “Overall fiscal deficits are projected to widen and public debt is estimated to continue on a rising path that could become unsustainable, reaching 61 percent of GDP as early as 2018”, it said in the report.

Arab Spring Not Over Yet in Bahrain: here.

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