Bahrain Rev Details

TABLE OF CONTENTS :
About Bahrain ............................................................................4 why there is a revolution in Bahrain?..........................................6 Articles......................................................................................20 Revolution Timeline..................................................................26 Demonstrations .......................................................................40 Barack Obama Speech ...........................................................69 The Trial ..................................................................................75 Members of Parliament............................................................82 Medics .....................................................................................86 Labours ..................................................................................94 Athletes .................................................................................97 Lawyers .............................................................................101
Bloggers ...............................................................................105 Journalists ............................................................................109
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TABLE OF CONTENTS :
Teachers ................................................................................112 Students.................................................................................115 Human Rights ......................................................................119 Human rights defenders .......................................................123 Photographers.......................................................................128 Royal Wedding ...................................................................132 Mosques ...............................................................................137 F1 & Economy ......................................................................140 Pearl Tube: Bahrain Revolution Videos ................................150 Bahrain in Pictures................................................................156 Freedom Martyrs...................................................................171 Revolution ART .....................................................................201 Revolution Cartoons ...........................................................210 Websites ...........................................................................218
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About BAHRAIN
SECTION 1.0
About BAHRAIN :
Bahrain Profile
Leader : Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah Prime Ministers: Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifa - since1971. Population : 718,306 Capital City : Manama Independence date : 15 August 1971 (from UK) Religions : Islam ( Shia 70 % and Sunni 30 %) Exports : petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles Location : Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia Area : 665 km sq
Bahrain Location Page | 6 Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifa Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah:
why there is a revolution in Bahrain?
SECTION 2.0
Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Bahrain is rich in oil country and Small population of citizens in this country But the majority of people do not get something from this wealth Because of widespread financial corruption by government and by the ruling family in Bahrain.
1.Poverty
In its report, released today, BCHR stated that based on official figures and studies there are 20,000 unemployed Bahrainis, while the oppositions estimate the number to be more than 30,000. If the average of these figures is taken, in addition to their dependents who are affected by the unemployment, the number will exceed 80,000 people. It worth mentioning that the unemployed and their dependents are not receiving any social security aids in contradiction with the Constitution. The report also revealed that the number of households who are unable to work and those who receive financial assistance from Ministry of Labour and charitable contribution from charity funds associations exceeds 20,000 families, which are around 80,000 people whom each receive BD18 per months. While, the poverty level (Poverty Income Threshold) for a household, according to official studies and statements, is BD309 per month.
CNN Report : Poverty in Bahrain . URL : http://youtu.be/fDfVo_Noino
The report that was released yesterday during the Poverty and Economic Rights seminar tackled also the problem of housing in Bahrain. A large portion of the society lacks decent housing. Unemployed citizens and those who are receiving financial assistance Bahrain Centre for Human Rights stated that half cannot receive housing loans granted by the of Bahraini citizens are suffering from poverty and Government. Whereas, around 44,000 famipoor living standards. This figure was based on lies with a low income are waiting in the waitofficial statistics and studies on number of unem- ing list for Government subsidised housing for ployed Bahrainis, beneficiaries of social aid who are up to 12 years or more. The official statistics unable to work, and employees with low income. shows that there are 6,000 ruined houses
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
The report revealed that according to official figure, quarter of employed Bahrainis live below the poverty level of BD309 per month. That brings the total of Bahrainis suffering from poverty and poor living conditions to around 200,000 people (half of total Bahrainis).
Half of Bahraini Citizens are Suffering from Poverty and Poor Living Conditions
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The report stated that the poverty rate is increasing in Bahrain at the same time as the average income is increasing. This shows the large differences between classes of income and living standards. A survey conducted by Bahrain Monetary Agency found that while the poverty rate is increasing, there are 5,200 wealthy people in Bahrain. The survey showed that the average wealth of each of them reaches US$4.2 millions, which is above the international average of wealthy people of US$3.8 millions. The same survey indicated that the private wealth in Bahrain worth around US$20 to 30 billions. Bahrain is proud of being one of most liberal countries in terms of its economy and in attracting foreign investments and of its tax-free society (no tax on income and sales); however, there are 23 types of high fees imposed by the Government on people in return of its services. The report pointed out that the poverty and miserable conditions of citizens are caused by unequal distribution of wealth, waste of public money, financial & administrative corruption, poor planning, and dumping the market with low wage foreign workers who constitute 60% of the labour force. The report also pointed out that the continuation and dominations of a small group of influential powerful people on the national economy, both in private and public sectors, are considered as a barrier to real reforms. The above influential powerful people have taken over large land areas in Bahrain, especially the reclaimed lands and the ones that will be reclaimed in the future. The decree that was passed by the Government to allow foreign investors to own lands in Bahrain caused sharp increased of lands prices. This will lead to accumulate more wealth for landlords, and will make it more difficult for middle class to have a piece of land. In addition to the above, the price of building materials have dramatically
1.Poverty
and that there is a project for rebuilding or main- gone up in the last few years which makes taining 45,000 houses but in a period of 8 years. it more difficult for a citizen to build a house. The report also tackled the social and security impact of poverty in Bahrain. Statistics shows that the crime rate, especially robbery, have escalated. Divorce rate and number of people choosing to be single have also increased. Additionally, number of working women and children participating in the working force with bad working conditions have increased. BCHR warned that increasing number of citizens classified as poor and the deteriorating of living standards will definitely reflect on the political and social tranquility of the country, especially when official reports indicate that the unemployed people will boost from 20,000 to 80,000 people in the next decade and that the average salary will drop by 19%. There will also be an increase of citizens seeking Government housing to 80,000 people. BCHR made many recommendations in its report; among them are: implementation of the Constitutions article that grants social security and benefits for unemployed and people who are unable to work; deciding rate for minimum wage; reforming both Administrative and Legislative branches of the Government; and establishing active supervision over administrative and financial activities in the Government for fighting against the corruption. In this seminar, BCHR is lunging a two year campaign with the aim of awakening civil societies and related institutions and individuals to press for passing appropriate policies and reforms to solve the poverty problems in Bahrain. Source:http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/199
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1.Poverty
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2.Discrimination
Bahrain, with its majority Shiite population ruled over by the Sunni Khalifa dynasty, has been afflicted by sporadic rioting since the mid1990s, which the government has portrayed as an Iran-inspired plot to overturn the monarchy.
Bahraini Shiites feel neglect in government housing crunch
HISTORIC RIVALRY Rivarly between Shiite and Sunni Islam dates MANAMA (Reuters) - Seventeen years have back to the period after the death of Prophet Mopassed and Bahraini government clerk Saeed hammad 13 centuries ago. Sunni rulers share is still waiting to move out of his ramshackle Western fears that Iran -- a non-Arab Shiite house in Barbar, a Shiite village outside the state with considerable influence in the Arab capital Manama, and into government housing. world -- is seeking to become a nuclear weapons state with ambitions to dominate the region. For Saeed and other Bahraini Shiites, the interminable waiting time is just another sign of the discrimi- Attempts to contain widespread Shiite disnation and neglect by a government which they say content in Bahrain by the restoration of pargives priority in housing, jobs and services to Sunnis. liament and a managed democracy have sharpened appetites for a change in a system Saeed is one of about 53,000 mostly Shiite Bah- where the ruling family still calls the shots. rainis out of a national population of 600,000 who are waiting to receive housing from their The vote for lower house will be the third in Sunni-led government because they can- the Gulf Arab country since King Hamad not afford to buy land or houses themselves. bin Isa al-Khalifa launched a reform process a decade ago to help quell Shiite proWhen I went to the government the last time, I told tests. Besides Kuwait, Bahrain is the only them Im going to die before I get a government Gulf Arab country with an elected parliament house, itll end up going to my children, Saeed said. but laws must pass through a Sunni-dominated upper house appointed by the king. With a family of 14 crammed under his roof, and a salary of 250 dinars (419 pounds) a Housing Minister Sheikh Ebrahim bin Khalifa month, he is barely able to provide for them. A al-Khalifa said there was no prejudice in awardnew flat or house is a distant dream for Saeed. ing government housing and that any delays were caused by the increase in population. The housing issue, high unemployment and attempts by the government to grant Sunnis from We are going (down the list) by name, withoutside the country jobs and citizenship in order to out any other considerations, he told Reuters. change the demographic balance lie at the heart of deep-seated discontent among Bahrains Shiites. But many Shiites cannot shake off the suspicion they are being discriminated against, The divisive issues, denied by Manama -- a close and as the country gears up for the elecally of Washington and Riyadh -- will dominate tion, Bahrains sectarian rift -- or rathBahrains October 23 parliamentary election. er the divide between its rulers and their Page | 11
2.Discrimination
Shiite subjects -- looks set to deepen further. able in Bahrain, but the ruling family holds stakes in property developments on newly The resentment, analysts say, is fuelled fur- reclaimed land on Bahrains north coast, land ther by the appalling living conditions endured which the Shiite opposition says the govby Shiite villagers while they see housing, ernment allocated for investment purposes. health care and other benefits being allocated by their government to Sunnis from elsewhere. Bahrains business registry shows that Emar Bahrain, owner of the Bahrain Financial HarMost Shiites feel that their situation is caused bour development, is linked to the royal famby discrimination and because nationalised ily. A probe by parliament in March concluded foreigners are taking up most of the hous- that 65 square kilometres (25 square miles) of ing projects, said Nabeel Rajab from the state land had been given to private companies Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). without appropriate compensation since 2003. I think this is one form of discrimination. In some areas theres no housing and also no in- Not a single (penny) out of this reclamafrastructure like sewage systems or water sup- tion and public property being transferred to ply, said Theodore Karasik of Dubais Insti- private companies went to the public budtute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. get, said Khalil Marzooq, a member of parliament from Shiite opposition group Wefaq. In the past two months, Bahrain, also home to the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet and a regional off- He said this land could have been worth shore banking centre, has cracked down on some at least 10 billion dinars, money which Shiite opposition groups, accusing their lead- could have been used for housing projects. ers of plotting to overthrow the Sunni monarchy. Ali Fateel, a Shiite who lives in Bani Jamra village, said he applied for government housing 20 years ago and is desperate to move PRICED OUT Any hope someone like Saeed had of buy- out of his three-room flat as his family grows. ing a piece of land was dashed when land prices shot up during a five-year property boom that Fateel said he thought villagers were slow to ended only when the global financial crisis hit in be awarded government housing because the 2008. In the aftermath of the debt crunch, hous- leader of the Shiite opposition in the 1990s, ing loans also became more difficult to obtain. Sheikh Abdul Amir al-Jamri, was born there. There is a big disconnect between the loans people can get and the prices at which developers can build, said Mike Williams, senior director at property consultants CB Richard Ellis Bahrain. Fateels three teenage sons and his daughter still have to sleep in the same small room at an age when sexes are normally separated in his deeply conservative society.
Bahrains Shiite opposition also says the hous- I applied before my son was born, almost 20 ing shortage is further aggravated by the exten- years ago. What if he wants to marry soon, then sive land ownership of the ruling Khalifa family. I need to rent another flat for his family, he said. He did not expected to get government housing There is no reliable data on land ownership avail- any time soon. I dont see it coming, Fateel said. Page | 12
3.Political Naturalization
the Interior Ministry regarding its employment policies among allegations that it had for decades favoured giving jobs to foreigners, mainly from Syria, Jordan, Yemen and Pakistan, and has consistently turned down Bahraini applications. Charges The ministry has repeatedly said it did not shut out Bahrainis and that it was easing out the expatriates to replace them with citizens. But Al Wefaq wants to monitor every step of the process and to be on high alert over the naturalisation figures. We want to see the ministry plan being implemented to replace the nonBahrainis. We also want to know the exact number of the relatives of foreign personnel working for the ministry and the accurate figures of those who were given citizenship, Fairuz said.
Al Wefaq steps up demands for naturalisation
Also Read :
Manama: Al Wefaq Society has increased pres- Political Naturalization in Bahrain: sure on the Interior Ministry, demanding to Various Violations of Citizens and Forknow the exact number of its expatriate staff. eign Workers Rights We would like to know the precise number of non-Bahrainis who work for the Minis- URL : http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/node/425 try of Interior in all the departments, both civilians and uniformed, and regardless of the nature of their contracts, Jalal Fairuz asked in the question submitted on Sunday at parliament. We wish also to know their grades and the reasons behind employing them and whether their positions had been initially offered to Bahrainis, the MP, one of 17 representing the society in the 40-member Lower House, said. The ministry, according to Bahraini laws, has two weeks to respond to the queries of the MPs. The society said it wanted all the figures and data related to the staff that have been employed since 2002, the year when the parliament, currently in its second four-year term, was re-opened. Al Wefaq has been applying relentless pressure on Page | 13
3.Political Naturalization
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Could Google Earth cause a revolution in Bahrain?

New York Times
While Facebook has gotten all the face time in Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain, dont forget Google Earth, which began roiling Bahraini politics in 2006. A big issue in Bahrain, particularly among Shiite men who want to get married and build homes, is the unequal distribution of land. On Nov. 27, 2006, on the eve of parliamentary elections in Bahrain, The Washington Post ran this report from there: Mahmood, who lives in a house with his parents, four siblings and their children, said he became even more frustrated when he looked up Bahrain on Google Earth and saw vast tracts of empty land, while tens of thousands of mainly poor Shiites were squashed together in
4.Steeling Lands
small, dense areas. We are 17 people crowded in one small house, like many people in the southern district, he said. And you see on Google how many palaces there are and how the al-Khalifas [the Sunni ruling family] have the rest of the country to themselves. Bahraini activists have encouraged people to take a look at the country on Google Earth, and they have set up a special user group whose members have access to more than 40 images of royal palaces.
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4.Steeling Lands
Same scale!
How many people live in Manama? And how many property owners are there? Who is allowed to enter the city? And whats the density of its population?
Ask the same questions for this Bahrainisland over here!
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4.Steeling Lands
They call this a private property (owned by a member of the ruling family)
Thats OK. But just be reminded that its twice as big as Sadadvillage.. and did the owner of it pay for it?!
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4.Steeling Lands
some pictures of theirpalaces and manors on the west side of the island.
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4.Steeling Lands
You have seen where they live. Now, see the misery they caused to our people.
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4.Steeling Lands
An island with no beaches All those beaches are forbidden to the public, for no good reason! The coastal line of all Bahrain islands is 161 KM long. More than 90% of this line constitutes privately-owned (illegallypossessed) property.
For more information, visit : http://www.ogleearth.com/BahrainandGoogleEarth.pdf

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Articles
SECTION 3.0
Articles :
They fear that the real political transferring into a democracy may create another bloody country such Iraq
By Mr. Khalil Al-Marzooq When we had a dialogue with members of the National Assembly and the Asalah political societies, they said they invoke the Iraqi bloody scene whenever we talked - we are the opposition - about real democratic change in Bahrain, they expressed fear if there is democratic change that the Sunni community will be killed in the streets and that their areas will be neglected and their sons will imprisoned Mr. Khalil Al-Marzooq and fired from their jobs and the Sunni mosques will be destroyed! case pro-democracy movement succeeds in Bahrain whenever we discussed with them the Of course, we did not argue them about the issue fair demands of peaceful movement. of the killing in Iraq and the other unacceptable issues, simply because we condemn the killings and We have asked the National Assembly and the oppression of any party! Asalah political societies representatives to review our slogans and theirs, our logos and And we were truly surprised, what makes you imag- theirs our positions and theirs in order to see ine that the Shiites in Bahrain are brutal? Were who is talking about unity and speak about the there any such incidents that made you afraid of entity and who is talking about a certain comthe Shiites this way? In respond to our queries, they munity. We raised a question: Who converts claimed that the Sunni public is afraid, and we told any political difference as an attack on a certhem the government does not recognize only two- tain community? Also, who talks about a holisthirds of the parliament, the constitution does not tic vision for the nation a united one nation and represent only 60% in the Constituent Assembly, we on the other hand who is talking about fears will not allow a State where one party is ruling on the of the change into the real democracy and expense of the other we will neither accept injustice the fear of suppression against Sunni??? (It to anyone no matter his ideological background is. is very obvious and has been documented in We shall build everything together hand in hand- international media who is talking about what) Our National State. Despite all this, the National Assembly and the Asalah political societies insisted Today we ask.. on their fear of Sunni suppression in the future in Who is activating the bloody Iraqi scene? Page | 22
Articles :
Who is killing people in the streets and in custody? Who is imprisoning and torturing innocent people? Whose areas are being attacked? Whose women are sent to prison and tortured brutally by male & female torturers? Who are being fired out of their jobs? Whose properties (money-houses-carsetc) are being destroyed and robbed? Whose mosques are being demolished? Who are prevented from practicing their religious rituals? And whose voice is being silenced? And who. and who.and who..? We have sacrificed with OUR blood in the public streets for the Pride of Bahrain for BOTH of usSunni & Shiites. Our youths have been imprisoned for the sake of fair demands for BOTH of us. In the 90s Bahrain uprising, some of you claimed that whoever protested at that time was a disloyal to Bahrain, despite these unreal claims our youths blood and our mothers tears and our imprisoned men and women cries of painful torture have created your current political societies and have made some of you Parliament Members and presented living with some sort of dignity for BOTH of us. Today, you will be the first to benefit of OUR sacrifice, OUR blood and OUR pain. There are SOME who dance with joy to see our blood and hear our pain; however these SOME will be the first to enjoy the fruit of our sacrifice in the future. Congrats and a round of applause to the Bahrain Youths who have been brought up on the true values of Sacrifice and Altruism. You are really original Bahraini PEARLS, which will never change despite all the harsh conditions; whatever/ whoever is genuine will never ever change over all times. (Original Arabic Article Al-Wefaq): www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015022 7037283072&set=a.459171508071.254298.2 03200448071&type=1&theater)
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Articles :
The first point: the speech of extremism and narrow-mindedness versus the speech of forgiveness and open-mindedness. Where do religion, humanity, civilization and intellect stand?
By Shaikh Ali Salman- Secretary-General of Alwefaq Political and Islamic Society To start with, there is an idea that might be possibly raised in the flow of our speech, at the beShaikh Ali Salman ginning or at the end, which is: whenever you find an invitation that provokes hatred, extremism and stir grudges, I would like you to know that this invitation has absolutely nothing to do with religion. ideological and political schools, the school of extremism vs. the school of open-mindedness. Never be deceived even if such invitation of hatred The Extremists school has produced a public has been called for by a scholar-academic or reli- speech that negatively targets any other pargious- or you came across it in a book that claims it ty which is not theirs. This speech could be is about Islam. All religions and not only Islam, all re- described, sometimes, as religiously extreme ligions since the first messengers of God have car- against other religions or ideologies. The exried an invitation of love and understanding. Neither tremism could also be classified into various Prophet Mohammed PBUH nor Jesus PBUH nor degrees, highly extreme, average or mild. AcMoses PBUH were rude or stony-hearted. No one cording to this school, people are either beof the Messengers of God has ever been forceful or lievers or Kafer (non-believers of the existence violent. Their messages completed each other at a of God), they are very sensitive about accushigh pure spiritual level which has reached its perfec- ing others of being Kafer. Islam is the circle tion in Prophet Mohammed PBUH. All messengers which they have surrounded themselves with of God have carried messages of love, guidance and whoever has a different view than theirs to the correct path of God and justice. Therefore, is out of this circle. As a result of this narrowif you find an individual or a group of people which mindedness, they have given themselves invites you to kill or hate in the name of religion, you the authority to judge and classify all othshould know for sure that it has absolutely noth- ers compared to their own believes because ing to do with any religion. No matter how huge or they think that they are an ideal standard. In small the number of people calling for such false fact, we came with this realistic analysis after invitation are; just be careful not to be deceived. a thorough historical diagnosis of our reality. This is, in short, what we are going to talk about. After the 15th of March we have noticed that In our society, we live to experience two different the tone of segregation and extremism in pubPage | 24
Articles :
lic speeches has replaced the tone of love and understanding. And the values of unity and living in harmony have been replaced with extreme ignorance and negligence to others. The narrowminded or extreme public speech- claimed to be addressed in the name of religion- has dramatically changed into a tool that encourages revenge. The question is: whom are they targeting and wishing to kill? The extremists are targeting their brothers in Islam of other ideologies and their partners who share the same land. They want revenge from protesters who raised their voices peacefully to demand fair rights for all citizens to live with dignity. Of course, revenge is nothing of Islam or any religion. You may wonder about the reasons for such extreme speech. Well, there are certainly several motives that have created this significant change. First, some people falsely argue that the pro-democracy protesters are destroying our country. Besides, there is another group of people who disagree with the pro-democracy movement because they have personal interests and benefits that they want to gain on the expense of othersas if we are in a war and the only way to win the riches is by defeating the opponent. For instance, some are talking about increasing the number of their partys representatives in the parliament and I would like to ask them: where is your faithful and pure love to this land (Bahrain)? Another is asking for the leadership and managerial positions at Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) and Salmanyia Medical Complex for the members of their own community or political society. To those I would repeat the same question: where is your faithful and pure love to this land (Bahrain)? Where is the slogan Bahrain comes first? These motives are apparent to any observer to the reality of our society. good for everyoneProphets had been sent to spread love among all the people and to pave the path of happiness and invite the people on the globe to accept and respect each others. The school we are talking about is the one which carried out an invitation to be opened to others ideas, respect others opinions, forgive and insist on living in total harmony and acceptance of others. Who has established the true value of living in harmony between Muslims and Jews? He is none other than Prophet Mohammed PBUH. So why should we join the school of forgiveness and openmindedness and strongly support its speech? Firstly, because this a manitarian harmonious sistently meets with God sealed with the highly civilized huspeech which conthe messages of Islamic message.
Secondly, because the other speech invites for segregation and sectarianism and whoever is calling for the division of the society is destroying this land. Such speeches may lead people to divide for ridiculous reasons and eventually will destroy the whole country for good. For example, as a result of such irresponsible speeches some people may hate each others just because some live in the city and others live in the countryside. I n Bahrain, we live in a very small country, so this is likely to happen if we follow the wrong school and respond to the wrong invitation. There are tiny if any boarders within Bahrain, so if you grow the seeds of hatred instead of love among people, where and how are you going to live? We have a unite destiny despite our Now turning to the other school, which we believe it different ideologies and political directions. has been founded on the message of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all the other prophets and Thirdly, we are in a state where we must messengers of Allah. A school that has always em- be rational and prioritize our countrys inphasized on the value of altruism and loving the terests to our own personal ones and invite all the parties to calm things down and Page | 25
Articles :
focus on the debate, there is a political dispute and there are different political views, the idea is to limit the political controversy and not turn it into a religious or ethnic or sectarian conflict. To sum up, the historical and contemporary reading leads us to a clear conclusion which is: the speech of extremism and narrow-mindedness antagonizes everyone and provoke infighting. And the civilized speech of forgiveness and open-mindedness which calls for harmony and union shall last forever and lead to a better future for us all. (Original Arabic Article Al-Wefaq): www.facebook.com/note.php?note_ id=158553607540660
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Revolution Timeline
SECTION 4.0
Revolution Timeline:
In Bahrain, protesters take to Bahrain authorities launch surprise attack on protesters Bahrain protesters back at Pearl Square despite violence Bahrains king says hell release some political prisoners U.S. tacks toward king amid Bahrain turmoil
Bahrain protesters clash with police Saudi Arabian, gulf forces enter Bahrain Bahrain declares state of emergency
Troops, police assault protesters in Bahrains capital
Protesters in Bahrain defy ban on rallies
BAHRAIN: Security forces continue wide, deep crackdown on dissent
4 Bahrain protesters sentenced to death for killing 2 officers
After crushed protests, Bahrain is accused of increased oppression of Shiites
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Revolution Timeline: Feb. 14, 2011 In Bahrain, protesters take to streets

In Bahrain, a small island emirate on the Arab side of the Persian Gulf near Saudi Arabia, riot police attacked hundreds of demonstrators with tear gas, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and pellets, according to human rights observers. A member of parliament reported at least one protester dead and three injured. In Bahrain, demonstrators were not demanding the collapse of the Sunni Muslim monarchy, which oversees a nation that is predominantly Shiite, but citizen access to a more participatory government. Their demands include a new constitution; an investigation into corruption, torture and purported attempts to suppress the Shiite majority by naturalizing new Sunni citizens; and release of up to 500 political prisoners, many of them under 18. King Hamad bin Isa Khalifa responded last week with an offer of 1,000 dinars (about $2,650) to each family in the country. Maryam Alkhawaja of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, who was at Mondays protests, said many see the offer as a slap in the face. Is that the price of our freedom? They think were not going to go out and protest because we received 1,000 dinars? she said. At least 14 people reportedly were injured in clashes earlier in the day and on Sunday outside the capital, especially in the area of Karzakan, according to Reuters news agency.
By Ramin Mostaghim and Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times
A woman shows empty packages of tear gas said to have been used by riot police (Hamad I Mohammed, Reuters)
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By Ned Parker and Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times
February 17, 2011 Bahrain authorities launch surprise attack on protesters

Security forces in tiny but strategic Bahrain launched a brutal assault early Thursday against at least 1,000 defiant anti-government protesters, including children, camped out in tents in the capitals Pearl Square. At least two were killed and 50 hurt. Death toll: Three people were killed and 231 wounded in a police operation to clear protesters from a Manama square Thursday, Bahrains health minister said. Faisal bin Yaqoob al-Hamer told Reuters that 36 people were still being treated, including one in intensive care. A barrage of tear gas canisters thundered across the square about 3 a.m. as dozens of police cars, armored security vehicles and ambulances converged on a makeshift tent city in the center of Manama that was beginning to resemble a smaller version of Tahrir Square in Cairo, where Egyptian protesters this month were successful in overthrowing their president. A Bahraini man is comforted at a hospital in Manama
as he grieves for one of (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
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By Ned Parker, Los Angeles Times
February 19, 2011 Bahrain protesters back at Pearl Square despite violence
When hundreds of men approached the square Saturday, policemen fired off tear-gas canisters. Hours later, red welts marked his arms from the final skirmish before the Bahraini police retreated on orders of Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamed Khalifa. The demonstrators let out wild cheers at being back in the plaza that has come to embody the democratic aspirations of Bahrainis, much as Cairos Tahrir Square proved the beating heart of Egypts popular uprising. At least six Bahrainis have died since Monday, and hundreds more have been wounded. As night fell, people in the square were unsure whether the government really would allow them to remain or whether they should brace for another crackdown. Around him, volunteers set up tents, and doctors Protesters rejoice after entering Pearl Square, where and nurses rebuilt their clinic. The space twinkled government forces (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles with hundreds of gleaming white candles for the Times) dead. The square was becoming a village, but no one knew for how long.
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Feb. 21, 201 Bahrains king says hell release some political prisoners
Bahrains king announced plans to release an unspecified number of political prisoners Monday in a move apparently aimed at appeasing an opposition movement that is pressing for reforms in this small Persian Gulf country. In another development, exiled Shiite opposition figure Hassan Mushaima announced plans to return from London on Tuesday. It would be another test for authorities, who have a warrant outstanding for his arrest. The monarchy says it wants to pursue a national dialogue in the aftermath of its decision last week to order security forces to open fire on anti-government demonstrators. The demonstrators have mostly been Shiite Muslims, who are the majority in Bahrain and complain of discrimination by the Sunni Muslim royal family. On Monday, a new movement called the National Unity Group also called for reforms. The movement, which has close ties to the government and Sunni community, positioned itself as an alternative to the popular protests centered in Pearl Square in Manama, the capital. Protesters have demanded that all political prisoners be freed, the government be dissolved and the constitution be revised. The king, Hamed ibn Isa Khalifa, said the release of the political prisoners was a direct result of a rally by the new organization. He did not say how many detainees were being freed. Wefaq, the main Shiite opposition group, acknowledged that the announcement of the release amounted to a concession. But it said it was insufficient to start negotiations with the government. Wefaq officials said they doubted that the most high-profile detainees would be freed.
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March 5, 2011 U.S. tacks toward king amid Bahrain turmoil

Despite its eagerness to show support for protesters across the Middle East, the Obama administration has lined up squarely with the royal family of Bahrain as tens of thousands march in the streets demanding reform in the strategic kingdom that is home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet. While Bahraini demonstrators continue to denounce the monarchys reform offers as a sham, U.S. officials are praising the king of the Persian Gulf island nation and have taken a lead role in pushing for negotiations aimed at satisfying Bahrains marginalized Shiite Muslim majority. Since the unrest started in Bahrain on Feb. 14, the king has fired four Cabinet ministers, replacing three of them with Shiite officials, and released 23 political prisoners. But he hasnt yielded to demands that he fire the longtime prime minister, who is also his uncle, overhaul the government and provide new powers to an elected parliament. Bahraini protesters, who complain that the kingdoms mostly poor Shiites have no real political power and little access to the top jobs in business or government, on Tuesday again turned out tens of thousands of people a large showing in a country of about 600,000 citizens, who constitute about half the total population. In the first days of the unrest, it appeared that the Obama administration might turn its back on the monarchy. On Feb. 17, Bahrain security forces fired on demonstrators, killing seven people and prompting an angry call from Obama to King Hamed ibn Isa Khalifa.
Hamad I. Mohammed / Reuters
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Revolution Timeline: March 13, 2011 Bahrain protesters clash with police
Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of anti-government demonstrators blocking access to the financial district Sunday morning, as sectarian tension escalated in this tiny island kingdom. The clashes began early Sunday after protesters set up barricades across a main road into downtown Manama, the capital city, and turned away cars headed for work. Dozens of policemen in riot gear forced the demonstrators back in a series of clashes over two hours, eyewitnesses said. The decision by several hundred demonstrators to block the road appeared to be an effort by some members of the opposition to broaden the protests and to escalate the pressure on the government. But there were also signs of growing sectarian strains, as a group of Shiite Muslim protesters clashed with Sunnis armed with sticks at Bahrain University, witnesses said.
By David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times
Hasan Jamali / Associated Press
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Revolution Timeline: March 14, 2011 Saudi Arabian, gulf forces enter Bahrain
Hundreds of troops from Saudi Arabia and police officers from the nearby United Arab Emirates have entered Bahrain at the request of the ruling family, a move that further polarized the tiny island nation and marks the first time Arab nations have intervened in another countrys affairs amid sweeping unrest in the region. Bahrain television showed a line of armored vehicles Monday carrying Saudi soldiers crossing the 16-mile King Fahd Causeway that links the two countries. The surprise deployment came after several days of worsening violence that had paralyzed the country and threatened to bring down the monarchy. But if the intent of Bahrains ruling Khalifa family was to shore up its precarious position, it seemed at least as probable that bringing in Saudi troops would worsen the crisis by raising the chance of violence and uniting the often-fractious opposition behind a single issue: a refusal to yield to outside military pressure. After learning of the Saudi troops arrival, demonstrators began expanding the barricades and checkpoints they have set up to keep authorities out of the tent city that has arisen at the Pearl roundabout. Demonstrators have occupied the traffic circle since February to protest what they say is systematic discrimination against majority Shiite Muslims by the countrys Sunni rulers. In a statement, the White House urged Saudi Arabia and any other countries that might dispatch troops to show restraint and respect the rights of the people of Bahrain, and to act in a way that supports dialogue instead of undermining it, said Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council.There was no immediate sign that the Saudi troops were moving against the protesters. No soldiers or police were visible near the square by late Monday.
By David S. Cloud and Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times
Saudi Arabian, gulf forces
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Revolution Timeline: March 15, 2011 Bahrain declares state of emergency

Bahrains king declared a three-month state of emergency Tuesday in an effort to quell a monthold uprising as rival groups of protesters and gangs set up more checkpoints around the capital. The move by King Hamed ibn Isa Khalifa appeared to amount to a declaration of martial law the day after hundreds of troops and police from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates poured into Bahrain with the support of the government after worsening violence paralyzed Manama, the capital, in recent days. Few military units, either from Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, were visible around Manama on Tuesday, but the Associated Press reported that a Saudi sergeant had been shot and killed by a protester, according to Saudi security official. The report could not be immediately confirmed. In neighborhoods populated largely by Sunnis, young men carrying sticks and metal rods, many with their faces covered, blocked roads and examined cars. At several checkpoints, the gangs stood next to Interior Ministry security forces and said they were guarding their neighborhoods against Shiites. Near Pearl roundabout, the traffic circle occupied by Shiite demonstrators since last month, protesters had established their own barricades. Most cars were being allowed to pass. Several young men said they were prepared to block police or military units from entering the area, though no security forces were visible on the streets.
By David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times
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March 16, 2011 Troops, police assault protesters in Bahrains capital

Military troops and police moved against thousands of anti-government protesters occupying a landmark square in Bahrains capital early Wednesday after the king had declared a three-month state of emergency and instructed the military to battle unrest in the strategic nation. The security forces fired tear gas and shotguns as they pushed into Pearl Square, and at least two people were killed, eyewitnesses said. An army ambulance with its light flashing was seen leaving the area. Four tanks and half a dozen other armored vehicles were positioned 300 yards from Pearl with soldiers manning machine guns, and helicopters circled the area but didnt immediately intervene. Dozens of soldiers milled about casually outside the square as smoke rose. More than 20 white buses stood nearby, apparently used to transport the riot police who were blocking access to the square. Army vehicles were also visible on an overpass leading into Manamas downtown financial district. The troops apparently seized the road from protesters, who had sealed off the road in recent days and turned parts of the city into a ghost town.
By David S. Cloud and Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times | Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
AFP/Getty Images
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Revolution Timeline: March 25, 2011 Protesters in Bahrain defy ban on rallies
Bands of protesters in more than a dozen villages Friday defied Bahrain security forces and the governments ban on demonstrations to press for the ouster of the countrys ruling family. At least one person died, dozens were injured and some were arrested as protesters, mainly in Shiite Muslim villages, held rallies against the ruling Sunni Muslim dynasty, according to an opposition political party, human rights groups and media reports. Some protesters reportedly encountered tear gas or were shot at by security forces using birdshot. Early Saturday, during a fierce sandstorm, groups of protesters broke the curfew and tried to reach the Pearl Square traffic circle, where they had camped for weeks before the government cracked down. But the protesters retreated when they heard that a fleet of police cars was approaching. The Bahraini government set up military and police cordons at the main roads into Shiite villages. By mid-morning, ski-masked soldiers in tanks and armored personnel carriers and riot police with batons, guns and tear gas had established checkpoints and taken up positions on the Budaiya highway, which threads together villages such as Sar, Bani Jamra and Duraz. The streets were largely empty on what should have been a busy weekend shopping day. Pairs of fighter jets skimmed the highway and other Shiite areas. But protests flared around 3 p.m., as groups of young men ranging in number from a few dozen to a few hundred gathered by mosques and cemeteries in villages and moved toward the blockades. On the highway by Duraz, riot police surged down a street leading into town, firing tear gas. In the village, young men collected before a small Shiite mosque and walked down the main street toward
By Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times
the police, unarmed, some wearing scarves and white rags to shield themselves from the tear gas, whose acrid smell hung in the air. They warned visitors that police were firing rubber bullets. With each round of tear gas, the front line ran back toward the square, an ebb and flow reportedly repeated in other villages. In the village of Maameer, 71-year-old Isa Mohammed Ali died after inhaling tear gas, according to the opposition group Wefaq, which did not back the rallies. Alis family said emergency calls to the island nations main hospital, the Salmaniya Medical Center, which is surrounded by security forces, went unanswered. The Interior Ministry confirmed Alis death, and concluded, without an autopsy, that it was due to natural causes. Five to 10 people were arrested in the village of Samaheej, according to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights. Bahrain has cut phone ties and direct flights to Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. The pro-government English paper, the Gulf Daily News, quoted Bahrains foreign minister as saying that Lebanons Hezbollah is supporting discord and terrorism in the tiny monarchy, and that Persian Gulf countries plan to deport thousands of Lebanese Shiites for alleged ties to Hezbollah and Irans Revolutionary Guard.
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By Alexandra Sandels
April 15, 2011 BAHRAIN: Security forces continue wide, deep crackdown on dissent
In the latest developments in Bahrains ongoing crackdown on the countrys political opposition and human-rights activists, more than two dozen uniformed and plainclothes security officers stormed the home of prominent defense lawyer Mohammed Tajer on Friday night and detained him, said watchdog group Human Rights Watch in a statement. The lawyer has at several times defended opposition figures and rights activists detained in security raids, and Human Rights Watch says he is the first defense lawyer to be detained in the Arabian Peninsula monarchy in more than 10 years. Earlier this week, media reports said the daughter of a prominent Bahraini rights activist who was picked up in a night raid on her home a week ago had started a hunger strike for his release. Meanwhile, the state-run Bahraini news agency reported Sunday that more than 100 civil servants in the country had been fired from their jobs for participating in anti-government protests and that they would be prosecuted for partaking in the demonstrations.
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From the L.A. Times
April 28, 2011 4 Bahrain protesters sentenced to death for killing 2 officers
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A military court in Bahrain on Thursday convicted four Shiite protesters and sentenced them to death for the killing of two policemen during anti-government demonstrations last month in the Gulf kingdom, state media said. Three other Shiite activists, who were also on trial, were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the policemens deaths. Bahrains human rights groups blasted the verdict and said the trial, conducted in secrecy, had no legal credibility and was politically motivated. This verdict is a message from the government, determined to stop the democracy movement, said Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Center for A man looks at a billboard in Muharraq, Bahrain, that Human Rights. Its a warning, saying this is how Bahraini regime. (Hasan Jamali / Associated Press / we will treat you if you continue to demand your April 28, 2011) rights.
demands no leniency for those who opposed the
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SECTION 5.0
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Police and protesters clash in Bahrain
(CNN):The unrest spreading through North Africa and the Middle East has reached the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, according to reports from the state news agency. At least three police officers and one demonstrator have been injured in clashes, the news agency reported. The injuries occurred during an attack on a police station during protests Sunday evening, the news agency said. After three officers were injured, police fired on protesters with rubber bullets, causing one injury, the news agency said. Further protests were scheduled to take place in Bahrain on Monday, making the country the latest in a string of nations to experience popular protests that began in Tunisia. Protesters who have organized on Facebook, Twitter and with e-mails want political reforms, including a constitutional monarchy. Recently, Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa offered more than $2,500 to Bahraini families, ostensibly in celebration of Mondays 10th annivesary of the adoption of the countrys National Action Charter.
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BAHRAIN PROTEST DEATHS POINT TO EXCESSIVE POLICE FORCE
Amnesty International has condemned the heavyhanded tactics used by Bahrains riot police earlier today after the second death in two days of protests calling for political reform in the tiny Gulf state. Fadhel Ali Matrook was among a crowd of people mourning the death yesterday of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima, killed in clashes between protesters and police, when he was shot dead by police earAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE lier today in Bahrains capital, Manama. Riot police are said to have opened fire on the crowd without Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that police warning during the funeral. opened fired on the procession of mourners withThis second killing within two days is both tragic out warning, as they chanted slogans criticizing the and a very worrying development, said Malcolm government and calling for Bahrain to have a new Smart, Amnesty Internationals Director for the constitution and a democratically elected government. Middle East and North Africa. Peaceful protesters were chanting Khalifa leave and within minutes of the procession beginning, we got attacked by the riot police; bullets were showering the peaceful protesters and there was tear gas everywhere. Several wounded are being rushed An independent investigation is also urgently re- to the hospital and many are screaming, Maryam quired to establish the facts, particularly whether Al-Khawaja, from the Bahrain Center for Human the level of force used by the police, both yester- Rights, told Amnesty International. day and today, can possibly be justified. Fadhel Ali Almatrook was shot dead close to al-SalEyewitness reports of todays shooting received by maniya hospital in Manama. According to the BahAmnesty International suggest strongly that Fad- rain Youth Society for Human Rights, more than 20 hel Ali Matrooks death was caused by excessive people required hospital treatment as a result of inforce, in which case the police responsible must be juries caused by the riot police on Monday. brought to justice. Mondays Day of Rage protests in Bahrain, orgaOver 10,000 people reportedly joined todays fu- nized on Facebook and Twitter and apparently inneral procession for Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima, spired by unrest in Egypt and Tunisia, took place who died on Monday during clashes with riot police mainly in Shia villages around Manama. in the village of al-Daih, east of Manama. The Bahrain authorities must thoroughly investigate what occurred, stand down the police involved in these shootings and make clear to the police that the use of excessive force will not be tolerated. Page | 43
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Like many in the region, those in Bahrain who feel their dignity has been compromised are demanding change. The authorities must listen to these calls, rather than retaliating with violence, said Malcolm Smart. On Friday, Amnesty International highlighted the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain with its report Crackdown in Bahrain: human rights at the crossroads. The organization called on the government to ensure proper investigations into allegations of torture and other serious abuses by the security forces. In August-September 2010, the Bahrain authorities swooped on 23 opposition political activists, detaining them incommunicado for two weeks during which some allege they were tortured. The authorities have also curtailed freedom of expression, closing critical websites and banning opposition publications. Hundreds of people have been arrested or imprisoned for participating in protests.
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After crackdown, army makes show of force in Bahrains capital
Manama, Bahrain (CNN) : People prayed and demonstrated late Thursday outside a Manama hospital, where scores had come for treatment following a pre-dawn raid by government forces on an encampment of protesters that left at least four dead. Army vehicles, meanwhile, were patrolling the streets of Bahrains capital. They filled the void left by government security forces, who hours earlier had stormed protesters gathered in Pearl Roundabout, a landmark circle in the city center. The throngs congregated Thursday night near the Salmaniya Medical Complex and chanted, With our blood and our souls, we will fight for the martyrs, voicing their resolve in the face of a government clampdown that has elicited sharp criticism in Bahrain and internationally. Six people have died since protesters took to the streets Monday demanding reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. The tiny but strategically critical island nation of Bahrain is an American ally and houses the headquarters of the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet. Those killed in the Pearl Roundabout raid included Ali Abdullah, a 22-year-old who went to the protests with his 20-year-old brother, his father told CNN. The college senior, majoring in engineering, died at the hospital Thursday from his injuries. Ahmad Abdullah blamed Bahrains prime minister -- Prince Khalifa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, uncle of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa who has held his position since 1971 -- for his sons death, calling the leader a killer. Witnesses described a blunt show of force by police firing pellets, rubber bullets and tear gas to force protesters out of the square, where thousands had been rallying and in some cases encamping throughout the week.
Violent crackdown in Bahrain
Zainab Farda said she was in a large tent for women and children with her two daughters, ages 6 and 8, when they woke up to tear gas. She said they placed onions over their noses, but had to flee after security forces set fire to their tent. After all that has happened, we are not going to quit, Farda said. If we quit now, were going to die. Before word of the latest death, health minister Dr. Faisal Ben Yacoub Al Hamar said on state television that three people had died and at least 225 had been injured in the raid. Bahrain is one of the latest countries in the Middle East and North Africa to face a surge of dissent following the revolts that toppled longtime autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt. While Bahrains interior ministry said in a statement Wednesday that those responsible for the two earlier deaths had been detained, authorities on Thursday defended their actions at the Manama roundabout. They said security forces used a minimum of force and found firearms, knives and flags of Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based group that the United States lists Page | 45
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as a terrorist organization. In a news conference, Foreign Minister Khalid al Khalifa claimed protesters had attacked disciplinary forces -- saying he was surprised that they had, given the available freedoms in Bahrain. He added he plans to raise the issue of what happened in Manama with the countrys king. Al Khalifa also disputed an assertion that troops came from neighboring countries, insisting that all those involved are from Bahrain. According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency, an interior ministry official said security forces evacuated the people after exhausting all opportunities for dialogue with them. Some of them have responded and left quietly, while others refused to comply with the law, which called to intervene in order to disperse them, the official said. Bahrains army asked citizens to distance themselves from gatherings in vital areas in the capital because it will create fear and shock and cause serious traffic disruptions. But Ali Ahmed, 34, who said he has slept at the square since Monday night, said the attack only emboldened demonstrators. He called claims that police had warned protesters to evacuate a lie. Ahmed had been one of about 3,000 people who laid out blankets and pitched tents at Pearl Roundabout this week, with police nowhere to be seen at times. But by the time police had completed their raid early Thursday, the circle was cleared of protesters and convoys of more than 50 military armored personnel carriers, each armed with machine guns, had driven into the area. Some of the trucks had razor wire. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was among the international leaders who weighed in on Thursday, urging restraint and opposing government-led violence. He said that he is disturbed by the violent means used to disperse demonstrators. The British Foreign Office confirmed Thursday it had temporarily closed its embassy in Bahrain. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he spoke with his Bahrainian counterpart and stressed the need for peaceful action to address the concerns of protesters. Jennifer Stride, a U.S. Fifth Fleet spokeswoman, said theres no indication the protests will cause significant disruption for the U.S. military, which she said is not being targeted. The fleet has more than 30 ships, including the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Carl Vinson and their respective carrier strike groups U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, meanwhile, that the United States has told Bahrain it has deep concerns about the crackdown on anti-government protesters and said the protesters funerals and Friday prayers should not be marred by violence. We call on restraint from the government, to keep its commitment to hold accountable those who have utilized excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, and we urge a return to a process that will result in real, meaningful changes for the people there, Clinton said. Bahrains king has asked Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al Zayani -- a former major general who headed Bahrains public security for 10 years -- to be an unofficial envoy to the United States to deal with diplomatic fallout from the crisis, according to senior State Department officials and other sources familiar with the appointment. Zayani was already in Washington holding meetings as the incoming leader of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the king asked him to stay to talk with U.S. officials, the sources said. He met Thursday at the State Department with Under Secretary William Burns, Assistant Secretary Jeff Feltman and Dennis Ross, a White House adviser on the Middle East. Page | 46
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Still, the most significant political reaction may be within Bahrain itself. Hours after the crackdown at Pearl Roundabout, the Al Wefaq political party announced it had decided to withdraw from parliament, party official Abdul Jalil Khalil said. Al Wefaq had been the most well represented party in the lower chamber of parliament, with 18 out of 40 seats. Khalil, who has been head of the Al Wefaq parliamentary bloc, explained that the unrest is a turning point for the nation of about 1 million people. He noted that the casualty figures are large scale given the size of the population. After what happened today, people are asking us to leave parliament. Quit the government, Khalil said. Al Wefaq is a Shiite party in a country that, despite the fact two-thirds of its population are Shiites, is ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family. In recent years, younger Shiites have staged violent protests to complain about discrimination, high unemployment and corruption. Any Shiites say the countrys constitution has done little to improve their condition. Barak Seener, a Middle East fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank, said he thinks the partys withdrawal will lead to the greater disenfranchisement of the Shia majority and that the upheaval is very, very dangerous for the United States. Its so important for the United States to have a friendly regime there, Seener said. He emphasized that Bahrain has no choice but to clamp down and cant afford to blink amid the turmoil. A disenfranchised Shia population is very dangerous because it has the ability to destabilize Bahrain and it also is vulnerable to Iranian penetration, he said. Theres been numerous cells of Shia terrorists that have been uncovered with extensive links to the Iranian regime. Iran uses them as a proxy to extend their sphere of influence. Al Khalifa stressed to reporters Thursday that both Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the country are loyal and patriotic. We belong to one homeland, he said. CNNs Arwa Damon, Nic Robertson and Journalist Mansoor Al-Jamri in Bahrain, CNNs Joe Sterling in Atlanta and CNNs Elise Labott and Chris Lawrence in Washington contributed to this report.
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Protesters in Bahrain retake Pearl Roundabout
Manama, Bahrain (CNN) : Thousands of joyous Bahrainis retook a major square in the heart of the island nations capital Saturday -- a dramatic turn of events two days after security forces ousted demonstrators from the spot in a deadly attack. The sight of citizens streaming into Pearl Roundabout came as the Bahrain royal family made moves designed to end a turbulent week of unrest capped by calls from world leaders to talk with opposition leaders with an eye to reform. Crown Prince Salman ordered the removal of the military from the Pearl Roundabout, a top demand by opposition forces, and told CNNs Nic Robertson that citizens would be permitted to stay in the spot without fear. We have, under the leadership of his majesty, decided that the best way to handle the situation without any further loss of life or injuries is through dialogue, he said. The crown prince said he was deeply sorry for the deaths of protesters. An investigation will be launched and those responsible will be held accountable, he said. This is a terrible tragedy for our nation, he said. Salman also said the government will be embracing talks with all parties, a sign that the government is stepping back from confrontation and embracing dialogue. All political parties in the country deserve a voice at the table, he said. The crown prince said he was deeply sorry for the deaths of protesters. An investigation will be launched and those responsible will be held accountable, he said. This is a terrible tragedy for our nation, he said. Salman also said the government will be embracing talks with all parties, a sign that the government is stepping back from confrontation and embracing
Talking with Crown Prince of Bahrain
dialogue. All political parties in the country deserve a voice at the table, he said. Bahrains military withdrew from the square after issuing a statement saying it successfully completed its mission of safeguarding vital areas in the center of the capital. Police were placed in charge but withdrew from the roundabout on the heels of the military. Thousands of people streamed into the roundabout, the focal point of protests in central Manama, waving flags, praying, dancing and honking horns. Im feeling freedom, one protester said moments after soldiers and police retreated. Its the beginning, the beginning of our freedom. While there was anger in the crowd over longstanding grievances, it was a sharp contrast to deadly confrontations early Thursday and Friday evening. Many of the protesters are Shiite Muslims, who make up 70 percent of the residents of the island kingdom and have long harbored deep political and economic grievances against the Sunni ruling family. Bahrain is one of several countries in the Middle Page | 48
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East and North Africa to face a surge of dissent following the revolts that toppled longtime autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt. This weeks ferment upended the kingdom, a tiny but strategically critical country thats a key U.S. ally and home to the U.S. Navys Fifith Fleet, and left 10 dead and many injured. Two protesters were killed early this week. Four people died after security forces stormed the Pearl Roundabout early Thursday, ousting an encampment of sleeping demonstrators and taking control of the location. Four others died on Friday evening after demonstrators attempted to approach the square and the security forces fired bullets and tear gas at them. World leaders have urged the Bahrain government to open talks with protest leaders. As international condemnation rolled in over the militarys use of force against peaceful demonstrators, the royal family urged a dialogue with all sectors of the society to resolve the situation. In a nationally televised address Friday, Salman offered his condolences, cautioned citizens and security forces to restrain themselves, and said the country wants a nation where neither Sunni or Shiites are favored. After Salmans TV appearance, King Hamad announced that the crown prince is to lead a dialogue with all parties and sections of Bahrain, without exception. But a leading member of parliament from Bahrains main Shiite opposition party, al-Wifaq, told CNN that there can be no dialogue with the government while the military controls the streets. The crown prince ordered the military Saturday to withdraw from Bahrains streets and left the police in charge to oversee law and order. He appealed for calm and said the situation is going back to normal. We are starting a new stage, a stage that we will discuss all our issues with all honesty and integrity, he said. To all the citizens of Bahrain, I hope that we be shoulder to shoulder, collaborate with each other, and communicate with all the political forces.
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Bahrains Pearl Statue is gone, but it remains an icon of democracy
The Washington Post:The Pearl Statue that sat at the center of the Arab Spring protests in Bahrain was a classic piece of meaningless, made-to-order modernism, drab but sleek in a style beloved by high-end hotels and authoritarian governments. As long-standing sectarian tensions between the countrys politically dispossessed Shiite majority and its Sunni ruling class erupted in mid-February, the Pearl Statue became the unlikely symbol of a vigorous democratic movement. But like the opposition, it has been broken: On March 18, three days after foreign troops from Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states arrived to enforce a brutal crackdown on protesters, the government toppled the statue. The monument stood 300 feet tall, and was built in 1982 to commemorate a meeting in Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a group of six Gulf Arab states. The design resembled a cheap perfume bottle, an all-too-transparent effort to create an instant icon. With a bulbous white sphere supported by six upward-thrusting legs, it recalled both Bahrains past as a center of the pearl trade, and its future integration into a regional economic juggernaut, fueled by oil, trade and speculation. There is an innate incompetence to many authoritarian regimes, and when the government of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa explained the statues destruction, it spoke with contradiction and confusion. Officially, it was part of a traffic realignment and redevelopment of the Pearl Roundabout, where protesters had gathered in the tens of thousands before government troops used live ammunition to disperse them. But the countrys foreign minister, Sheik Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, spoke what everyone assumed was the real truth: We did it to remove a bad memory. Unfortunately, there was yet more incompetence evident in the statues physical removal when a worker was killed by falling debris. Videos of the destruction, on YouTube, show only the beginning and the end of the demolition, editing out the death. The government went even further. The Pearl Statue was part of the regimes standard branding, a tourists reference point and a ubiquitous presence in the countrys catalogue of iconography. The 500fils coin worth about $1.33 which showed the statue on one side, has mostly disappeared from circulation. So, too, has the trade in Pearl Statue memorabilia, key chains, keepsakes and other tchotchkes, which flourished after democracy protesters adopted the Pearl Statue as an icon of the movement. Any reference to the Pearl can get you into trouble today, said a young artist who feared arrest if he spoke openly. Its like it never happened. Except its everywhere on Facebook and the Internet. Expunging a symbol is never an easy process. By Page | 50
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their very nature, symbols are more than physical objects, and they circulate in complex ways. The foreign ministers explanation of the statues destruction to remove a bad memory sounds a bit like the common habit of hiding photographs of faithless lovers or abusive relatives. But there was something more vindictive at work in Bahrain: It was a desecration of an object that had quickly, and surprisingly, become widely meaningful for the majority of the population, and at a deeper level, an attempt to assert power by demonstrating control over the physical landscape. Younger, cosmopolitan Bahrainis were both bemused and horrified by the statues removal. One woman compared it to the 2001 destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, not because the Pearl Statue was of commensurate artistic or historic importance, but because the act of destroying it seemed so petty, anachronistic and foolish. There was also genuine regret for the loss. It was very sudden, and it did make a difference, said another young man, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. Not because of how it looked, but because it had taken on significance in our lives. It was always there. That always reveals how young Bahrain society is. The gulf region is filled with art and architecture that is meant to look pretty and mean nothing. No place on Earth has been more successful at coopting modernism to suggest progress while denaturing it of anything relating to conflict, reform or liberal openness.
ago, it towered over everything around it. But then Bahrain, like its gulf neighbors, started building bigger, pushing its bland glass towers ever higher. The Pearl began to seem almost quaint. It took on layers of meaning that no one ever intended. Vast tracts of the countrys main island are held by the royal Khalifa family, which has made other parts of the country overcrowded and land hungry. Developers now routinely push the islands borders out into the sea, reclaiming land from the gulf for new housing and development. But thats come at a cost. Coastal villages now sit high and dry, inland, with no relationship to the water.
A deep nostalgia prevails, especially among Shiites, for the old days, when boys would swim in search of freshwater springs just offshore. Those springs have mostly dried up, an ominous environmental change that has shaken the countrys sense of itself as a green oasis in an otherwise torrid landscape. For decades the Pearl Statue had functioned just Even memories of the countrys pearl-diving past, as it was meant to: a sleek white presence that which was lucrative for traders but brutal to the divvaguely suggested a common past and a hope- ers, are growing hazy and remote. ful future. When it was built nearly three decades Page | 51
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Among other meanings, the Pearl Statue represented the social costs of becoming prosperous and globalized, a consumer culture of shopping malls and beautiful highways, leading to a spiritual nowhere. But it was the act of ordinary citizens laying claim to its meaning that made it intolerable to the government. In April, as the ruling family pursued a brutal crackdown against the opposition including (according to human rights activists) several deaths by torture, the government announced a new statue was rising, at another faceless intersection. This time, it was a map of the country, which looked weirdly like a heart ripped from the chest of some sacrificial victim. It was made of aluminum, plastic and fiberglass easier to demolish than the concrete and metal structure of the old Pearl, and a smart move in case it too began to take on unwanted meaning. Most people here who were willing to talk about the statue saw its destruction as yet more blind and self-destructive rage from the government. One Shiite village had already created a mini-Pearl statue, a kind of martyr image of the icon. And the Pearl was not budging from the Web, where much of the political hostility was still playing out Sunnis were actively poring over Facebook images to denounce Shiites who had gone to the Pearl Roundabout long after the physical protests had been squashed. The physical destruction of the statue seemed at first wildly old-fashioned. But that may be the point. It was the physicality of the statue that mattered. In a virtual age, the real has become newly precious, and by embracing the Pearl Statue, the democracy movement gave genuine substance to something that was never meant to be anything more than a hollow placeholder for meaning. Activists can use the Internet as a tool to build communities and plan Page | 52 protests. But it is the physical being there in large numbers, unafraid of bullets and tear gas that makes governments change their ways. The Bahraini government can never obliterate the memory of the Pearl Statue, but it can remove the statue itself, just as it can change the physical shape of the island that is home to this countrys fractious society. Real power, it turns out, is very old fashioned. Movements may gestate in cyberspace, but it is Revolution 1.0 that will change the world. The statue itself, it seems, has been given a burial at sea. Several locals report that its remains were removed, to become landfill for yet more coastal reclamation. It was impossible to confirm this, however, because no one who knows for sure is talking about the Pearl.
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Spillover of government-incited violence affecting vulnerable bystanders
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights deeply regrets the reports of several separate attacks on Asian workers in various parts of the capital, Manama on Sunday (March 13). The BCHR condemns, unequivocally, the violent targeting or harassment of any segment of Bahraini society. BCHR calls on the Bahraini authorities to immediately cease their policy of recruiting foreign mercenaries, many of whose citizenship is reportedly fast-tracked, and using them to oppress the local population. Seven Bahrainis have already been killed since the beginning of the current uprising, all as a result of the use of gunshot, bird pellets and rubber bullets by riot police. According to the Gulf Daily News (http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=301780), an Asian man has been killed and another suffered critical injuries on Sunday March 13, after they were allegedly attacked by youth carrying wooden planks and sticks in separate incidents in Manama. It is also reported that six other stabbings of Bangladeshi and Pakistani workers occurred in the same evening. The perpetrators of violence have not been identified, but the incident confirms fears that spillover from the governments policies of using mercenaries against locals will result in indiscriminate attacks on Asian residents. The BCHR also notes that that the general outbreak of mob violence will inevitably target bystanders, particularly workers who make up the most vulnerable portion of Bahraini society.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights
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BAHRAINI PROTESTERS TELL OF BLOODSHED AS CRACKDOWN ESCALATES
Bahraini protesters today told Amnesty International of bloody scenes on the streets as government security forces stepped up their violent crackdown on demonstrations and blocked access to hospitals. At least six people were reportedly killed in the capital Manama amid continuing protests as the army used tanks to flatten the peaceful protest camps set up in recent weeks to demand reform in the Gulf state. Government forces also surrounded hospitals and attacked doctors trying to help the wounded. The distressing reports and images coming out of Bahrain today provide further evidence that the authorities are using lethal and other excessive force to crush protests, with reckless disregard for human life, said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa Director. Wounded protesters have also been prevented from accessing medical attention by government forces.. The Bahraini authorities must immediately put a stop to this bloodshed. Security forces attacked the mainly Shia protest camp at Manamas Pearl Roundabout camp early on Wednesday. Family members of those wounded at the roundabout and people trying to approach the area told Amnesty International that the army opened fire on them without warning. I was walking towards the Pearl Roundabout We were 5km from the roundabout when we were shot with live ammunition - one shot came one metre away from me. There were two tanks in the street and a helicopter above us, said Nabeel al Rajab,director of the banned Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. Amnesty International also received testimonies from medical staff who were prevented from treat-
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE
ing the victims of violence. We are waiting to do something and the army is not allowing us. We know there are hundreds injured and they are not allowing them to come here, said one doctor at the central Salmaniya hospital who did not wish to be named due to safety fears. A doctor went to the gate this morning trying to come in and the army beat him. They also threw tear gas and another type of gas at the emergency entrance of the hospital. Another doctor said he was afraid of going to work because he heard of colleagues being attacked trying to reach the hospital. Hundreds of doctors and nurses are willing to provide services but they are stuck in their houses and do not know what to do, they are afraid of leaving their houses in case they are shot, the doctor told Amnesty International. The Salmaniya hospital is surrounded by the army. Injured people have instead been brought to small health centres that cant really provide optimal medical care and cant deal with these injuries. In the nearby town of Sitra, a local resident told Amnesty International that she was afraid to go outside. We cant go out because the army is everywhere. They are throwing tear gas in the street. If anyone leaves their house, the army shoot at them, she said. Page | 54
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Bahrain hospitals under siege as soldiers maintain Manama crackdown
Bahraini protesters near a roadblock set up to prevent riot police entering their village of Malkiya, south of Manama in Bahrain. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters Bahrains two main hospitals remain surrounded by masked soldiers despite demands from America that the kingdom must ease its violent crackdown on demonstrators and the medical workers treating them. Soldiers also continue to patrol all main roads in the capital Manama and have cordoned off access to the former hub of the protest movement, Pearl Roundabout, which was destroyed under government orders on Friday, denying the restive demonstrators a focal point. The tiny Gulf state has the feel of a nation under siege as it approaches a second week of martial law imposed for three months by its besieged rulers. In addition to the troop presence, neighbourhoods remain largely empty; large, glitzy shopping malls have been virtually abandoned and helicopters regularly buzz over the debris-strewn scenes of recent street clashes.
Bahraini protesters near a roadblock set up to prevent riot police entering their village of Malkiya, south of Manama in Bahrain. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/ Reuters
by security forces during the week. Their entrances clearly show scuffs from rubber bullets and teargas canisters, as well as sound grenades were found well inside hospital grounds.
Images of thousands of protesters, joined by doctors with bullhorns and outraged ambulance drivers, lionised the anti-government movement and Hospitals, particularly the Salmaniya medical clinic contributed greatly to the regimes public relations near the centre of town, have received extra atten- woes outside Bahrain. tion, largely because of the significance they have taken on since the protests began in January. Several doctors have been arrested, among them a leading surgeon, Ali al-Ikri, who has been accused As well as being used to treat hundreds of casu- of having contact with foreign agents. Others claim alties, nearly all of them unarmed protesters, the to have been intimidated by security forces and hospitals served as rallying points for protesters, prevented from leaving their homes. who took refuge from riot police in the relative safety of their grounds. I live in a neighbourhood surrounded by colonels and senior officers, said one doctor, who did not Salmaniya was one of several hospitals attacked want to give her name. If I go out I will be followed. Page | 55
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There is a real risk to my safety and those of my predominantly Shia Muslim protesters who have colleagues. I have been prevented from returning defied the authority of the Riyadh-backed Sunni to work. When I left the hospital, it was in utter cha- dynasty for two deeply destabilising months. os. Regional repercussions continue, though, with new Kuwait is to send a medical team of 40 specialists demonstrations in Iraq on Saturday against the to be deployed inside the hospitals as the govern- Saudi role and strident criticism from Shia Islamic ment looks for new ways to manage the vehement clerics, which have sharply raised the sectarian anti-regime movement. stakes in Bahrain, a majority Shia Muslim state. This is about us being sidelined and them getting in people who will stay on message, said another doctor. I know for a fact that the wards will be tidied up and some of the patients moved. The Kuwaitis will report back in good faith that all is in order and that will be the official narrative. The US state department demanded on Friday that attacks on hospitals stop. We call on security forces to cease violence, particularly on medical facilities and personnel, it said. The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said the solution to the countrys crisis could only come through political dialogue. We have made clear that security alone cannot resolve the challenges facing Bahrain, Clinton told reporters in Paris. Violence is not the answer; a political process is. In the face of sustained international criticism, the strategy of the ruling dynasty has been to make Bahrains crisis a regional problem, by inviting Gulf forces into the kingdom. Hundreds of troops from the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council alliance were dispatched to Bahrain last week. Qatar said it had deployed troops and Kuwait has sent navy ships to patrol waters near Bahrain, where a maritime curfew has been ordered from 6pm-6am. However, Saudi Arabia continues to take a regional lead in the crisis, insisting on a hard line against the Page | 56 At least 70% of Bahrainis are Shias. The establishment, however, is almost exclusively Sunni. The Shias have long complained that the status quo discriminates against them, denying them opportunities and access to decision-making. We are not waging war, said Bahrains foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin-Ahmed al-Khalifa. We are restoring law and order. It is a very volatile situation and in volatile situations you expect violence to happen. A fourth Bahraini protester died on Saturday from wounds he suffered earlier in the week. Relatives of another victim, IT technician Ahmed Farhan, said they saw him being executed as he lay prostrate on a street in the suburb of Sitra. They killed him in cold blood, said Ali Hassan Ali, a physical education teacher. I was standing near him when he was shot. He fell, they chased us away and shot him in the head at point-blank rage with a bird-shot gun. The victims injuries were consistent with being shot in the head from close range.
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Rights group: Bahrain targets wounded protesters
By Erika Solomon DUBAI (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday that Bahrain authorities were harassing and isolating hospital patients wounded in antigovernment protests when security forces began a crackdown in the kingdom two weeks ago. Bahrains Sunni rulers this month imposed martial law and brought in troops from Sunni-led Gulf neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, to quell weeks of unrest during pro-democracy demonstrations led mostly by the states Shiite majority. Twenty-four people were killed in the ensuing clashes, the government said Tuesday. The opposition Wefaq party says 250 people have been detained and another 44 have gone missing since the crackdown. The security measures were condemned by Iran, the main Shiite power in a region dominated by Sunni Muslim rulers, which said they could lead to a wider conflict. Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled al-Khalifa said Iran should stop its offensive against Bahrain, telling pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that political dialogue could only start once security had been restored in the island kingdom. Opposition parties reiterated denials of any foreign backing Wednesday.
People wait at the Salmaniya hospital to hear about the well-being about their family members who were injured after riot police stormed an anti-government protest camp, in Manama February 17, 2011.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented several cases in which patients with protest-related injuries were transferred to or sought treatment at Salmaniya and were then severely harassed or beaten, it said in a statement. In the March 16 crackdown, Bahraini forces took over Salmaniya medical center, the countrys largest public hospital.
Bahrains government has said it raided the hospital because it had been overrun by political and U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said it was con- sectarian activity. cerned Bahrain forces were targeting hospital patients who were protesters or bystanders in scat- HRWs report comes a day after the Interior Ministered demonstrations that broke out last Friday try released a statement calling on Bahrainis not to in a planned Day of Rage that police quickly avoid hospital care, as it could cause their condition to deteriorate. quashed. Page | 57
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The rights group said the ministry had not dealt We dont want Bahrain to be a place for other counwith patients fears about harassment. tries to settle their accounts, Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman told a news conference in Manama. These people who need treatment are facing this difficult choice, and many choose not to go to the Talks offered by the crown prince in early March, hospital, HRWs Bahrain researcher Faraz Saneif initially bogged down by debates on conditions, told Reuters. were dropped after the crackdown. It will be an ongoing problem as disturbances con- The priority now is to return to security and order. tinue in villages surrounding Manama. Theres no doubt that a political process will start and develop, but only after weve restored stabilHRW cited several cases where patients were ity, Sheikh Khaled said. quickly picked up by police after they gave hospitals their identification and cited the cause of their (Editing by Jon Boyle and Janet Lawrence) injuries as tear gas, rubber bullets and birdshot, which were all used to disperse protesters. Security forces told HRW the patients were transferred to Salmaniya hospital or the Bahrain Defense Force hospital for surgery. HRW said the patients families were given no information on the whereabouts or condition of their relatives. SECURITY BEFORE TALKS More than 60 percent of Bahrainis are Shiites and most are calling for a constitutional monarchy. But demands by hardliners for the overthrow of the monarchy have alarmed minority Sunnis, who fear unrest serves Iran. Sheikh Khaled told al-Hayat that Bahrain did not want Iranian mediation and called on Iranians to stop this offensive that we have been exposed to. Bahrains main Shiite opposition group Wefaq and six smaller opposition groups rejected claims by the government that protests were organised by outside forces and said Bahrainis were striving for democracy and freedoms. Page | 58
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Agency: 4th protester to die in Bahrain may have been tortured
(CNN) -- A fourth person who died while in the custody of Bahrain police in recent days may have been tortured, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday, as it called for urgent investigations into the deaths of detainees. The death of Kareem Fakhrawi, 49, was the fourth detainee death reported by the Bahrain government in nine days, the human rights group said. He was detained April 3 after going to a police station to complain about a predawn raid on the house of a relative, the agency said. Police reported he died Tuesday. Four detainee deaths in nine days is a crime, not a coincidence, said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. The government tells families of detainees nothing about their whereabouts or well-being while they are alive or about the circumstances of their deaths. At Fakhrawis funeral Wednesday, a crowd of mourners demanded to see his corpse because of concerns he had been tortured, then took photos and videos of the body, the agency said. A video of a dead body, purported to be Fakhrawis, was posted on Facebook Wednesday and showed a badly bruised corpse as people crowded around to take pictures. The body had ligature marks around one of the ankles and deep reddish-purple bruises on the entire upper arms and on a large part of one thigh. The face was black and blue and blood was on the right side of the neck. In a posting on Twitter, the Bahrain News Agency said an official at the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital attributed Fakhrawis death to kidney failure. Human Rights Watch said its personnel did not see the body in person, but urged a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of torture. Bahrain is flagrantly violating the most basic hu-
An Indian child stands next to a placard during a protest against the political turmoil in Bahrain in Mumbai on March 25, 2011.
man rights by arbitrarily detaining hundreds, keeping their whereabouts secret, and covering up the reasons for deaths in custody, Stork said. The human rights agency did view the body of another person who died in custody -- protester Ali Isa Saqer -- and said it showed signs of horrific abuse and torture. The human rights agency said there may be as many as 430 people who have been arrested in Bahrain in the governments effort to quell protests there. A member of Human Rights Watch observed Saqers body Sunday after Bahraini authorities said he died in detention. His body showed signs of severe physical abuse. The left side of his face showed a large patch of bluish skin with a reddish-purple area near his left temple and a two-inch cut to the left of his eye, Human Rights Watch said in a statement. Lash marks crisscrossed his back, some reaching to his front right side. Blue bruises covered much of the back of his calves, thighs, and buttocks, as well as his right elbow and hip. The tops of his feet were Page | 59
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blackened, and lacerations marked his ankles and wrists. Saqer, 31, died at a detention center in early April, according to the general director of Muharraq Governorate Police. Saqer was being held on charges of attempted murder of policemen while trying to run them over with his car March 13. Authorities said Saqer was creating chaos at the detention center, and when security forces sought to subdue him, he resisted them and sustained various injuries in the process. He was sent to the hospital, where he later died. Human Rights Watch said there were at least two other people who have died in the custody of police in Bahrain recently. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke with Bahrains foreign minister Wednesday about the situation. He said he was very concerned about the violence in which demonstrators have been killed or injured, a U.N. statement said. He called for maximum restraint and caution. The foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, recently spoke to CNN about accusations that protesters were being abused. He said the demonstrations had quickly led the country to the brink and that calling in the military had been necessary to restore stability and safety. Our economy came to the brink of collapse, Sheikh Khalid said. So we had no choice but to protect the interests of our country ... from collapse, from total collapse internally. And from external threats.
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Analysis: West turns blind eye to Bahrain crackdown
(Reuters) - The fate of Bahrains protest movement is a stark reminder of how Western and regional power politics can trump reformist yearnings, even in an Arab world convulsed by popular uprisings against entrenched autocrats. Bahrain is not Libya or Syria, but Western tolerance of the Sunni monarchys crackdown suggests that interests such as the U.S. naval base in Manama, ties to oil giant Saudi Arabia and the need to contain neighboring Iran outweigh any sympathy with pro-democracy demonstrators mostly from the Shiite majority. The response from the West has been very timid and it shows the double standards in its foreign policy compared to Libya, said Nabeel Rajab of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Saudi influence is so huge on Bahrain now and the West has not stood up to it, which has disappointed many. Theyre losing the hearts and minds of the democrats in Bahrain. Iran has hardly been consistent either, fiercely criticizing Bahrains treatment of its Shiites, and praising Arab revolts elsewhere as Islamic awakenings -- except the uprising in its lone Arab ally Syria, which it blames on a U.S.-Israeli plot. Bahrains king said on Sunday a state of emergency, imposed in March after Saudi-led troops arrived to help crush protests, would be lifted on June 1, two weeks before it expires. That would be two days before a deadline set by Formula One organizers for Bahrain to decide whether to reschedule a Grand Prix it was to have hosted on March 13. The motor race was postponed because of the unrest then shaking the Gulf island. Bahrain is eager to prove that stability has returned after the upheaval in which at least 29 people, all but six of them Shiites, have been killed since pro-
tests erupted in February. VERBAL SLAPS Apart from verbal slaps on the wrist, the United States and its allies have stood by as Bahrain, egged on by Saudi Arabia, has pursued a punitive campaign that appears to target Shiites in general, not just the advocates of more political freedoms, a constitutional monarchy and an end to sectarian discrimination. Some protesters had gone further, demanding the overthrow of the al-Khalifa family that has ruled Bahrain for 200 years. Bahrain, which accuses Shiite Iran of instigating the unrest, has detained hundreds of protesters and put dozens on trial in special courts. Others have lost their government jobs. The dragnet has swept up politicians, journalists and even medical staff. Four detainees have died in police custody. The government denies reports by rights groups of torture and abuse. Last month the main Shiite Wefaq opposition party reported the demolition, often by night, of at least 25 Shiite mosques -- described by the authorities as illegal structures. Pro-government media have depicted the protesters as violent traitors, driven by sectarian designs to disenfranchise Sunnis and encouraged by Iran to further its regional influence. Bahrain has killed twice as many of its citizens as Page | 61
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Syria has if one adjusts for population size. Yet its ambassador was welcome at the Royal Wedding in Britain, and Bahrain was given a pass for repressing its revolution, said Joshua Landis, a Middle East expert at Oklahoma University. Either it is because Shiites are not considered as highly as Sunnis due to Western enmity with Iran and fear of the Shiite Crescent, as it is often called, or it is because the U.S. has a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia and needs oil and military bases in the Persian Gulf, Landis said. Western officials deny that military action against Muammar Gaddafis Libya versus rebukes for Bahrain reflect hypocrisy.
ia, an old antagonist. It has tightened sanctions to punish President Bashar al-Assads use of force against demonstrators, but has stopped short of calling for the overthrow of a regime it sees as a vital, if unsavory, component in regional stability. Bahrain escaped the kind of criticism Syria got out of deference to Saudi Arabia, which has absolutely no interest in reforms in Bahrain, let alone regime change, Murhaf Jouejati, a Middle East scholar at George Washington University, said.
Moreover, Bahrain, an ally of both Saudi Arabia and the U.S., is home to the U.S. Fifth fleet, and LIBYA QUITE DIFFERENT Washington has every interest in the continued dominance of the pro-American and anti-Iranian There is a complete difference between the two Bahraini monarchy. circumstances, British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt told Reuters last week, citing Libyan For now, Bahrain may have jammed the authoriand Arab League calls for Western action to halt tarian lid back on, at a significant cost in national Gaddafis intent to kill his own people. trauma, sectarian rancor and regional tension. It is Well continue to make representations to Bah- hard to imagine the story is over. rain, but in Bahrain there was a political process of dialogue between respective factions which we would encourage to be continued. Saudi intervention, however, stymied any immediate prospects of political dialogue in Bahrain, as hardliners in the ruling al-Khalifa family silenced reformists led by the Crown Prince. Washington has offered only muted criticism of its Bahraini ally in public, although even some Shiite politicians acknowledge it has raised its voice in private. There was sustained pressure from Western governments, especially the U.S.. But it was low-profile, given the friendly relationships with Bahrain, said Wefaqs Jasim Husain. The United States, trying to balance its interests and its ideals as revolts threaten its Arab friends and foes alike, has struck a middle course on SyrPage | 62
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In Bahrain, a candlelight vigil can land you in jail
By Roy Gutman | McClatchy Newspapers This is what passes for normal now in Bahrain, a Sunni-ruled island nation thats home to the headSITRA, Bahrain In the back alleys and streets of quarters of the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet and where this Shiite Muslim town, a police crackdown looms most people follow the Shiite branch of Islam. at any hour of the day, but never more so than at nightfall, when even innocuous civil disobedience For the past two months, the countrys rulers have can lead to jail and perhaps torture. imposed a harsh crackdown on a protest movement that was among the first to spring up after The angry young men here know from experience Egypts Hosni Mubarak was pushed from that that the police will use helicopters, blunderbuss countrys presidency in February. rifles and tear gas to confront them, but they plot their next nighttime protest march nevertheless, in The crackdown has included bulldozing Shiite whats become a cat-and-mouse game under Bah- mosques, arresting mainstream opposition polirains state of emergency, imposed to crush what ticians and closing the countrys main opposition remains of the countrys protest movement. newspaper. The police, mainly Sunni Muslims recruited from Pakistans Baluchistan province as well as Yemen, Syria and other Muslim countries, deploy three or four vans at the entrances to this towns residential neighborhoods. Inside are 12 to 20 men ready to pounce the first moment they hear of a demonstration even a candlelight vigil against the government. The protest marches that dominated life for weeks here are gone, as is the iconic Pearl Square monument, which had been the gathering point.
Still, every night in many Bahraini villages and towns, residents gather on their rooftops at 8:15 and again at 10 to issue whats become a protest cry: Allahu akbar, or God is great. Police deploy helicopters to try to drown out this protest, and to They chase the protesters down the streets and drop tear gas canisters on the rooftops, residents alleys, firing birdshot from blunderbusses, while say. other protests spring up not far away. A visitor driving through Sitra one recent evening saw police The Sunni government has seized control of the chasing and firing in one quarter, and young men health care system, and thats the polices secret marching and chanting in another nearby. weapon for tracking down protesters, which some experts say violates international conventions that The chants arent ambiguous. Down with the require the humane treatment of all civilians and king, a group of about 30 young men chanted as nondiscriminatory treatment of the injured and they marched about with small tea candles, refer- sick. ring to King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, the head of the Khalifa dynasty. Today when we see a person injured with birdshot, we have nowhere to take them, said an obPage | 63
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server from an international human rights group whose name is being withheld to avoid retaliation. Birdshot is being used as a distinctive marker to identify protesters. They will not receive treatment. They will be arrested.
bin Mubarak al Khalifa, a diplomat drafted to serve as a government spokesman, told McClatchy that he hadnt seen the report. A copy was emailed. Two days later, the same question was put at a news conference to Dr. Hala al Mehza, the acting health minister, who also said she wasnt aware The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Hu- of the report and asked a reporter to send a copy. man Rights estimates that more than 1,000 people Asked by email Sunday what she thought of the have been detained in the crackdown. report, Mehza didnt respond. The environment is suffused with fear. With new political trials starting weekly and masked militiamen arresting civilians without judicial process, many Bahrainis live in a state of fright. When a McClatchy correspondent attempted to visit a prominent human rights activist, a taxi driver refused and dumped his fare on the main road. Do you want them to kill me? he said of the police. They could destroy my taxi. Mehza also said she was in almost daily touch with the U.N.s high commissioner for human rights in Geneva and had cordial conversations with officials there. Yet on Sunday, High Commissioner Navi Pillay voiced deep concern about the dire human rights situation. She charged that Bahrains secret trial of protesters, which led to death sentences for four, was illegal and absolutely unacceptable and she spoke of reports of severe torture of human rights defenders currently in detention.
Indeed, taxi drivers and human rights advocates report that authorities have wrecked at least 60 to State media give banner headlines to government 70 taxis, apparent retribution for carrying protesters claims that are at total variance with the known during the February and March demonstrations. facts. The government, which dominates the airwaves of state television, the state news agency and the print media, offers little response to the international criticism the crackdown has received. On the eve of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Prime Minister Prince Khalifa ibn Salman al Khalifa pledged that Bahrain would protect journalists and provide a working atmosphere to work freely and confidently. A day later, the same paper that had A scathing report by Physicians for Human Rights, run that story bannered the pledge of King Hamad a U.S. group that shared the 1997 Nobel Peace himself, under the headline: Press pillar of democPrize, accused Bahrain in a report April 22 of an racy. all-out assault on health care and health professionals, abductions of doctors in the middle of the But the regime has driven the sole opposition daily night and egregious acts against patients and into receivership; fired, deported or arrested senior health professionals that included torture, beating, staff; and forced the editor to resign and will put verbal abuse, humiliation, and threats of rape and him on trial next week. killing. Bahrains government began its crackdown after Asked on May 1 for a comment, Sheikh Abdulaziz Saudi Arabia sent in troops to help quell protests in Page | 64
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mid-March, but the al Khalifa dynasty has long had a policy of trying to dilute the Shiites overwhelming majority Shiites outnumber Sunnis here by nearly four to one by offering citizenship to Sunnis from other nations.
After the East German Communist regime brutally suppressed a popular uprising in June 1953, playwright Bertolt Brecht advised the countrys government that it needed a new population. The people have lost the governments confidence, he wrote. Wouldnt it be simpler if the government dissolved In part because the Shiite birthrate is so high, the the people and chose a new one? effort hasnt turned the tide, however. The Bahraini government isnt the first dictatorship to run afoul of its public.
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Hundreds held in Bahrain crackdown
Al Jazeera: Shia Bahrainis suspected of taking part in anti-government protests have been arrested by the authorities in reprisals that have also targeted school girls and medical staff treating injured protesters, relatives of those detained have told Al Jazeera. A woman who only identified herself as Yasmine said she feared for herself and her family. I am hiding my identity because I might be targeted. My children and family might be targeted and my husband inside may suffer even more, she told Al Jazeera. Bahraini security forces, who are loyal to the ruling Sunni al-Khalifa family, have continued their crackdown on the Shia majority in the island kingdom, blaming them for protests that sought political reforms. A state of emergency has been in place since March, but it is expected to be lifted in the first week of June. Bahrain has not changed its prime minister, in power since 1971 when the country gained independence from Britain, despite the restoration of parliamentary system in 2002. Yasmine said her husband was arrested almost two months ago when 10 masked men in civilian clothes climbed over the familys garden walls and forced their way into their home. They searched everywhere. They took our personal belongings they took our documents even our property documents for the house, she said. She has not seen her husband since his arrest, although she has been able to speak to him twice briefly on the phone. The first time was three days after he was detained. He phoned asking her to bring him clothes, she said. The second time she could hear voices in the background.
I could hear a voice say, if your children start to cry or you cry I will stop the call. According to Human Rights Watch, Yasmines husband is one of about 1,000 people who have been arrested since the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters began in mid-March. The organisation says about 600 remain in detention. The Shia community say the conspicuous silence from the US government has given authorities in Bahrain the chance to act with impunity, as the worlds media attention focuses on other pro-democracy movements in the region. The US is a major ally of Bahrain, which is home to its naval base, but the authorities had to rely on Saudi Arabia, which is predominantly Sunni, to send in troops to put down the protests. US undersecretary for political affairs William J Burns and Jeffry D Feltman, assistant secretary at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, declined to testify on Friday at a congressional hearing looking into alleged human rights abuses in Bahrain. Page | 66
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URL : http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/ meast/05/10/bahrain.activist.abuse/index. html?hpt=T2
Activists decry U.S. silence on Bahrains crackdown Bahrain: From hospital to prison
URL : http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/ URL : http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/13/2872645/ report/051011_bahrain_abuse/us-quiet-as-bahrainactivists-decry-us-silence-on.html abuses-increase/ URL : http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/201 1/05/201151285040679763.html
U.S.quiet as Bahrain abuses increase
Jeremy Laurance: Doctors must speak up about this human rights scandal
Bahrain says Gulf troops to remain after emergency rule lifted; court sentences protester
URL : http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/ health-and-families/features/jeremy-laurance-doctors-must-speak-up-about-this-human-rights-scandal-2281551.html
URL : http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/bahrainmilitary-chief-says-gulf-reinforcements-to-remain-after-emergency-rule-lifted/2011/05/12/AFpL3owG_story. html
URL : http://mwcnews.net/focus/analysis/10683bahrain-terror.html
Bahrain, a kingdom of ominous siBahrain: Special court upholds 2 death lence sentences URL : http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/
URL : http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/22/ general-ml-bahrain_8479327.html
Commentary/2011/May-10/Bahrain-a-kingdom-ofominous-silence.ashx#axzz1NJLpVlTO
Peter Goodspeed: Silence and fear settle over Bahrain
URL : http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/05/11/ URL : http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110508/ap_ peter-goodspeed-silence-and-fear-settle-over-bahrain/ on_re_mi_ea/ml_bahrain_5
Bahrain accuses activists of plots to topple state
Page | 68
Demonstrations :
Also Read :
Bahrain Silence surrounding represion continues
URL : http://www.fidh.org/Bahrain-Silence-surrounding-repression-continues
Bahrain: UN official urges probe after media professionals die in detention

URL : http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?News ID=38162&Cr=Bahrain&Cr1
Bahrain: Arbitrary Arrests Escalate
URL : http://www.eurasiareview.com/bahrain-arbitrary- cating photo in Bahrain arrests-escalate-04052011/ URL : http://edition.cnn.com/2011/ WORLD/meast/04/11/bahrain.activist/index. UN urges Bahrain to free detained ac- html?iref=storysearch
Government accuses activist of fabri-
tivists
URL : http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/20 11/05/201155155822502904.html
Hospitals show ugly truth about Bahrain, as US looks the other way
URL : http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/hospitals-show-ugly-truth-about-bahrain-as-us-looksthe-other-way-20110415-1dhw0.html
Bahraini Protests On Life Support
URL : http://pubrecord.org/world/9332/bahraini-protests-life-support/
Bahrain renews emergency law as repression persists
URL : http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/ bahrain-renews-emergency-law-repression-persists2011-05-04
BAHRAIN: Fourth person dies in police custody as human rights groups allege torture
URL : http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ babylonbeyond/2011/04/bahrain-torture-humanrights-protest-activist-dead.html
ISO takes out rally to support Bahraini people
URL : http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaperdaily-english-online/Regional/30-Apr-2011/ISO-takesout-rally-to-support-Bahraini-people
CNN arrests expose crackdown in Bahrain

URL : http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/ meast/04/11/bahrain.detain/
Shia in Bahrain: Repression and regression
URL : http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/20 11/04/20114301242374870.html
Rights Activist: One in Every 1,000 Bahrainis in Detention for Political Reasons
A man died in custody confession on television that he had killed two policemen
URL : http://byshr.org/?p=396
URL : http://www.voanews.com/english/news/ middle-east/Rights-Activist-One-in-Every-1000-Bahrainis-in-Detention-for-Political-Reasons-119337559. html
Page | 69
Barack Obama Speech
SECTION 7.0
Barack Obama Speech

Obama Middle East Speech
(..)Bahrain is a long-standing partner, and we are committed to its security. We recognize that Iran has tried to take advantage of the turmoil there, and that the Bahraini government has a legitimate interest in the rule of law. Nevertheless, we have insisted publically and privately that mass arrests and brute force are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrains citizens, and will not make legitimate calls for reform go away. The only way forward is for the government and opposition to engage in a dialogue, and you cant have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail. The government must create the conditions for dialogue, and the opposition must participate to forge a just future for all Bahrainis.(..) And for this season of change to succeed, Coptic Christians must have the right to worship freely in Cairo, just as Shia must never have their mosques destroyed in Bahrain.
Page | 71
Barack Obama Speech

Alwefaq Statment: 19 may 2011
Al Wefaq expressed its welcoming to President Obamas speech to the MENA region and considered it very important and very welcomed by Wefaq and the reform movement. The committed strategy towards democratic transformation and meeting the peaceful aspirations of the people in this region he outlined is long-awaited step. We also support his call for a real and meaningful dialogue between the Bahraini authority and the opposition, and with similar importance his call for establishing the environment for the dialogue in Bahrain, especially when he emphasized that you cant have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail, and stopping repression of the citizens of Bahrain. The Bahraini people will look seriously into the key measures outlined in the speech in the coming days as we approach the end of the national safety status. We are looking to real commitment from the US on these new strategies and principles of democratic transformation in the region. We will also watch carefully how US will contribute to the transformation process, and are hoping the President continues to speak out when he sees repression by US allies of democracy seekers in this ongoing process. Will the US change stop turning a blind eye to repression? Will the US be more assertive in telling its friends the time has come to end oppression? Will the US encourage allies in the region to respond to genuine reform calls, which meet the aspirations of all the people in real participation in their public affairs, which will bring peace and stability to the whole nation, regardless of class, religion or sect. URL :http://on.fb.me/kgrpz0 Page | 72
Al-Wefaq Society
Barack Obama Speech

Statement of Amal Society about the American presidents speech
By the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most graceful. Islamic Action Society Amal would like to thank all international, local and regional, political and human rights parties, which are still trying to stop the bleeding, the flagrant violations and the daily and repeated abuse by Al-Khalifa against the freedoms and rights guaranteed by local and international systems and instruments. Islamic Action Society emphasizes on welcoming the speech of the president of United States, Mr. Obama who is elected by the free will of his people without a pressure of foreign armies, and not through huge number of foreign mercenaries, not through repression and terrorism to install an absolute power by force- to see that president Obamas speech came with words that expressed (minimum and much less), than what Bahraini people expected behind their peaceful revolution. Amal Society
people to defend those rights and principals based on those charters that made the American uprising as well. The speech was a double standard speech, it reached an attempt to a detestable adapt between the values and principles which represent the rights of the people who own the legitimacy, and the narrow interests of Al-Khalifa, and there arms, which represent an aristocratic tyrannical layer, Obama has equated between the rights of our that claims the commitment to the political, and huBahraini people, the victim, to a claimed right man rights, which it is far away from their dictionary. of killer gangs that could save their power by the help of GCC armies and the power of the The Islamic Action Society emphasizes that illeforeign regimes, and they destroyed a public, gitimate interests must not rule this world. And the peaceful and civilized upraising. In his speech, general right in expressing the opinion, and deObama overbalanced the right to an authority fending the human rights according to lawful and that does not have legitimacy, against the right of justice charters, that gives that people the rights to our people, the source of power and authorities. Referendum, and elect, worth to be sacrificed for, no matter what is the person origin or character. The American presidents speech as what we see, The reactions of Al-Khalifa authorities to Obama and according to the conflict elements in our is- speech and other political and human rights presland, does not express the political commitment to sures, did not pass till now the traditional repeated the American principals of democracy and freedom reactions that aims to escape forward from any charters. And it does not express the right of our justice commitment to Bahraini people, who owns that sovereignty, and to the international comPage | 73
Barack Obama Speech

munity the Al-Khalifa authorities have already launched a repression and harassment campaign against the peaceful politicians and citizens. And many victims have fallen, the detentions have been filled with arrested people with no warrants and no fair trails, as well as Al-Khalifa have already betrayed their vows to the people about making a political openness, and launching the freedoms, and electing an establishment council delegated by people, to prepare for a referendum constitution.. all these are done outside the moral and political framework of Al-Khalifs, even if it was pressured by a pillar country president like Obama himself So are Al-Khalifa ready to commit to Obama speech, in spite of its position that not in the interest of the complete justice that reaches to return the right to our people of the peaceful democratic uprising which demand the right of deciding their political regime. From this we emphasize the following: We are not against dialogue as a principle and as a civilized value to debate the political issue, but any dialogue must not be forced, and it must not be accomplished under the Saudi and Bahraini army, and the notorious national security. And it must not be out of the basic article (Sovereignty is for people .. people are the source of all powers), the people have the absolute right to choose their government freely, and they have the right to decide their fate whenever they decide to. The people of Bahrain rise in conscious of their right. It must be taken into consideration the use of the huge amount of mercenaries on our island, to play with the demographic composition, and make them a pillar party to decide the political fate of our country in the interest of Al-Khalifs; which cannot be accepted in any way, and it is considered a violent assault against sovereignty of people, and a crime against our country and its people. We cannot accept any compensation that equate a terrorist mercenary and an originated citizen. We cannot accept any dialogue while the pillars and leaders of the oppositions are behind bars, and excluded outside the country, only because of free voices they released, and because defending the justice in their country those leaders represents the political and religious spectrums in our country, with them people will rise to make a better future, and we cannot give them up under any dialogue between special parties and we especially would like to mention of this spectrum: the leaders of the Islamic Action Society and its secretariats, the leader of Wafa mainstream, and Haq movement, human rights activists, clergymen, teachers, the arrested women, university and school students, and many others of our struggler citizens. Any dialogue should be preceded by steps that gives the justice back the oppressed and justifies the right to its natural place. The most important steps are giving up all parties and personal who violated the justice and human rights, and practiced violations that affects the citizens security, and their peaceful right of expressing their opinions and demand of social justice, and those who practiced the murders in streets and in jails through the systematical torture, plus the ones who brought the mercenaries armies to repress the people, and who incited secretarially, and participated in threatening the civil peace, as well as those who excessive the public resources, and civil interests, or those who committed the crime of expelling and suspending people from their jobs and studies. Either directly or indirectly. Through our experience with the regime in practicing dialogue, we didnt found any commitment to the vows and promises even to the simplest principles of the dialogue. That is due to their unfaith with the dialogue and the backward tribal minds. So it is the right of people to decide their fate in a scientific dialogistic justice frame. From this, we dont find any value to any dialogue withPage | 74
Barack Obama Speech

out the monitoring a credible of UN or civil or international political organization, which is accepted by the people and opposition of Bahrain. Allowing the free people of Bahrain and without any pressure to express their opinion toward the dialogue through free and independent conferences and meetings between the institutions of civil society. Bahraini people has filled the streets with a number that exceeds the 600 thousand demonstrator for three consecutive times along the street of 14Feb revolution that end to the freedom roundabout, that was when they had the opportunity to express their opinion and aspirations with absolute freedom. Hence, this people deserve to be re-given the right for the peaceful expression of any coming step to negotiation or dialogue. The institutions that regime calls it a (constitutional), and calls to dialogue through it, are an integral part of the conflict cause, and it is basically a result of the repressive corrupt political reality which disputed with it on the power, and they are institutions that reflect no one but the powers will only, and cannot express the peoples will who filled the streets to express their ambition beyond those formal and fake manifestations of sectarian and corrupt. Stop the campaigns of atonement and intellectual terrorism that are led by the regime through alliances with sectarian and terrorist parties that assault the cultural aspects of the main sect in Bahrain, and subjecting the leaders of these atonement campaigns to fair and public trials in order to be punished to what they have done. Finally, the people of Bahrain are not the lowest level in terms of right comparing with the other free nations who looked forward to end the despotism and discrimination and incitement to hatred. Also, their rights and humanitarian are not less than the ones of any other people in this world including the American free people.. people of Bahrain are an advanced people, who have Page | 75 their cultural and humanitarian accomplishments that are recorded thousands years ago and installed in the history books in terms contrary to the culture and history of the tribal Khalifa gang. Islamic Action Society Amal Manama Bahrain Beirut Office 20 May, 2011 URL : http://on.fb.me/lyn4jH
Also Read :
Bahrain Responds to Obama Speech by Continuing Crackdown
By : human rights first URL : http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/23/ bahrain-responds-to-obama-speech-by-continuingcrackdown/
Why Bahrain Should to Be Front And Center in Obamas Middle East Speech
By : Mark Leon Goldberg URL : http://www.undispatch.com/why-bahrain-shouldto-be-front-and-center-in-obamas-middle-east-speech
T h e
T r i a l
SECTION 8.0
The Trial :
BAHRAIN URGED TO HALT EXECUTION OF PROTESTERS
Authorities in Bahrain must not allow the execution of four protesters sentenced to death by a military court over the killing of two police officers in antigovernment demonstrations last month, Amnesty International said today. The Bahraini authorities have a responsibility to bring to justice those who commit violent crimes. But when doing so, they must uphold the right to fair trial and they must not use the death penalty under any circumstances, said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty Internationals Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Amnesty International
final verdict cannot be appealed in Bahrains ordinary courts. The four men could therefore face imminent execution. The seven men were accused of the premeditated murder of two policemen by running them over with a vehicle on 16 March. On 15 March, Bahrains King had declared a state of emergency termed the State of National Safety (SNS) after Saudi Arabia sent in a thousand troops to help the government quell anti-government protests.
In this case, the accused were tried before a special military court, although they are civilians. It also appears that the trial was conducted behind closed doors. As well, those sentenced have no right of appeal except to another special military court, raising great fears about the fairness of the The seven accused are believed to have been entire process. held incommunicado following their arrests and the families are said to have been denied access The court sentenced Ali Abdullah Hassan al-Sank- to them, Amnesty International has learnt. is, Qassim Hassan Matar, Saeed Abduljalil Saeed and Adbulaziz Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain to death Government officials reportedly said that a total of on 28 April. four policemen have been killed during protests in March. Three other defendants tried with them, Issa Abdullah Kadhim Ali, Sadeq Ali Mahdi and Hussein King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa imposed the state Jaafar Abdulkarim, were sentenced to life in prison of emergency for three months but it may be reby the same court. All seven accused are reported newed with the approval of the National Council to have denied the charges. or parliament. It provided for the establishment of a special military court to try those accused of ofThe death sentences can be appealed in Bahrains fences under the emergency and a special military military court. However, should the appeal fail, the appeal court. Page | 77
The Trial :
Since the SNS was imposed, more than 500 people have been arrested with many of them detained incommunicado and at undisclosed locations. At least four have died in detention in suspicious circumstances since the end of March. Local media reports say 312 detainees were released today. The governments Information Affairs Authority has told the media that more than 400 other cases have been referred to the military courts. Many of the detainees were taken from their homes, often at night, by groups of police and security forces who wore masks, failed to produce arrest warrants and sometimes assaulted those they wished to detain and members of their families. Bahrain is in the grip of a deepening human rights crisis and the severity of the sentences imposed today, following a military trial behind closed doors, will do nothing to reverse that, said Malcolm Smart. King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa must urgently make it clear that he will not allow these death sentences to be carried out, he added. In 2010, two Bangladeshi national were sentenced to death in Bahrain. Jassim Abdulmanan was executed in June and Russell Mezan was sentenced to death in March. His death sentence was upheld in October. Only foreign nationals have been sentenced to death and executed in Bahrain in recent years. Executions carried out in Bahrain are normally by firing squad. Page | 78
The Trial :
Why Bahrain is Trying Civilians Before a Military Court
The seven men who went on trial in Bahrain on Thursday have made history as the countrys firstever civilians to be tried before a military court. Facing the death penalty, theyve been sequestered in an unknown location for weeks and accused of murdering two policemen by running them over with a car. Theyve had no communication with family or friends since being taken into custody last month. Human rights activists fear they have been subjected to torture. More worrisome, they have been denied access to legal counsel and face trial proceedings sealed to the public. The Bahrain News Agency said the seven men have pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. It is the first trial to be publicly announced since the country fell under martial law on March 15, when the Sunni regime (and U.S. ally) began a severe crackdown on the opposition, a campaign that has seen about 500 mostly Shia anti-government supporters arrested and held incommunicado. Putting civilians to military court is a surprise, says Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. The government has taken it too far. Rights advocates fear that a conviction in this case may start a wave of death penalties for activists in the island Kingdom, which has rarely imposed such a sentence. The last time Bahrain handed out a death penalty was two years ago. (And according to state media, the military court in Bahrain convicted four Shiite protesters and sentenced them to death for the killing of two policemen during anti-government demonstrations last month in the Gulf kingdom. The three other Shiite activists, who were also on trial, were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the policemens deaths.)
Tents are seen engulfed with fire as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) forces move into Pearl Square to evacuate anti-government protesters, in Manama March 16, 2011.
(See TIMEs exclusive photos of the crackdown in Bahrain.) Under martial law, almost all civil liberties have been curtailed as well as judicial recourse. The April 15 arrest of prominent defense attorney Mohammed al-Tajer sent a chill through the opposition: he is now incarcerated alongside many of his clients. We have this legal black hole where no one knows what their rights are, what their access is, and theyre really at the mercy of the regime, says Shadi Hamid, director of research at Brookings Doha Institute. Essentially, legal protection is suspended this is a part of martial law. Almost anything can be justified under the pretense of national security. So all bets are off, and it should be very worrying to the opposition. Bahrains military prosecutor said the seven men Page | 79
The Trial :
are being tried under a 2006 anti-terrorism law which mandates the death penalty. The statue has long been criticized by international rights groups as being vague, providing a too-broad definition of what qualifies as terrorism (as in its reference to threats to national unity). Anything interfering with the governments sway can be labeled terrorism, says Joe Stork, deputy director the Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch. So the risk of a capital sentence is very great. (See pictures of government troops routing protesters from Pearl Square.) Though little is known about how countrys military courts operate, proceedings will likely mirror those of Bahrains state security court, where human rights activists say government-forced confessions were often the sole basis for conviction. That court, which was allowed to detain prisoners without trial for a period of three years, was abolished by the king in 2001 as a gesture of political reform. What were seeing is unprecedented in recent Bahrain history, and thats what makes it so frightening, says Hamid. The regime has given up all pretense of wanting any kind of reform.
Page | 80
The Trial :
Bahrain sentences two protesters to death, but frees newspaper columnist
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A special military tribunal in Bahrain Sunday upheld death sentences against two Shiites for the alleged murder of two policemen at the start of the governments harsh crackdown in March, touching off demonstrations in at least 10 Shiite villages on the small Gulf island. It was the latest rebuff to President Barack Obamas call Thursday for the ruling Sunni government to end the use of brute force and mass arrests of its political critics, and came one day after a tear gas attack on the home of Nabeel Rajab, the most outspoken independent human rights advocate. At the same time, in a conciliatory gesture, the government Sunday released a 26-year-old columnist and blogger for the now-suppressed Al Wasat daily. Haider Mohamed al Noaimi, subject of a McClatchy article two weeks ago, was released after about a month in jail. to the way it was, he said., when we were all together, and when there were no problems between Sunnis and Shiites. His wife Sajeda said Noaimi had lost a lot of weight in prison, and returned with long hair and a beard. She noted marks on his hands indicating he had been beaten but said he was in high spirits. The secret trial for the mid-March deaths of two policemen has been widely criticized for the apparent lack of due process. The defendants were accused of driving vehicles into two policemen and then mutilating the bodies by driving over them again and again. A video purporting to show the killing was played on state-controlled television while the trial was still under way, and was used as prime evidence during the proceedings against the defendants, Rajab said.
I cannot believe I am free, he told McClatchy One of those accused died in detention, although Sunday night by telephone from Bahrain, adding, his confession, likely to have been obtained unI wish everybody else was. der extreme coercion, was included in the official televised documentary on the case. But the deNoaimi, whos 26, was widely known as a voice meanor of every defendant shown confessing on of moderation in the standoff between the Sunni- the program raised questions about whether anyled minority government, which invited in troops thing they said was not under duress. from Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the majority Shiite population. True The trial moved at breakneck speed, with the proto his reputation, his first words to the outside world ceedings opening April 17 and sentences issued were conciliatory. April 28 -- death for four Shiites and life imprisonment for three others. On Sunday, the court comThe biggest challenge for Bahrain is to go back muted the death sentences against Qasim HasPage | 81
The Trial :
san Mattar Ahmed and Saeed Abdul Jalil Saeed to life imprisonment.
Also Read :
The chief lawyer for the defendants, Mohammed al U.S. condemns arrest of opposition figTajir, was arrested the day before the trial began, ures in Bahrain By : CNN and other lawyers couldnt meet their clients until URL : http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/ the trial opened, giving them no time to prepare a meast/03/18/bahrain.protests/?hpt=T2 defense, Bahraini human rights observers said.
Buzek on the sentencing to death of Adding to the challenges for anyone trying to recon- Bahrainis
struct the proceedings, the lawyers were warned By : European Parliament URL : http://www.europarl.europa.eu/president/view/ not to talk to outsiders about the process, accord- fr-en/press/press_release/2011/2011-April/press_reing to Rajab. Neither of two lawyers who took part lease-2011-April-19.html;jsessionid=B01EE649CC95E in the proceedings would respond to requests from 54C90D212477C16AC3D McClatchy Sunday for information on what hapInconsistencies in Televised Confespened in the trials.
sion of Bahraini Protesters Who Were One reason that demonstrations broke out Sunday Sentenced to Death
By : New York magazine
-- and young men in the Shiite villages have been URL : http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/bahrains_ staging marches regularly for more than a month -- sentences_four_protes.html was a widespread belief that at least one of those sentenced to death was nowhere near the scene Update: Two protesters sentenced to when the killing was said to have occurred, and death and five given life imprisonment By : Bahrain Center for Human Rights was in no position to drive a vehicle.
URL : http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/3983
Ali Abdullah Hasan al-Singace, who was sentenced Bahrain repeals emergency law while to death by firing squad along with Abdul Aziz Ab- putting opposition on trial dullah Ibrahim Hussein, was very overweight and By : The Independent had one leg completely in a cast at the time, ac- URL : http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/midcording to hospital records cited by several mem- dle-east/bahrain-repeals-emergency-law-while-puttingopposition-on-trial-2281171.html bers of the opposition. International human rights groups have pleaded activists with Bahrains U.S.-allied government not to pro- By : Amnesty ceed with the executions, but now the only hope of URL : http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/ the defendants appears to be a decision by King fair-trial-urged-bahraini-opposition-activists-2011-05Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa to commute the sen- 11 tences.
Fair trial urged for Bahraini opposition
Page | 82
Members of Parliament
SECTION 9.0
The Story of The Kidnapped Bahraini MP Matar Matar
Mr. Mattars profile:
Mattar Ebrahim Mattar, 35-year old, was the youngest MP in Bahrains Parliament for Al Wefaq Political Society, the largest political bloc in Bahrain. He represented the largest constituency in Bahrain and was voted to parliament with a majority vote of 85.72% (7689 votes). Al Wefaq parliamentary bloc, including Mr. Mattar, resigned from parliament in protest of the government crackdown on pro-democracy protesters on Feb 17th. Mattar holds a Masters degree in Computer Science specializing Matar Matart in Artificial Intelligence. He is married and a father of two young children. Please refer to Appendix A When he started to drive and moved in front of the for more background information on Mr. Mattar. ladys car he looked back through the mirror and saw masked men near the ladys car. They were Kidnapping story: in civilian clothes and wearing black masks. At first On Sunday May 1st, 2011 at around 11:30 PM, Mr. he thought that the men had come for the lady, Mattar received a call from an anonymous man tell- but soon found that they were in fact after him. So ing him that there was an envelop for him and ask- he speeded up and tried to drop his wife at a safe ing him to collect it. Mr. Mattar told asked the man place, but they chased him, and after a dangerous to deliver it to Alwefaq Society, but the man refused. chase in the streets they cornered him, took him out of his car and put him into their car at gun point. On Monday May 2nd, 2011 at around 7:30 PM Mr. Mattar received a call from an anonymous lady tell- Why Mattars Safety & Life is at a Great Risk? ing him that she had an envelop for him and asking On Thursday April 28th 2011, Bahrain TV aired him to collect it. Mr. Mattar asked her to deliver it to confessions of the protestors accused of runAlwefaq Society, but she insisted that she was too ning over two police men by car. One of the proscared to go there, so he agreed to meet her near testors Ali Isa Saqer one of four who died in Alhelli Supermarket in Aldaih Village where he lives. custody mentioned in his confession that: He went there with his wife at around 8.20 pm, where We were in the Pearl Roundabout, on 16th March, his wife then approached the lady and asked her to and Mattar Mattar and Hassan Moshaimea had follow them by car to Mr. Mattars house where she come to us and told us to block the riot police to should put the envelop in the mail box. Mr. Matar prevent them from getting through and, if the podid not want to receive the envelop by hand be- lice did get through, to run over them with our cars cause he did not know what it might contain. But the and leave them behind. Hence, when I eventually lady insisted to talk to him in person, so he stepped reached my car and saw policemen in front of me, I down the car and went to her and convinced her to thought of their words and ran over the policemen! follow his car and to put the envelop in the mail box. It is worth noting that Mr. Mattar was not at the roundabout on that day altogether and that he Page | 84
and Al Wefaq are known for their moderate views and utter rejection to using violence means from all sides. It is also worth noting that Hassan Moshaimea heads an outlawed opposition bloc that has a bitter relationship with Al Wefaq. cusation made against him, are in fact a punishment for Mr. Mattars prodemocracy peaceful activities and his work with international human rights organizations and international media in defense of basic human rights for all Bahrainis. Al Wefaq further insists that those activities are Ever since this confession was aired on local TV, part of Mr. Mattars responsibilities towards the Mattar knew that he was now a target for arrest, kid- people who elected him and that those activities napping or even assassination, as this is the usual fate are in full accordance with Bahrains constitution. of those accused in such confessions aired on TV. A day prior to the day of kidnapping, i.e. on May 1st 2011, Mr. Mattar had a meeting with a US Embassy officials in Bahrain based on the officials request. The official told Mattar that they wanted to meet with him because they were worried about him after the TV-aired confessions. Bahrain: ongoing secret detention of
Also Read :
In the meeting, Mr. Mattar expressed his serious concerns about his own safety in the coming period, and that he was under threat of being kidnapped, arrested or even assassinated, hoping that his message would be conveyed to the concerned US officials in Bahrain. Held Incommunicado and in Great Danger Since Monday May 2nd 2011, we heard absolutely no news about Mattar or his whereabouts. Mattars wife and family are fearing the worst may happen to him. In the past few weeks, four prisoners died in custody with clear marks of torture on their bodies. Another group of four prisoners were sentenced to death by a military court, and three others sentenced to life imprisonment, and hundreds held incommunicado with strong evidence indicating they are undergoing extreme forms of torture. Due to the dangerous nature of the accusation publically aired against Mattar, his family is specially and terribly worried about his life and safety, while insisting that those accusations are completely false. Al Wefaq Society has made it clear that Mr. Mattars kidnapping and detention, and the false ac-
former MPs, Mattar Mattar and Jawad Fairuz
By : Alkarama website URL : http://en.alkarama.org/index.php?option=com_c ontent&view=article&id=738%3Abahrain-ongoing-secret-detention-of-former-mps-mattar-mattar-and-jawadfairuz-&catid=19%3Acommuniqu&Itemid=84
Bahrain detains two Shiite former parliament

By : Mohamed Abd el Fattah URL : http://www.allvoices.com/contributednews/8956202-bahrain-detains-two-shiite-formerparliament
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Al-Wefaq expresses its concern over the fate of two Members of Parliamen
After being arrested by masked men in Bahrain Urgent: Al-Wefaq expresses its concern over the fate of two Members of Parliament Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society wishes to express its concern over the fate of two of its resigning legislators, who were arrested in the evening hours on Monday 2 May 2011. At the time of release of this statement, no information was available with regards to their whereabouts let alone reasons and circumstances causing their arrest.
Matar Matart and Jawad Fairuz In short, security forces through masked civil- sesses a Masters degree in computer science. ian men, arrested head of Public Utilities and Environment Committee, the resigned Mem- Al-Wefaq stresses that Jawad and Mattar worked ber of Parliament of Bahrain Jawad Fairuz Ghu- the parameters of the society regarding calls for a loom (aged 48). He was arrested in front of comprehensive and transparent reforms package his house in Hamad Town, south of Manama. via peaceful measures in a civilized manner. The society contends that the two resigning MPs were Jawad was elected as Member of Parliament of arrested for expressing their views for change. Bahrain for the period 2010-2014 but offered his resignation in protest of ways the authorities ad- Whilst calling for their immediate release, Al-Wedressed political problem engulfing the kingdom. faq holds the authorities responsible for the safety Additionally, he was elected as MP for the inter- and well-being of Jawad and Mattar. Finally, Alval 2006-2010. Also, he served as Vic Presi- Wefaq calls on parliaments and councils of repredent of the Northern Municipal Council for the sentatives as well as human rights organizations period of 2002-2006. Still, Jawad is an on-going all over the world to press the authorities in Bahmember of the general secretariat of Al-Wefaq. rain for the release of Jawad Fairuz Ghuloom and Mattar Ebrahim Mattar and all other detainees. On the same date, the authorities arrested Mattar Ebrahim Mattar (aged 35) after being chased in a Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society public street by a group of civilian masked men. Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Mattar was elected as Member of Parliament of 3 May 2011 Bahrain for the period 2010-2014, though he offered his resignation in protest of governmental security crackdown on public protests. Previ- URL : http://www.aminshahidi.com/en/Global-News/latestously, he served as a superintendent within La- news/394-Al-Wefaq-expresses-its-concern-over-the-fate-ofbour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and two-Members-of-Parliamen.html an academic at Kuwait University. Mattar posPage | 86
M e d i c s
SECTION 10.0
Medics :
Amnesty :Medical Professionals Are Again Targeted with Arrest of President of Bahrain Medical Society and Charges Against 47 Others For Treating Injured Protesters
As Bahraini Parliament Renews Repressive State of Emergency, Crackdown Continues, Fueling Human Rights Crisis, Says Amnesty International Medical Professionals Are Again Targeted with Arrest of President of Bahrain Medical Society and Charges Against 47 Others For Treating Injured Protesters (New York) -- The Bahraini government must end its relentless crackdown on human rights, Amnesty International said today after the countrys parliament voted to extend a repressive state of emergency amid continued arrests of dissidents. The Bahraini authorities must stop detaining anyone who opposes them and release protesters who have been locked up for peacefully demanding reform, said Philip Luther, Amnesty Internationals deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. Even since the protests on the streets were violently crushed in mid-March the governments persecution of dissidents has not abated, while the renewal of the so-called State of National Safety will only exacerbate this human rights crisis. Bahraini media reported that members of parliament voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to extend the State of National Safety for another three months, even though it is not due to expire for another six weeks. Under emergency law, protesters and political activists have been arrested, without warrants, held incommunicado and tried before military courts. On Monday, two members of Parliament from alWefaq, the largest Shia political party, were detained. Jalal Fairuz, 48, and Matar Ibrahim Matar, 35, were arrested by armed men wearing civilian clothes and their whereabouts are unknown. Both have been
Amnesty International
critical of the government and have given media interviews to international media outlets. All 18 al-Wefaq members of Parliament had resigned in February to protest the governments crackdown on protests, including the deaths of demonstrators and others as a result of excessive use of force. Only 11 resignations were accepted, including those of the two men arrested. Medical professionals continue to be targeted for arrest, with Dr. Ahmed Jamal, President of Bahrain Medical Society, arrested at his clinic on Monday. Around 47 other doctors and nurses, some detained for weeks, are facing trial in a military court after they were charged Tuesday for their role in treating anti-government protesters. The overwhelming majority of those detained since March 2011 are Shia Muslims who were active during the protests, most of whose whereabouts remain unknown. Some detainees have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated following arrest and at least four people have died in suspicious circumstances. The dismissal of government employees who were known to have participated in protests continues unabated. There have also been reports of several Shia mosques being destroyed by the security forces, allegedly because they did not have building permits.
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Medics :
This has increased suspicions that the majority Shia population of Bahrain is being punished for the February-March protests, which called for reforms and, in some cases, regime change. Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. URL : http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/medical-professionals-are-again-targetedwith-arrest-of-president-of-bahrain-medical-society-and-cha
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Medics :
The Guardian :Bahrains medics are the targets of retribution
At about 11pm on 2 May, Bahrains criminal investigations directorate summoned Dr Nedhal al-Khalifa, a 42-year-old dermatologist. Her father dropped her off at their headquarters at the ministry of interior at about midnight. Her family, including her four young children, didnt hear anything from her until she was released two days later. Her husband, Dr Sadiq Abdulla, a vascular surgeon, also 42, was detained in the same fashion on 14 April. His whereabouts and condition remains unknown, as does the reason for his detention.
Bahraine medics march outside a hospital in protest after poThese two doctors are among hundreds of Bah- lice stormed a makeshift protest camp in Pearl Square on 17 February 2011. Photograph: John Moore/Getty rainis detained without official explanation since
mid-March, including scores of other doctors, nurses and medics. In almost all cases, the authorities have provided no information about their whereabouts or wellbeing. During this same period, at least four people have died in detention from abuse or medical neglect and the authorities are starting to televise confessions that might have been coerced. Except for a handful who saw a lawyer for the first time during their special military court trial, none of those detained have had access to lawyers or family members.
fact part of a coup attempt, in the words of prime minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa. No violators will get away with it, he added. All co-conspirators and abettors must be held accountable. Medical personnel have been targets of repression from the outset. Security forces attacked a medical tent at the roundabout on the night of 17 February, assaulting and arresting doctors. Medics subsequently alleged that security officials ordered ambulances not to respond to calls from wounded protesters. When authorities violently dispersed the roundabout protesters on 16 March, security forces, armed and in many cases masked, had taken over the main hospital. There, and in other medical facilities, people whose wounds suggested they had been protesters were beaten, and many were arrested. Portions of the hospital became detention sites.
The arrests of so many medical professionals are part of a government policy of retribution against Bahrainis who supported pro-democracy protests. Some medics criticised assaults by security personnel on protesters at the Pearl roundabout in mid-February and again in mid-March that left more than a dozen dead, as well as several security officers, and many wounded. In the unfolding official narrative of events, the largely peaceful protests that brought hundreds of thousands of Bahrainis to the streets to demand democratic reforms were in Authorities said that 47 doctors and medics will Page | 90
Medics :
soon face prosecution, apparently in a special military court, for alleged acts that include claims of bringing weapons into the hospital, stealing blood so that protesters could feign serious injury, applying medications to simulate symptoms of nerve gas, refusing to treat injured or ill people who were not Shia and generally serving the agenda of the protesters. They said 150 others are under investigation and suspended from their positions. Authorities said they will reveal details at a news conference on Sunday. Human Rights Watch has written to Bahraini authorities requesting information to verify the criminal allegations some serious and some farfetched but so far has received no response. Our researchers had regular and relatively unrestricted access to the main hospital between 17 February and 16 March. We saw protesters tents in the parking lot outside the emergency wing, staffed by people who provided information to journalists and others reflecting protester views. Between 10 March and 16 March, rallies took place there featuring speeches by leading opposition figures. But at no point did we see or otherwise learn about any activities corresponding to the more serious government allegations. In a public letter dated 26 April, seven leading national and international associations of medical professionals, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians, called on Bahrains leaders to cease all attacks on health facilities, medical proURL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/ may/05/bahrain-medics-arrest-retribution
Also Read :
Bahrain medics claim confession under torture
By : aljazeera URL : http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/20 11/05/2011512111835943173.html
Bahrain to Put Medical Staff on Trial
By : The wall street journal URL : http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274 8704740604576301283984376762.html
Doctors Detained in Bahrain Face Accusations of Medical Abuses
By : TALEA MILLER - pbs newshour URL : http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/05/ detained-doctors-in-bahrain-face-accusations-of-medical-abuses.html
College urged to help free medics in Bahrain

By : Irish Times URL : http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ ireland/2011/0516/1224297038495.html
Attacks on physicians in Bahrain

By :Japan Times URL : http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ eo20110429cc.html
Bahrain: Masoud Jahromi, a professor wrongly Imprisoned

By : IHRC URL : http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=32912
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Medics :
At about 11pm on 2 May, Bahrains criminal investigations directorate summoned Dr Nedhal al-Khalifa, a 42-year-old dermatologist. Her father dropped her off at their headquarters at the ministry of interior at about midnight. Her family, including her four young children, didnt hear anything from her until she was released two days later. Her husband, Dr Sadiq Abdulla, a vascular surgeon, also 42, was detained in the same fashion on 14 April. His whereabouts and condition remains unknown, as does the reason for his detention. These two doctors are among hundreds of Bahrainis detained without official explanation since mid-March, including scores of other doctors, nurses and medics. In almost all cases, the authorities have provided no information about their whereabouts or wellbeing. During this same period, at least four people have died in detention from abuse or medical neglect and the authorities are starting to televise confessions that might have been coerced. Except for a handful who saw a lawyer for the first time during their special military court trial, none of those detained have had access to lawyers or family members. The arrests of so many medical professionals are part of a government policy of retribution against Bahrainis who supported pro-democracy protests. Some medics criticised assaults by security personnel on protesters at the Pearl roundabout in mid-February and again in mid-March that left more than a dozen dead, as well as several security officers, and many wounded. In the unfolding official narrative of events, the largely peaceful protests that brought hundreds of thousands of Bahrainis to the streets to demand democratic reforms were in fact part of a coup attempt, in the words of prime minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa. No violators
HRW : Bahrains Medics are the Targets of Retribution
Human Rights Watch
will get away with it, he added. All co-conspirators and abettors must be held accountable. Medical personnel have been targets of repression from the outset. Security forces attacked a medical tent at the roundabout on the night of 17 February, assaulting and arresting doctors. Medics subsequently alleged that security officials ordered ambulances not to respond to calls from wounded protesters. When authorities violently dispersed the roundabout protesters on 16 March, security forces, armed and in many cases masked, had taken over the main hospital. There, and in other medical facilities, people whose wounds suggested they had been protesters were beaten, and many were arrested. Portions of the hospital became detention sites. Authorities said that 47 doctors and medics will soon face prosecution, apparently in a special military court, for alleged acts that include claims of bringing weapons into the hospital, stealing blood so that protesters could feign serious injury, applying medications to simulate symptoms of nerve gas, refusing to treat injured or ill people who were not Shia and generally serving the agenda of the proPage | 92
Medics :
testers. They said 150 others are under investigation and suspended from their positions. Authorities said they will reveal details at a news conference on Sunday. Human Rights Watch has written to Bahraini authorities requesting information to verify the criminal allegations - some serious and some far-fetched but so far has received no response. Our researchers had regular and relatively unrestricted access to the main hospital between 17 February and 16 March. We saw protesters tents in the parking lot outside the emergency wing, staffed by people who Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Forces are seen guardprovided information to journalists and others reing one of the entrances of Salmaniya Hospital in Manama on March 18, 2011. flecting protester views. Between 10 March and 16 March, rallies took place there featuring speeches by leading opposition figures. But at no point did we see or otherwise learn about any activities corresponding to the more serious government allegations. In a public letter dated 26 April, seven leading national and international associations of medical professionals, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians, called on Bahrains leaders to cease all attacks on health facilities, medical professionals and patients, and to release all medical professionals (as well as others) detained and disappeared for non-violent exercise of their fundamental rights and their ethical duties. URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/ may/05/bahrain-medics-arrest-retribution
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Medics :
Also Read :
Medics held in Bahrain
By : The Irish Times URL : http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ letters/2011/0510/1224296598407.html
Are Bahrains Medical Workers Being Persecuted?

By : TIME URL : http://www.time.com/time/world/ article/0,8599,2060876,00.html
College urged to help free medics in Bahrain

By : The Irish times URL : http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ ireland/2011/0516/1224297038495.html
Detained Bahraini Medics: Brutal Crackdown against Pro-Democracy Movement

By : globalresearch URL : http://www.globalresearch.ca/index. php?context=va&aid=24449
PHR Reports Disappearances of at Least Two Bahraini Doctors in Past 24 Hours

By : physicians for human rights URL : http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/ news-2011-04-05.html
Attacks On Medical Personnel Causing Increasing Concern

By :medical news today URL : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ releases/219419.php
Bahrain: New Arrests Target Doctors, Rights Activists

By : HRW URL : http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/03/20/bahrain-new-arrests-target-doctors-rights-activists
Page | 94
Labours
SECTION 11.0
Labours :
Reuters : Bahrain oil company fires 300 workers over protests
DUBAI May 11 (Reuters) - State-run Bahrain Petroleum Co (Bapco) has fired nearly 300 employees for being absent from work when pro-democracy protests paralysed much of the kingdom, the energy minister was reported as saying by the official state news agency. They were absent during the recent crisis, the Bahrain news agency said. Pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in February and a strike was called in March.
Bahrain oil company
Bahraini firms have fired hundreds of mostly Shiite Muslim workers who went on strike to support pro- back its forces, boosting regional tension with neardemocracy protesters in what appeared to be part by Shiite rival Iran, which Bahrain accuses of helpof a government crackdown. ing instigate the protests. Energy Minister Abdul-Hussain bin Ali Mirza was quoted as saying 293 employees had been dismissed, 50 were under investigation and 11 board members from the workers union had been referred to the general prosecutor. Mirza was not immediately available for comment. Since then, Bahrain has targeted demonstrators. Hundreds have been arrested and dozens put on trial in special courts. Others have been fired from government jobs. A state of emergency is due to be lifted on June 1. (Reporting by Jason Benham; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Bahrains unions called for a general strike on URL : http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/ March 13 to support Shiite protesters against the Sunni-led government, and called it off on March idAFLDE74A22120110511 22. Officials at Batelco, Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Services and APM Terminals have said they laid off more than 200 workers due to absences during the strike. In March, Bahrain, where the Sunni king rules over a Shiite majority, crushed weeks of street protests calling for greater freedoms, a constitutional monarchy and an end to discrimination. Neighbouring Sunni-led Gulf states sent troops to Page | 96
Labours :
SWP : May day message from workers in Bahrain
Statement from the trades unions in Bahrain As we celebrate this international day of workers, workers in Bahrain are undergoing difficult and testing times. Every year we march through the streets of Manama in solidarity with workers everywhere on the globe. However, this year we are unable to do so, most of the leaders of the unions are either in prison or under investigation. The government of Bahrain is on a witch hunt and their methods resemble those used by the inquisitions in the medieval times. Political affiliation and ideologies are rigorously questioned and personal opinion are condemned and punished. Court appearances and sentences are rushed. This is all under the pretext of participating in the wider political process and the supporting of the movements calling for democracy and change in Bahrain. This is not a new phenomenon in Bahrain, but things have taken a very ugly turn in the last two months, especially after the crackdown by the regime and invasion by the GCC armies. The human rights situation in Bahrain has deteriorated and the rule of the law has been suspended, as the country is now ruled by martial law. Hundreds if not thousands of workers and professionals have been dismissed. Sectarianism is the order of the day and the majority of the people are baring the brunt. We are a part of the main opposition in Bahrain, ours is the legitimate voice of the people. We declare our unwavering support and solidarity with all those who are affected by the illegal and immoral actions of the authorities in Bahrain. Security and military solutions can only serve to divide the communities and the country and will cause long lasting alienation between the ruling family and the people. We advise that only a political solution can remedy the current mayhem in Bahrain.
Socialist workers Party
Workers are the backbone of the Bahraini economy and their contributions are evident in all industries and trades. They are a dynamic and vibrant force for good and their role in nation building cannot be overestimated. URL : http://www.swp.ie/news/may-day-messageworkers-bahrain/4412
Also Read :
Bahrain: Thousands are subjected to dismissal of work as part of severe clampdown on all who joined or openly supported the protest movement.
By : Bahrain Center for Human Rights URL : http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/3879
Mass sackings in Bahrain crackdown
By : Aljazeera URL : http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/20 11/05/2011514104251715508.html
Page | 97
Athletes
SECTION 12.0
Athletes :
FOX Sports : Leading Bahrain players Aala and Mohamed Hubail arrested for taking part in anti-regime protests
Two of Bahrains leading footballers are under government investigation following their arrest for taking part in anti-regime protests. In a move that could leave the Gulf kingdom in breach of international rules which separate politics and sport, Aala and Mohamed Hubail were arrested during training with their club Al Ahli after appearing on television attending a pro-democracy rally. Striker Aala has played 68 games for his country Mohamed Hubail (right) is known to Australian audiences while Mohamed has been capped 52 times. Both took part in Bahrains 2010 World Cup qualifiers against the Socceroos in 2009. were in uncharted territory as they met to discuss At least 28 people have died and hundreds were the crisis. The arrested men were under investigainjured in the Sunni regimes efforts to quell the tion by the government and their clubs. pro-democracy movement, lead by the countrys The suspension falls under misconduct, and Shia majority. the breaching of the rules and regulations of The Bahraini government has also suspended sporting clubs ... not to engage in any politisome 200 sportsmen over their roles in the anti- cal affairs, the association said in a statement. regime protests. All the men suspended are Shia URL : http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/leadMuslims. ing-bahrain-players-aala-and-mohamed-hubail-arAala Hubail, 28, a paramedic before he became a rested-for-taking-part-in-anti-regime-protests/storyprofessional soccer player, worked as a nurse dur- e6frf423-1226035763968 ing the protests. Among those suspended by government officials were a soccer referee and several leading basketball, volleyball and handball players. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. Bahrain Football Association officials admitted they Page | 99
Athletes :
Petition : To SUPPORT Bahrains Athletes
On February 14th, the youth of Bahrain started a peaceful movement demanding constitutional reform & more participation in the running of the countrys affairs under the umbrella of a constitutional monarchy. However, over the span of one month, this movement was faced with a brutal crackdown by the Bahrain regime, culminating into a full-blown attack by the Bahrain police, army and national guard aided by the GCC joint forces led by Saudi Arabia, on the very basic human rights of the people of Bahrain. This led to over two dozen deaths, hundreds injured, over six hundred detainees, over one thousand job dismissals, the demolishing of places of worship and the prevention of religious practices; in what is a clear sectarian cleansing process against a majority sect in the country. All this has been in an effort to silence any further dissent.
Freedom For Sports Players
Cup Golden Boot winner, helping Bahrain in the process to reach its first semi-final round at the regional stage. He is also a trained paramedic and EMT who was also acting as a volunteer nurse treating the injured during the brutal crackdown of protesters. His brother, Mohammed (another National team During this movement, and as an integral part of player), has also been arrested. the society, the athletes in the country also organized a rally in support of these demands for re- Jafar Abdulqader (arrested handball player); also form. The Bahrain regime replied to this rally by a national handball team player, helping Bahrain indefinitely suspending and banning around 200 reach its first ever Handball World Cup participation athletes from any local, regional or international in 2011. Other players from that national team have play on charges of supporting the popular revo- been arrested and suspended. lution in the country, according to a government official. The regime went further to arrest about 10 Tariq Al Farsani (arrested bodybuilder); an Asian athletes incommunicado, along with several staff Bodybuilding Champion. members of the Bahrain International Circuit from The list extends to many other sports, and the their workplace. Bahrain Football, Handball, Volleyball and BasketIt is important to note that these athletes include ball Federations, along with the Bahrain Olympic regionally and internationally renowned ones, in- Committee, have all backed this decision. cluding but not limited to: Aala Hubail (arrested footballer); the 2004 Asian Page | 100
Athletes :
Petition : To: Mr. Jacques Rogge - President, International Olympic Committee Sh. Ahmed Al Sabah - President, Asian Olympic Committee & AHF Mr. Sepp Blatter - President, FIFA Mr. Mohammed Bin Hammam - President, AFC Mr. Yvan Mainini - President, FIBA Sh. Saud Al-Thani - President, FIBA Asia Mr. Jizhong Wei - President, FIVB We, the undersigned, Ask all the sport federations, and international & regional sport committees to suspend all Bahrain sport federations from international & regional participation. This is until they restore the rights of the Bahrain athletes in representing their country without being punished for their personal political views, and ensure that the Bahrain national sport teams are representative of all Bahrainis without discrimination of any sort or form. The aforementioned events clearly show the discrimination towards athletes based on their own personal political stance and/or sect, and their suspension from practicing their sports is not based on any sporting misconduct. We are appalled by the decisions taken by the sport federations in Bahrain, and refuse their participation of any sort in sport events on this basis. We ask for an immediate suspension of all sport federations in Bahrain on all regional & international levels. Yours truly, To Sign the petition URL : http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/supportbahrain-s-athletes.html Page | 101
Also Read :
In Bahrain, first, they came for the athletes
By : The Guardian URL : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/ apr/22/bahrain-counter-revolution-televised-athletes
Aala Hubail, Bahrain Soccer Star, Remains Detained After Arrest

By : Denis Fitzgerald -Bleacher Report URL : http://bleacherreport.com/articles/673404bahraini-soccer-star-arrested-in-crackdown-still-indetention
Lawyers
SECTION 13.0
Lawyers :
HRW : Defense Lawyer Detained After Night Raid
(Manama) - More than two dozen uniformed and plainclothes security officers, most of whom were masked, raided the home of prominent defense lawyer Mohammed al-Tajer on the evening of April 15, 2011, and arrested him, Human Rights Watch said today. Neither he nor his family was given any reason for his detention. Human Rights Watch believes that al-Tajer is the first defense lawyer detained in more than a decade. He is well known for defending opposition figures and rights activists arrested in security sweeps. The arrest took place around 11 p.m. on April 15, when security officers surrounded and then entered al-Tajers home. Security officers searched his home and confiscated personal items including laptops, mobile phones, and documents, before taking him away. Al-Tajer is one of 499 people currently detained by the Bahraini authorities, according to a list compiled by the Wefaq National Islamic Society, an opposition political society. The governments arrest of a leading defense lawyer shows that Bahrain is taking a turn for the worse on human rights, said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. The authorities should either release Mohammed al-Tajer or charge him now with a recognizable offense. Huda al-Tajer, Mohammeds wife, told Human Rights Watch that at around 11 p.m. one of her sons came and told her and Mohammed al-Tajer that there were some men outside their home. Mohammed al-Tajer opened the door and several masked security officers came inside and began searching the home. They ordered Mohammed alTajer to stay downstairs while they initiated their search and told Huda al-Tajer to go upstairs and wake up the younger children who were asleep. During the next hour-and-a-half or so, the officers thoroughly searched all rooms inside the home
Human Rights Watch
and confiscated personal items. Huda al-Tajer said she was forced to wake up the smaller children and transfer them from one room to another as the officers completed their search. Huda al-Tajer said that the officers allowed Mohammed al-Tajer to briefly embrace her before escorting him outside and taking him away in a police vehicle. My husband hasnt done anything except defend the rights of others, she told Human Rights Watch. He is a lawyer. This is his job. He has to have immunity and protection to do his job. I have no idea where he is right now and what they are doing to him. I am really frightened. During their search the officers also ordered Mohammed al-Tajer to hand over the key to his law office in Manama. Al-Tajer told them that he shares the office with several other lawyers, but they insisted that he give them the key regardless. Human Rights Watch is concerned that al-Tajers arrest is an effort on the part of authorities to intimidate and silence defense lawyers. Al-Tajer is part of a group of Bahraini lawyers who have defended opposition figures and rights activists arrested and detained by authorities during the past several years, including those picked up durPage | 103
Lawyers :
ing the most recent security sweeps. He was one of the lead lawyers involved in the trial of 23 opposition and rights activists arrested during security sweeps last August and September and accused under Bahrains counterterrorism law. The government released all 23 defendants on February 23, 2011, but rearrested several of them following the latest round of targeted arrests. Human Rights Watch has gathered statements indicating that prior to their release on February 23, authorities had subjected some of the 23 to severe abuse and illtreatment amounting to torture. han on April 14, and Dr. Sadeq Jaffar on April 13. Two days before that they arrested Dr. Nabeel Tammam, Dr. Nabeel Hameed, Dr. Aref Rajab, Dr. Abd al-Shaheed Fadhal, and Zahra al-Sammak. The authorities had previously detained al-Sammak on March 19. She is the wife of Dr.Ghassan Dhaif, who has been custody since March 19. Dr. Tammam and several of the other doctors arrested after March 17 have since been released.
We have serious concerns regarding the wellbeing and safety of some of the detainees, said Stork. The authorities should immediately provide information on the whereabouts of all detainees arRecent Arrests of Doctors Two days prior to al-Tajers arrest, authorities de- rested since March 17 and permit them to meet with tained Dr. Sadeq Abdulla, a vascular surgeon at their families and lawyers. the Salmaniya Medical Complex. Interior Ministry officials summoned Abdulla to the ministrys head- The International Covenant on Civil and Political quarters in Manama at around 11 p.m. on April Rights, which Bahrain ratified in 1998, requires that 14, according to a source close to the family. His anyone arrested shall be promptly informed of any wife and his father-in-law accompanied him to the charges and brought before a judge or other judicial ministry. They waited there for several hours but authority. A refusal of the authorities to acknowledge Abdulla never emerged. The source told Human a persons detention or provide information on their Rights Watch that the family contacted an officer fate or whereabouts would be an enforced disapat the Interior Ministry on April 15 to inquire about pearance. the status of Abdulla and was told that he would be in custody for a few more days. No information Since March 15, Bahrain has been subject to marwas provided regarding the reasons for Abdullas tial law, officially labeled a state of National Safety, that gave authorities wide powers of arrest, censorarrest. Later that day Abdulla called his wife and told her ship, and prohibitions on freedom of movement that he was fine. The authorities allowed Abdullas and association. Even during a state of emergency, family to drop off his medications at the Criminal fundamental rights - such as the right to life, the Investigations Directorate in Adliya on the same right to be secure from torture and other cruel, inhuday, but have so far not allowed his family or his man, or degrading treatment, and the prohibition on lawyer to visit him. Abdullas family believes that discrimination - must always be respected, Human authorities are currently detaining him at the Adliya Rights Watch said. Any restrictions on other rights during a genpolice station. Abdulla is one of at least 19 doctors arrested by uine emergency must be strictly limited. authorities since March 17, at least eight of whom were arrested within the past week. Authorities ar- URL: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/16/bahrested Dr. Kholood al-Derazi and Dr. Nayara Sar- rain-defense-lawyer-detained-after-night-raid Page | 104
Lawyers :
advocaten voor advocaten : lawyer Mohamed Issa Al Tajer
In Bahrain as well, massive protests have led to arrests on a vast scale. Around 600 people, with many human rights defenders, political leaders, trade unionists and doctors among them, have reportedly been arrested since the beginning of February 2011. It is often unknown where they are being held, let alone that any of them has access to a lawyer. L4L was also informed about the arrest of a lawyer, Mohamed Issa al-Tajer. He is a famous lawyer, who has defended many of the protesters in court. According to our information, he was arrested at his home in the presence of his wife and children, just after midnight on 16 April 2011. Before the twenty plainclothes officers that had entered his house took him with them, they searched the house thoroughly and took several computers and mobile phones. When he was arrested, he wasnt beaten or mistreated, but the arrest of their father has deeply impressed the children. Where he has been taken is still unclear. Mohamed Al Tajers wife, a doctor, fears she will be arrested as well. The arrest seems to be part of the bigger wave of arrests that has affected many who have in one way or another been involved in the peaceful protests in Bahrain. It seems that the Bahraini government intentionally hinders Mohamed al-Tajer in the execution of his profession. Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the situation and organizes a letter writing campaign; we kindly ask you to join us. Please download these voorbeeldbrieven, adapt them, print and sign them and send them via airmail or fax to the addresses mentioned in the letters. If you have done so, please let us know via info@lawyersforlawyers.nl.
Mohamed Issa Al Tajer
URL :http://www.advocatenvooradvocaten.nl/cms/ content/view/478/31
Also Read :
National Criminal Defense Bar Condemns Arrest of Human Rights Lawyer in Bahrain
By : National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) URL : http://www.nacdl.org/public.nsf/NewsReleases/ 2011mn11?OpenDocument
ARBITRARY ARREST AND DETENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER MR MOHAMMED AL-TAJIR IN MANAMA, BAHRAIN
By : INTERNATIONAL OBSERVATORY FOR LAWYERS URL : http://www.observatoire-avocats.org/ en/2011/05/03/mohammed-al-tajir-bahrain
Where Is Bahrains Prominent Human Rights Lawyer Mohammed al-Tajer?

By : By William Fisher URL : http://pubrecord.org/world/9293/where-bahrains-prominent-human-rights/
Page | 105
Bloggers
SECTION 14.0
Bloggers :
Reuters : U.S. criticizes Bahrain over blogger arrest
(Reuters) - Bahrains arrest of a prominent blogger and other Internet activists could it could make it more difficult to establish political dialogue after recent anti-government unrest, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States was deeply concerned over the arrest of Mahmood al-Yousif and reported arrest of two other prominent activists this week. We hope that the Bahraini governments decision to arrest bloggers and Internet activists will not make it more difficult to resume a national dialogue that solicit the views and opinions of all Bahrainis, Toner told a news briefing. Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, said on Wednesday that al-Yousif, trade unionist Sana Abdul-Razzaq Zinedine and poet Ayat al-Qurmozi had been arrested.
Reuters
a credible political dialogue but progress has been slow after the ruling family declared martial law and called in troops from fellow Sunni-ruled Gulf neighbors including Saudi Arabia. Toner said the United States continued to press for political talks. Theres no security solution to the situation in Bahrain, it needs to be a political one, Toner said. The Bahraini government needs to engage in that kind of national dialogue, as does the opposition, in order to move this process forward, and arresting bloggers doesnt help in that respect.
Al-Yousif started an Internet campaign several years ago called Just Bahraini to combat sectarianism in the island kingdom, which has a Shiite (Reporting by Andrew Quinn; editing by Mohammajority and a government led by the Sunni almad Zargham) Khalifa family. URL :http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/ The Gulf Arab state launched a crackdown two idUSN3013838720110330 weeks ago on anti-government protesters who had been demonstrating and staging sit-ins for weeks. The government said 24 people were killed in clashes, while the opposition Wefaq party said 250 people have been detained and 44 have gone missing. The United States, which maintains a navy base in Bahrain, has called on both sides to establish
Page | 107
Bloggers :
BBC: Bahrain unrest: Outspoken blogger forced into hiding arrested
As the man known as the Bahraini blogger goes into hiding, the BBCs Bill Law profiles a family that was once fiercely outspoken, but now seems too afraid to talk. Help us, help us, help us, a text I received on Friday read. It was from Jenan al-Oraibi, the wife of Ali Abdulemam, also known as the Bahraini Blogger. Ali had been a constant critic of the government and the ruling al-Khalifah family for several years.
Ali Abdulemam was pardoned in February after spending months in jail
He was jailed briefly in 2005, then arrested again in a sweep of suspected Shia dissidents in August When Ali and the others were arrested, they were last year. held for several weeks without access to their lawyers and families. Along with the 22 others, he was charged with financing and directing a terror organisation. During that time, the 23 confessed. It is widely believed that the confessions were extracted under The first time I met Jenan was in December last torture - an allegation the government continues to year. By then her husband had been in prison for deny. several months. However independent observers and groups such Visiting rights were being cut short, and she was as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International worried that he was being subjected to beatings. say the claims of torture are true. Aclimate of fear was prevalent in the tiny Gulf kingdom. We were being constantly shadowed by plainclothes security officers. They followed us in cars and on foot everywhere we went. Two weeks ago, in the midst of their trial, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah granted a royal pardon to all of the men. When I spoke to Jenan and Ali by phone, I could hear their three young children shouting and laughing in the background.
Even so, Jenan was anxious that we interview her. The family was ecstatic and they thanked the BBC for telling their story. Ali has a free pen. That is exactly his crime. He has a free pen, she told me in December. Then at 0230 on Friday morning, seven of the 23
Page | 108
Bloggers :
pardoned men were re-arrested by members of the feared national security apparatus. The security police came to Alis home in a Shia village not far from Pearl Roundabout. Hearing of the arrests, he had left a few minutes earlier and has gone into hiding. As the crackdown continues against pro-democracy activists, Jenan is now too fearful to speak to me on the phone. She is is worried that it is being monitored by the security services. But nonetheless she wants her husbands story to be told. When I asked her on Friday via text if we could talk, she texted back: I am afraid not. Bahrain is a small country and it is unlikely that Ali will remain hidden for long. URL :http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middleeast-12796892
Page | 109
Journalists
SECTION 15.0
Journalists
Reuters : Bahrain police detain 2 reporters for foreign media

DUBAI, May 23 (Reuters) - Two Bahraini journalists working for Western media were detained and at least one was mistreated by police this week, one of the journalists said on Tuesday. Mazen Mahdi, who works for the German news agency DPA, said he and a reporter for French The authorities say the protesters, mainly from television station France 24 were called in for ques- Bahrains Shiite Muslim majority, were driven by tioning on Sunday. sectarian aims and influenced by Shiite power Iran. Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah has also They questioned me about my Twitter postings, criticised Bahrain over the crackdown. stories published on DPA, and if I had links to Lebanese or Iranian media, Mahdi said. Hundreds have been detained and four people died in police custody. Two protesters have been senMahdi said he was held for several hours, hand- tenced to death for the murder of two policemen cuffed, blindfolded and beaten about the head until during clashes. Four journalists from Bahrains a senior officer arrived to interrogate him. only opposition newspaper pleaded not guilty last week to charges of fabricating news about the seThe Bahraini Information Ministry could not be im- curity forces crackdown against protesters. mediately reached for comment. Bahraini officials have said they would investigate allegations of mistreatment. U.S.-allied-Bahrain was thrown into turmoil by street protests for democratic reforms in February, put down in March in a government crackdown which included calling in troops from neighbouring Gulf Arab countries. Last week U.S. President Barack Obama criticised the crackdown, saying that mass arrests and brute force were at odds with the universal rights of Bahrains citizens, and would not make legitimate calls for reform disappear. Page | 111
Journalists
Bahrain Center for Human Rights : Journalists arrests in Bahrain

Haider Mohamed Al-Noaimi, a blogger and journalist who works for various media including the opposition newspaper Al-Wasat, was arrested by about 30 men who came to his home on the evening of 24 April and confiscated his computer and cameras before taking him away. They reportedly hit him during the raid. His Facebook profile, where he posted his articles, has been blocked since 3 April. Another Al-Wasat journalist, Nada Al-Wadi, was detained and questioned for around 10 hours on 20 April. Ahmed Yousif Al-Dairy, a netizen who has been detained with his two sons since 1 April, has apparently not been getting the treatment he needs for his diabetes. His lawyers have not been able to see him and the authorities continue to say nothing about the case. Like Zakariya Rashid Hassan, who died in detention on 9 April after being tortured, he was one of the moderators of the forum Aldair (http://www.aldair.net/forum). His family fears he may have suffered the same fate.
Haider Mohamed Al-Noaimi
Also Read :
Bahrain detains columnist; 4 located in Libya
By : CPJ URL : http://cpj.org/2011/04/bahrain-detains-columnist-4-located-in-libya-yemen.php
Journalists in Bahrain: The Murder of Free Speech and the Siege of Freedom
By :Bahrain Center for Human Rights URL : http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/3992
Journalists, too, are victims of Bahrains crackdown
By : Mcclatchydc URL : http://www.mcclatchydc. com/2011/05/08/113842/journalists-too-are-victims-of. html
Page | 112
Te a c h e r s
SECTION 16.0
Teachers :
Bahrain: Mounting Clampdown on Trade Unions and Professional Societies
As a part of the crackdown on the prodemocracy movement, Bahrain is witnessing a mounting wave of clampdown on trade unions and professional societies. On the 6th of April, the Social Development Ministry issued a statement dissolving Bahrain Teachers Society (BTS) while security forces stormed the house of Mr Mahdi Abu-Deeb, the president of the society, and arrested him and took him to an unknown location. Ms Jaleela Mohammed AlSalman, deputy president of the society, was arrested on the 29th of March. The Ministry statement accused the society of issuing statements and speeches inciting teachers and students and calling for a strike at schools, disrupting educational establishments, in addition to manipulating school students. The statement added that: BTS President delivered speeches haranguing and instigated protestors and inciting them against the political regime, flouting the real voluntary and lofty goals of the association[1] . On the same day, the Social Development Minister also issued an edict suspending Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) board of directors for issuing statements and engaging into practices which flout the law on NGOs and its bylaw. Under the edict, an interim BMS board has been set up[2] . It is worth noting that since the crackdown on the prodemocracy movement, many doctors and medical workers have been subjected to physical assaults by security forces, arbitrary detention, and dismissal of work. According to the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) on the 6th of April, the Ministry of Health suspended 30 doctors and nurses who
had been referred to an investigation committee and many more employees will be sacked in the coming days[3] . BCHR has documented cases of more than 20 doctors and medical workers who have disappeared or have been detained. An investigation committee formed by Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) to probe the absence of employees during recent events decided to sack nine members from the governing body of its trade union for their role of instigation and participation in the general strike. It acquitted two members and decided to continue investigations with two others. The committee is also conducting an investigation against employees who were absent from work during recent events. Around 230 employees will be subjected to investigation as the first group. Earlier, it had also dismissed company union chairman Abdulghaffar Abdulhussain[4] . Mr Abdulhussain is also a member of the executive board of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU). On the 5th of April, the headquarters of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) was temporarily shut down. A pro-government newspaper reported that the GFBTU took the action to Page | 114
Teachers :
Bahrain: Mounting Clampdown on Trade Unions and Professional Societies
reduce tensions as they registered the names of workers dismissed for absenteeism, however, the newspaper also reported that a police patrol jeep along officers in civilian clothes later showed up at the building and did not allow anyone to enter[5] . The House of Representatives, dominated by the government, voted on the 5th of April on a proposal calling for the government to take legal action against all trade union and societies chiefs, who encouraged workers to go on civil disobedience and strikes during the political unrest[6] . All Shiaa opposition members at the House of Representatives (18 out of 40 members) submitted their resignations on the 15th of March as a protest against the killing of peaceful protestors calling for reforms including a parliament with just representation and real powers. The authorities have been effectively using the official TV channel to defame, and justify measures taken against, those who took part or sympathized with the prodemocracy movement including trade unionists and activists at civil society groups.
Also Read :
Bahrains Crackdown on Protest Extends to Academe, With Interrogations, Firings, and Expulsions
By : The Chronicle URL : http://chronicle.com/article/Bahrains-Crackdown-Extends-to/127219/
Some of the detained doctors
Page | 115
Students
SECTION 17.0
Students :
Bahrain regime accused of harassing UK-based students
Guardian News: The government of Bahrain is putting intense pressure on the families of students in Britain who were photographed attending a peaceful protest in Manchester in solidarity with the countrys pro-democracy movement. The gulf kingdom has stripped government-funded scholarships from those who attended the event outside the BBC building last month, the students say, and told parents to order their children home. Students involved have told the Guardian they have strong and well-founded fears that they and their families could suffer beatings and torture as a result of the Bahrain governments crackdown on the protest 3,000 miles away and that they are likely to be arrested on their return. My mother was crying when she called me, said Rashad, whose attendance at the protest was his first such political action. She said they are going to arrest you and that scared me. I told her I didnt do anything wrong but she said she was worried about my safety. They said I should come back to Bahrain, but we cant go back home. We will be arrested and disappeared. It has happened to others and I fear we are going to be tortured. We want the British government to protect us. The students, who used pseudonyms to protect their families, said at least nine people studying in Manchester, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Reading and London had seen their 850 a month subsistence grants removed and had been told their tuition payments would be axed. Some said they
Bahrainis studying in the UK say they are paying the price of expressing support for protests in their homeland, above. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images Europe
had been made homeless as a result of the cuts and were considering requesting asylum in the UK when their student visas expire. Sulieman, another student who said his scholarship had been revoked, said the ministry of education in Bahrain called his father to order him home a couple of days after the protest, in a pattern repeated for many of the protesters. My father asked how they knew I was there and they said they had video footage and pictures, he said. They told him I must come back, but I am not going back. The students believe some of the images were taken by Bahraini or Saudi spies alerted to the event on Facebook. The demonstration was disrupted by interventions from supporters of the regime and some people whom protesters identified as being from Saudi Arabia. Page | 117
Students :
representative for foreign affairs, will travel to BahSome of the families have also received visits from rain after calling for the immediate release of all the Bahraini authorities, according to Amin Elwas- those detained for expressing themselves. sila, an Arab activist in Manchester who is supportZainab al-Khawaja, a 27-year-old mother, will on ing the group. Saturday enter the sixth day of a hunger strike in It seems very strange that every time something protest at the arrest and beating of her father, the happens here in Britain there is a repercussion human rights activist, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, and there, he said. Some of them started receiving her husband and brother-in-law. Her US-based phone calls from their families telling them that the sister, Maryam al-Khawaja, said she was now Bahrain government had contacted them telling very weak and dizzy and her family want her to them they will be removing their scholarships and go to hospital. She is resisting partly because the that on their return to Bahrain the students will be hospitals are said to be in the control of Bahrains questioned by the authorities. They were all very military. frightened. Some of the families were receiving regular visits. Not all families of Bahraini students were contacted, just those who had been on the demonstration. The Bahraini embassy in London declined to comment on the claims of governments sanctions against students and forwarded inquiries about the withdrawal of scholarships to the cultural attache, who did not return calls. On Friday night a further solidarity protest was scheduled at the same location, but all of the Bahraini students the Guardian spoke to said they were too afraid to go. The sanctions against the students come amid increasing international concern at Bahrains treatment of dissenters. The British government has raised with Bahrains interior minister the deaths of four dissidents in the last week, three of whom were in police custody. Next Thursday, Catherine Ashton, the EUs high Page | 118
Also Read :
Bahraini trainee pilots suspended from UK flying school after attending protests
By : Guardian News URL : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/28/ bahraini-trainee-pilots-suspended?INTCMP=SRCH
Students :
Schoolgirls beaten in Bahrain raids
Al Jazeera: Secret filming conducted by Al Jazeera has revealed shocking evidence of the brutal crackdown against pro-democracy protesters in the Gulf state of Bahrain. An undercover investigation conducted by Al Jazeeras correspondent, Charles Stratford, has unearthed evidence that Bahraini police carried out periodic raids on girls schools since the unrest began. The government of Bahrain deployed security forces onto the streets on March 14 in an attempt to quell more than four weeks of protests. A three-month state of emergency that was declared by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on March 15, is due to be lifted on June 1. He [the officer] hit and banged me against the wall to scream. Since we did not cry out or scream, we were beaten more and more, stronger and stronger. Beating was severe, but being afraid of what comes next, we were senseless to the pain.
At the height of the protests, up to 200,000 people rallied against the government. The crackdown Bahrains government has not responded to Al was an attempt to end the protests that demanded Jazeeras request for comment. the end of the despotic rule of the Khalifah royal family. According to the mainly Shia opposition Al Wefaq party, police have raided up to 15 mainly girls In an interview Heba, a 16-year-old schoolgirl, al- schools, detaining, beating and threatening to rape leges she, along with three of her school friends, girls as young as 12. were taken away by the police from their school and subjected to severe beatings while in custody A Bahrain human rights group says at least 70 for three consecutive days. teachers have also been detained. Meanwhile the media clampdown continues. He hit me on the head, I started bleeding. I fell down, he told them [guards] to keep me in the restroom, she said during the secretly filmed interview. Page | 119
Human Rights
SECTION 18.0
Human Rights :
CNN : Home of a Bahraini activist is attacked, again, rights group says
(CNN) -- The home of prominent Bahraini activist Nabeel Rajab was attacked Saturday, the rights group he heads said. The attack took place early Saturday morning while Rajab and his family were sleeping, said the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Assailants launched teargas grenades into the house, breaking the window of Rajabs brother, the group said. We had very frightening moments rescuing my brother, his wife and his daughter as they were close to serious suffocation. This is an attempt to murder a member of my family to pressure me to stop my human rights activities, said Rajab, president of the Center. Thank God the teargas bombs fell on the tile and not the carpet, which could have caused a fire and could have killed the whole family while they were asleep, he said. Please do whatever you can to stop the government from attacking me and my family who have nothing to do with my human rights work. Saturday marked the second attack on Rajabs home in about a month. In April, assailants lobbed teargas over a high wall surrounding his and his mothers houses, Human Rights Watch reported. After that attack, the New York-based rights group called on the government of Bahrain to investigate, saying the attack appeared to target Rajab for his advocacy work. Human Rights Watch said then that it knew of no entity other than Bahrains security forces that would have access to the kind of grenades used in the April attack. There was no immediate response to the Human Right Watch statement by the Bahraini government. The country is ruled by the Al-Khalifa family, which has been in power since the 18th century. Many
protesters are calling for the removal of the royal family, whom they blame for the countrys high unemployment rate and for running a corrupt government that relies on torture and other harsh measures to clamp down on dissent. On March 20, about 25 people in about a dozen cars pulled up to Rajabs house and took him to the offices of the Interior Ministrys investigative department. There, according to Rajab, he was beaten, blindfolded and interrogated about an armed suspect they believed he knew. The government confirmed the arrest but provided no other details. Rajab is one of hundreds of Bahrainis to be detained by security forces in recent months. The arrests, according to human rights activists, have often been violent and have taken place at night. Bahrain, where the U.S. Navy anchors its Fifth Fleet, is a small, predominantly Shiite country governed by a Sunni royal family.
URL : http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/21/ bahrain.activist/
Page | 121
Human Rights :
UN : UN human rights chief voices deep concern about Bahrain crackdown
5 May 2011 The United Nations human rights chief today voiced deep concern about the continued detention of hundreds of activists in Bahrain, the prosecution of scores of medical professionals, and the sentencing to death of four protestors after a closed-door military trial. The trial of civilians before military courts is always a cause of concern. The application of the death penalty without due process and after a trial held in secrecy is illegal and absolutely unacceptable, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stated in a news release. The defendants are entitled to fair trials before civil courts, in accordance with international legal standards and in keeping with Bahrains international human rights obligations, she added. Bahrain is one of several nations in the Middle East and North Africa that has been rocked this year by protests calling for increased freedoms and democratic reforms. The Governments crackdown on protesters has draw criticism from UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has urged maximum restraint and called for inclusive dialogue with all parties. On Wednesday, Bahrains Justice Ministry announced that 23 doctors and 24 nurses from the Salmaniya Medical Complex are due to be tried in a military court on charges including participation in unlicensed protests and inciting hatred against the Government. Last week four protestors were sentenced to death and three to life imprisonment for the alleged killing of two policemen. This took placed after they were reportedly held incommunicado, without access to their families and limited access to lawyers. In addition, hundreds of people reportedly remain in detention for their alleged participation in the protest movement, including teachers, lawyers,
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
journalists and bloggers, medical professionals, artists, activists and members of political bodies, according to the High Commissioners office (OHCHR). The Government has put the number of people in detention at 400, but OHCHR has received information that the figure may be higher than 1,000, the whereabouts of more than 50 of whom are unknown. Ms. Pillay voiced particular concern about the reported deaths of at least four persons in custody. There must be independent investigations of these cases of death in detention and allegations of torture. Bahraini authorities must stop the intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and political activists, ensuring that their fundamental civil and political rights are protected. She urged the Government to urgently conduct an independent, impartial investigation and bring all those who were responsible for assaulting and killing protestors to justice, and reiterated her request for the Government to allow an OHCHR assessment mission into the country.
URL : http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID= 38279&Cr=Bahrain&Cr1
Page | 122
Human Rights :
Also Read :
Bahrains top human rights activist tar- 190 Khaliji academics, intellectuals geted two days after Obama speech and political activists condemn the viURL : http://www.mcclatchydc. olations of human rights in the councom/2011/05/21/114542/bahrains-top-human-rightstries of the GCC
activist.html URL : http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/3978
Fifty-seven IFEX members and partners call on world authorities to help stop human rights violations and free expression abuses
URL : http://www.ifex.org/bahrain/2011/05/09/ joint_appeal/?sms_ss=facebook&at_ xt=4dc86bbca29322e0%2C0
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Bahrains king ignores human rights abuses

URL : http://www.washingtontimes.com/ news/2011/apr/27/bahrains-king-ignores-human-rights-abuses/?sms_ss=facebook&at_ xt=4db992820b361daf%2C0
Emergency briefing on the human rights situation in Bahrain in the House of Lords on 12th May
Bahrain: A Human Rights Crisis
URL : http://ihrc.org.uk/activities/pressreleases/9679-emergency-briefing-on-the-humanrights-situation-in-bahrain-in-the-house-of-lords-on-12th-may
URL : http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ MDE11/019/2011/en/5a1d24dd-e2e6-4ae2-b279-00fd167d6e2a/mde110192011en.html
Bahrain: The crackdown on human rights defenders continues
Bahrain: Attack against Mr. Nabeel Rajabs house The International Federation for HuURL : http://www.omct.org/human-rights-defenders/ man Rights (FIDH) is extremely worurgent-interventions/bahrain/2011/05/d21271/ ried at the security condition of its deputy Secretary General, Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain CenBahrain: Further information: Human ter for Human Rights rights defender tortured in detention URL : http://www.fidh.org/FIDH-Deputy-SecretaryURL : http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/ MDE11/024/2011/en General-abused-by-the
URL : http://www.cihrs.org/English/NewsSystem/ Articles/2834.aspx
Bahrain briefly detains human rights Human Rights Watch consultant, Josh- activist ua Colangelo, barred entry into #Bah- URL : http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/20/usrain (AUDIO) bahrain-protests-arrest-idUSLDE72J09Z20110320
URL : http://wlcentral.org/node/1743
Page | 123
Human Rights defenders
SECTION 19.0
human rights defenders :

Bahrain: Widespread crackdown on human rights defenders
Over the past two weeks, human rights defenders in Bahrain have been subjected to an intensifying campaign of arrests, raids, threats and harassment as the authorities have cracked down on dissent following large-scale pro-democracy protests in February 2011. Among those detained, harassed and at risk are members of human rights organisations such as the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR); bloggers, artists, and other individuals associated with the pro-democracy movement in Bahrain as well as their family members including women and children. Human rights defender Dr Abdujalil Al-Singace is currently in detention and reportedly faces charges of, inter alia, establishing a group which aims to violate the law, following his arrest on 17 March 2011. Abdujalil Al-Singace was among those arrested in an earlier crackdown on civil society in August 2010 and accused of terrorism; however, he was granted an amnesty along with all such political prisoners at the height of the pro-democracy protests in February 2011. Other human rights defenders arrested have included Mr Ali Hassan Salman, a member of the Committee for Detainees, arrested on 27 March; Mr Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad, a wellknown independent human rights defender who campaigns for the rights of prisoners and detainees, arrested on 22 March; and Mr Mohammed Sultan, a member of the BCHR. Furthermore, a number of other human rights defenders, while currently free, have been subjected to various forms of threats during the ongoing crackdown. Human rights defender Mr Nabeel Rajab, President of the BCHR and Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) was harassed by police while giving an interview to CNN at his home on 30 March
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja
2011. He is also reportedly prevented from leaving the country and has had his communications interfered with. He was previously arrested and detained briefly on 20 March 2011 and, earlier in March, was subjected to numerous death threats along with human rights defenders Messrs Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a former Protection Coordinator for Front Line and former President of the BCHR, and Naji Fateel, a board member of the BYSHR (see Front Line Urgent Appeal dated 10 March 2011). Further human rights defenders homes were subjected to raids, including BCHR members Mr Sayed-Yousif Al-Mahafdha and Dr Mohammed Saeed; Mr Salman Naji, a member of the Committee for the Unemployed, whose brothers were reportedly beaten as his home was raided on 28 March 2011, and Mr Abdul Ghani Khanjar, spokesperson for The National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture in Bahrain. The crackdown on critics or opponents of the government has extended to cyber-activists, most notably bloggers, and even artists. On 1 April Page | 125

2011, blogger and human rights defender Mr Mohammed Al-Maskati, was arrested and remains in detention. Mohammed Al-Maskati had previously been subjected to threats from a named member of the Bahraini Royal Family via the micro-blogging site twitter, who warned him: I know you well and I know where you live. If you dont stop what you are doing, I swear by God I will have your family searching for you. The same individual later threatened any individual in Bahrain who demonstrated support for Mohammed Al-Maskati, stating: anyone thats living in Bahrain and is supporting the terrorist emoodz [AlMaskati], will have his IP address taken and will get arrested!. The account has since been closed. It is also reported that, on 18 March 2011, armed police carried out a dawn raid at the home of human rights defender Mr Ali Abdulemam, a prominent blogger and owner of the website BahrainOnline, with the intention of arresting him. Upon discovering that Ali Abdulemam was not present, the police reportedly threatened his wife, stating that they would return to look for him every evening. Teachers and members of the medical profession have also been targeted during the crackdown. Between 29 and 30 March 2011, members of the Teachers Association of Bahrain including Mr Salah Al-Bari, Ms Jaleela Al-Salman, Ms Afrah AlAsfour and Ms Sana Abdul Razak were arrested, and remain in detention. Furthermore, the home of Mr Mahdi Abu-Deeb, head of the Teachers Association, was raided on 21 March 2011. Between 17 and 19 March 2011, a number of medical doctors were arrested, reportedly as a consequence of having spoken to the media about the authorities actions in sealing and militarising hospitals in the wake of the crackdown on protesters. These doctors included Dr Ali Al-Ekri, Dr Bassem Dhaif and Dr Ghassan Dhaif. Another activist who had been in contact with the media, Mr Sayed Ahmed Sayed Mustafa Alwedaie, was also arrested on 15 March 2011.
Also Read :
Bahrain: Beating and arrest of human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Alkhawaja
By : Front Line URL : http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/14852
Bahraini hunger striker briefly hospitalized

By : CNN URL : http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/ meast/04/17/bahrain.hunger.strike/index. html?iref=allsearch
Bahrain: 102 Human rights defenders express support for Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja
By : Bahrain Center for Human Rights URL : http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/3949
Bahrain: Serious concerns about torture and fair trial of former Front Line Protection Coordinator Abdulhadi AlKhawaja after initial hearing Bahrain human rights activist arrested, beaten up
By : Front Line URL : http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/15067
By : Reuters URL : http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/09/usbahrain-idUSTRE7382WW20110409
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(CNN) -- The daughter of a prominent Bahraini human rights activist is willing to starve to death if the nations authorities do not return her father and her husband, both of whom were severely beaten and hauled away by security forces a week ago, she said. Zainab Al-Khawaja said she is willing to die even though she has a 1-year-old daughter. If my father is going to be killed, I want to die as well, she told CNNs Amber Lyon in a recent interview. Weve always been taught by my father dying with dignity is better than living as slaves. I would rather die with dignity than live as a slave to the Al-Khalifa regime, the 27-year-old said. She was referring to Bahrains royal family, which has ruled the country since the 18th century. On April 9, at 3 a.m. local time, masked officers burst into Zainab Al-Khawajas home and assaulted her father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and his sonin law, Mohammed Al-Masqati, according to family members and human rights activists. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a former president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. In February, he resigned from his position as director of the Middle East-North Africa region for the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Front Line. Zainab Al-Khawaja said the officers beat her father severely.They dragged him down the stairs, threw him on the ground, and four or five men were kicking him and punching him, and one of them had his hand on my fathers throat the whole time, his daughter said. And the last thing I heard my father say was that he couldnt breathe. He was gasping for air and saying he couldnt breathe. Al-Khawaja lost consciousness, according to Front Line. Police took Al-Khawaja, Al-Masqati and other family members to an unknown location, the group said. Human Rights Watch says Bahraini police forces have arrested more than 430 people in recent weeks, often violently and late at night.
Bahraini activists daughter on hunger strike for his release
Four have died while in custody in the past two weeks. Among them is Kareem Fakhrawi, a blogger and founder of an opposition newspaper. Bahrain officials said Fakhrawi died of kidney failure. Human Rights Watch said photos taken of his body show disturbing signs of torture. The U.S. State Department has called for investigations into the deaths. Zainab Al-Khawaja said the American government must do much more. Whats making it so much more difficult for us, Al-Khawaja said, and the reason we have to suffer so much more is because the American administration is standing behind the dictator and giving him the green light to do whatever he wants with the people of Bahrain. The U.S. government has been quick to denounce regimes in Egypt, Syria and Libya, however its tone toward Bahrain has been much more muted, critics say. Bahrain is the home port for the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet. All I want is for them (the U.S. government) to stop supporting the al-Khalifa regime who have proved now more than ever that they are corrupt, that they care only about their thrones that they are willing to kill and torture, Al-Khawaja said. Asked why she would risk dying for her cause and leaving her daughter to be raised by someone else, Al-Khawaja replied, if it was just about my daughter I would never do this. Id rather spend every day of my life with her and see her grow up. On the other hand, I am not willing to stay silent and watch as they are torturing my other family members, Al-Khawaja said. I must take a stand. Page | 127
Zainab Al-Khawaja

US Stays Silent as Bahraini Human Rights Defenders are Targeted
In Bahrain, the sudden excitement of democracy rallies have been replaced with the cold reality of repression as the government cracks down on prodemocracy protestors and activists. This week, I went to an event in Washington D.C. where the Bahraini Minister for Finance, Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Khalifa, gave a speech about the great economic strides made by his country. I asked him why they were detaining and torturing people, and why there were four deaths in police custody this month alone. Predictably (if both tragically and comically) he said no-one in Bahrain had been detained because of their peaceful opinions, that the days of us trying to control the media are behind us, and that the silent majority is with the government. The U.S. Government appears happy to be part of that silence. The Bahraini minister was no doubt delighted by the State Departments announcement on Monday that the U.S. supports the Bahraini leaderships own embrace of the principles of reform and the respect for rule of law and coexistence. Nothing about widespread torture, nothing about the estimated 600 plus people in detention, nothing about medical and legal professionals being targeted for supporting the pro-democracy activists. Earlier this month, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, former head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was dragged from his home in the middle of the night, beaten unconscious, and taken away. His family heard that he would be tried today but when they went to the courthouse they werent allowed in, not even Abdulhadis lawyers. No-one would confirm he was inside. Sign the petition now! Demand to free illegally detained Bahrainis including Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, medical workers and athletes. A few weeks ago, I called Abdulhadi just after hed been shot for taking part in a pro-democracy protest. He wasnt badly hurt and sounded upbeat, but concerned about those who were more seriously injured but were being denied medical treatment by the authorities. But when he called his family from detention a couple of days ago, they said his voice was very weak and that he sounded very tired. His family asked how he was doing and he answered, the oppression is great. They believe hes been tortured. This week, I met with one of Abdulhadis daughters, Maryam Al-Khawaja, who spoke about her fathers violent and illegal detention. We also spoke about her sister, Zeinab Al Khawaja, who had been engaged in a ten-day hunger strike in protest of her fathers treatment. In this video, Zeinab explains her decision. Zeinabs health had deteriorated since she started her hunger strike, and, in the past few days, she was not able to speak or move. Yesterday, after human rights activists in Bahrain and outside told her that her voice was needed in the struggle for human rights, she ended her hunger strike. Human Rights First is committed to bring justice to those illegally detained and abused and we will continue to work on Adbulhadis case and the others. We will keep you updated on this ongoing situation.
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Photographers
SECTION 20.0
ph o to gra p h er s :
News photographers among crackdowns latest targets
Many photographers who have been covering the pro-democracy protests taking place in Bahrain since mid-February have been arrested in the past few days. By carrying out these targeted arrests, the Bahraini authorities are trying to limit media coverage of their crackdown on the protests, especially coverage in the international media. Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediately release of these photojournalists and all the other people who have been arrested for circulating information about the demonstrations and the ensuing government crackdown. Mohamed Salman Al-Shaikh, a freelance photographer who heads the Bahrain Society of Photography, was arrest in his home in Sanabis, a village west of Manama, on 11 May. He is a member of several international photography organizations and has won many international prizes. Three photographers were arrested on 15 May. One was Saeed Abdulla Dhahi, who was arrested at his home in Juffair, southeast of the capital. His photographic equipment was seized during searches of his home and the home of his fiance. He was the freed the next day. The other two arrested on 15 May were Ali Abdulkarim Al-Kufi, a member of the Bahrain Society of Photography, and Hassan Al-Nasheet. The third hearing in the trial of 21 human rights activists and opposition members was meanwhile held yesterday. The defendants present in court, who including the blogger Abduljalil Al-Singace, pleaded not guilty to trying to overthrow the government. Fellow blogger Ali Abdulemam, regarded as one of the countrys Internet pioneers, is also one of the defendants but he is being tried in absentia. The trial was adjourned until 22 May to give the defence a chance to examine the evidence presented by the prosecution. The defendants are being tried before a special Manama court under martial law. The same court sentenced four demonstrators to death last month. The head of the pro-democracy and civil liberties movement Al Haq, Singace used his blog to denounce the deplorable state of civil liberties in Bahrain and the discrimination against its Shiite population. Anmar Kamal Al-Dine, a 24-year-old netizen who blogs on the social network Twitter as @anmarek, was meanwhile arrested on 12 May and was held for 24 hours. He has been posting photos of demonstrations on Twitter, especially the funerals of demonstrators in March and April during which Page | 130
many arrests were made. His Twitter account has been inaccessible since his arrest. Abbas Al-Murshid, a prominent freelance columnist and writer who also participates in several online forums, was arrested after being summoned for questioning at 6 p.m. yesterday. He managed to contact his family today to let them know that he is being held. He is well known for the views he has expressed on sensitive subjects in recent months. In 2009, he was injured in the right eye by a rubber bullet fired by riot police. Mattar Ibrahim Mattar, a parliamentary representative of the Al-Wefaq party who often talks to the international media about the current repression in Bahrain, was arrested on 2 May, after giving an interview to Al-Jazeera the previous day in which he stressed the danger of opposition leaders being arrested. The following are still detained: - Faysal Hayyat, Ali Jawad, Abdullah Alawi and Jasem Al-Sabbagh, who were arrested after being forced to resign from the newspaper Al-Bilad. - Ali Omid, Hani Al-Tayf, Fadel Al-Marzouk, Hossein Abdalsjad Abdul Hossein Al-Abbas, Jaffar Abdalsjad Abdul Hossein Al-Abbas, Hamza Ahmed Youssef Al-Dairi and Ahmed Youssef Al-Dairi, who are all online forum administrator or moderators. - Al-Wasat journalist Haydar Mohamed. - Photographer Hossein Abbas Salem.
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Bahrain Arrests Freelance Photographer Mohammad Salman al-Sheikh
Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have arrested a prominent freelance photographer as the Manama regime continues its brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters. (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) said on Wednesday that Mohammad Salman al-Sheikh was arrested the previous day in his apartment in the town of Sanabis. Al-Sheikh, who heads Bahrains Society of Photography, is the winner of more than 13 international awards. His most important prize was a silver medal in international competition titled Slovenia Exposed in 2009. He is also a member of the international organizations of photography. BYSHR is deeply concerned about the arrest of alSheikh and has called on international organizations to act urgently to protect him. Saudi-backed regime forces have detained more than a thousand opposition activists since the antigovernment protests erupted in mid-February. Bahraini regime forces have also raided dozens of mosques, schools, sacred sites and even graves in persisting efforts to suppress protesters. Protesters are demanding an end to the rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty.
Mohammad Salman al-Sheikh
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R o y a l We d d i n g
SECTION 21.0
R o y a l W e dding :
Bahrains king as a royal wedding guest? What an dreadful message
Guardian News : I have written a letter to Prince William and Kate Middleton calling on them to remove the king of Bahrain and other vile men from their wedding invitation list. The king, who has reportedly received a personal invitation to the wedding from the Queen, has violently crushed the pro-democracy movement in his country. I reminded the couple of this countrys duty to support the oppressed and the democrats over the despots and oppressors, and warned that it would send an appalling message to the world were any dictators of the Middle East royal or otherwise seen enjoying the hospitality of your family and rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars and politicians at your wedding. The inclusion of these dictators on a wedding invitation list that excludes democratic leaders from Europe and the US speaks volumes about the world view of the Windsor family. These are people who favour status over principle and royalty over legitimacy. The relationship between our royal family and those of the Middle East has a long history. It is a very deep and very personal one as we saw when Prince Charles used his connections with the Qatari princes to pull the plug on the Chelsea barracks developer at the cost of thousands of jobs. Yet why do they choose these dictators over others? The family connections were never so strong with the houses of Saddam Hussein or Hosni Mubarak, yet in practice the differences are only a matter of degrees. It would seem that if a dictator has the foresight to call himself king, the Windsor family will seek out his friendship and speak favourably of him in diplomatic circles. Perhaps this is why the royal dictators have received a more muted response to their atrocities from the British government. No doubt if Kim Jong-il of North Korea a monarchy in all but name were to crown himself King Jong-il he too would discover new friends in
Graham Smith
Clarence House and Buckingham Palace. He may even get an invitation to Kate and Willss big day. I would ask the Windsors to spare a thought for those protesters who have been shot, arrested, tortured and killed. Think of the families whose loved ones have gone missing or who have had the lifeless bodies of their brothers and sons returned to them by the savage security services who prop up these so-called royal families. And my question to the Windsors is a simple one: can you look those people in the eye and justify the invitation you have extended to their oppressors, can you justify your cosy relationships with these brutal men? The inclusion of these people on the guest list of the royal wedding sends an appalling message to the world, particularly at this time, and it reflects very badly on the Windsor family. It shows the sort of principles and priorities the family has and only adds to the long list of reasons why our shabby and nepotistic monarchy should be abolished in favour of an open, accountable and representative republic. The headline and standfirst on this article was changed at 18:58 on 17 March 2011 to make it clear that the author does not think the royal wedding is something that can be disgraced Page | 134
Royal wedding invite angers Bahrain activists
The crown prince of Bahrain will not be attending the wedding of the UKs Prince William and Kate Middleton in London next week, as criticism of the violent suppression of opposition protesters continues. Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, was one of more than 40 foreign royals invited to attend the British royals wedding in Westminster Abbey on Friday. Human rights advocates, however, were quick to condemn the decision to invite al-Khalifa to the ceremony. A palace spokesperson announced on Sunday that Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa cannot attend the nuptials, though he declined to provide details. Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera that protesters were expecting the British to take a tough stance, rather than invite those accused of grievous human rights abuses to the high-profile celebrations.
British royals with Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa aboard a British naval vessel off Bahrain coast in 2007
numbers of troops. Hundreds of doctors, nurses, teachers, unionists have been beaten, sacked or forcibly disappeared in recent days, Rajab said.
Unfortunately Im banned from travelling otherCalling our crown prince at a time when people are wise Id be travelling there [to London] to protest being killed for demanding their political rights outside the wedding, Rajab said. and peacefully protesting, is extremely disappointing, he said in a phone interview. In Bahrain, where a Sunni minority monopolises the political power, the government has cast the Theyre losing the hearts and minds of the people popular revolt in a sectarian light, arguing that the in this region. Shia majority is being supported by Iran and Hezbollah. Like similar protests movements across the Middle East and North Africa, Bahraini demonstrators Saudi Arabia and the UAE have sent security forchave been demanding democracy, human rights es to Bahrain to help crush the uprising. and freedom of speech since mid-February. Royal invitees from elsewhere in the Arab world Al-Khalifas regime has responded to the calls for include heads of state from Oman, Qatar, Saudi constitutional monarchy by deploying massive Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Page | 135
Kuwait. Reacting to al-Khalifas inclusion on the guest list, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, the London-based human rights organisation, told Al Jazeera that there has been a dramatic deterioration in human rights conditions in Bahrain over the past month. We would expect any government hosting senior representatives of the Bahraini government to use this opportunity to press strongly and publicly for the government to halt its crackdown on freedom of expression, which has included the arrest of at least 500 people, whose whereabouts are in most cases unknown, he said. Amnesty International has called on North American and European governments to be as vocal about human rights in their small Gulf ally as they have been in support of opposition uprisings in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. Do you accept that the murderer of his people Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa heaping among the guests at a royal wedding on the land of Britain? wrote Y-Shaheen El Heloo, an activist who contacted Al Jazeera via email. Activists on Twitter were also vocal concerning the invite. I call on people of conscious all over the world to condemn the invitation of #Bahrains prince to #RoyalWedding, @MariaSelba wrote. @tunis_demor, meanwhile, asked: Can concerned Britons get #Bahrain Crown Prince arrested at the #royalwedding using universal jurisdiction law? On Friday, Physicians for Human Rights, a USbased NGO, issued a report condemning Bahraini security forces of systematic attacks on medical staff. Al-Wefaq, the leading Shia opposition party, accused the authorities of razing some 30 Shia holy sites since it imposed martial law last month, many of them historic buildings.
Also Read :
British royal wedding guest list causes controversy
By : Langley Advance URL : http://www.langleyadvance.com/news/royalwedding/British+royal+wedding+guest+list+causes+co ntroversy/4667062/story.html?id=4667062
Bahrain torture service official to attend royal wedding
By : Guardian URL : http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/28/bahraini-linked-to-torture-royal-wedding
Britains Royal Wedding Fiasco and its Dirty little Secret in Bahrain
By : Global Research URL : http://www.globalresearch.ca/index. php?context=va&aid=24493
Furore over royal wedding guest list
By : Independent URL : http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/homenews/furore-over-royal-wedding-guest-list-2274407. html
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Bahrain crown prince declines royal wedding invite
(Reuters) : Bahrains crown prince said he would not attend Britains royal wedding on April 29 because of continuing unrest in his Gulf Arab kingdom, defusing a potentially embarrassing row over his invitation. Human rights campaigners criticising Bahrains fierce security crackdown on anti-government protesters called on Britains royal family to withdraw the wedding invite sent to Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa. The British government has also called on Bahrain to respect human rights, urging it last week to investigate reports of deaths in custody, torture and denial of medical treatment. The crown prince said he had decided with deep regret to decline the invitation to the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, in a letter sent to Williams father Prince Charles, heir to the British throne. Details of the letter were released by a spokesman for the crown prince, who was one of 1,900 guests invited to the wedding at Westminster Abbey in London. In the letter, the crowd prince said the decision had been left for as long as possible in the sincere hope that ongoing events -- resulting from recent unrest in the Kingdom of Bahrain -- might have improved, leaving me able to join the celebrations of the House of Windsor and the family of Miss Middleton, without being overshadowed by issues in Bahrain. Criticism of his invitation in British media had fundamentally misrepresented my own views, outlook and position on recent events (in Bahrain), he said. The media reports had clearly sought to involve my potential attendance as a political proxy for wider matters involving Bahrain, he added. Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, had criticised the crown princes invi-
Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain, speaks during a special session addressing peace in the Middle East at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York September 21, 2010.
tation, which was confirmed on Saturday. Is this a reward to our ruling family for the crimes they committed? We were waiting for a tough reaction from the UK, and we see this when peoples blood has not even dried, Rajab said. British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell had said the invite was a massive misjudgement by Britains royal family. Last month, Bahrain crushed mainly Shiite protests by declaring martial law, inviting in troops from Sunni neighbours such as Saudi Arabia and arresting hundreds of people, many of them activists or doctors. Hundreds have been sacked from government jobs, rights and opposition groups say. Bahrain says it has targeted only those who committed crimes during the unrest in March.
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Mosques
SECTION 22.0
Mosques :
Aljazeera : Bahrain targets Shia religious sites
The Bahraini government has destroyed a number of mosques in continuation of its aggressive crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, a special Al Jazeera investigation has revealed. At least 28 mosques and Shia religious institutions have been destroyed in the Gulf state since the crackdown on Shia-led protests began in MidMarch, the opposition group, Al Wefaq, told Al Jazeeras Charles Stratford. The Justice Ministry, however, said it was tearing down the mosques because they were not licensed. Ordinary Bahrainis were hesitant to speak to our correspondent; they were fearful of government informers who they said were everywhere. It is a war against identity, one man told our correspondent. This Sunni government of Bahrain is fighting the Shia, destroying their places of worship and holy places. Adel Al-Moawda, deputy chairman of the Bahraini parliament, denied the report that mosques were being destroyed. The mosques that have been demolished, most of them are not mosques, Al-Moawda told Al Jazeera. There were only expansions of mosques in some private territories. Very few numbers of mosques, which are illegally built, have been demolished. He said Sunni mosques were also among these few that had been demolished. What is happening in Bahrain now ... everybody is following the law and order, that is all, he added. Strong sense of fear The sense of fear amongst the people that you are trying to talk to is really quite incredible, Stratford said. He said Al Jazeera found it very difficult to find Sunni voices since the crackdown began in midMarch. A lot of the sympathisers who were pushing for
see the video : http://bit.ly/iYXKxk
reform from the Sunni side have gone into hiding, seemingly very intimidated by the crackdown, our correspondent added. It is important to recognise that before the crackdown on the roundabout there were sizable demonstrations by the Sunni population. Earlier, Al Jazeera revealed that medics who worked to assist wounded protesters have been targeted, with hundreds facing arrest and investigation by the regime. Bahraini police also carried out raids on girls schools, detaining and beating them, during its crackdown, secret filming by Al Jazeeras Stratford revealed. The government denied this report. The allegations made by Al Jazeera English are totally baseless and without credibility, sources quoted by the Bahraini news agency said. Al-Moawda repeated the denial, saying there is a big exaggeration in some of what I have just heard now about torturing doctors and nurses. URL : http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast /2011/05/2011513112016389348.html Page | 139
Mosques :
Statement from department of Jaffaria Waqf
Department of Jaffaria Waqf said in a statement: the removal process of mosques has included mosques from tens of years that gained the mosques rules and regulations, so it is illegal to destroy. Jaffaria Waqf has also noted about the ownership documents, that most houses of worshiping and graveyards for the both of Sunni and Shiite does not have these documents, except for the newly made and that Official bodies are dealing with the awqaf official certificates of survey.Said the department: the meeting that was held last Tuesday 19 April in the office of interior minister, who was inviting for the meeting, with presence of Minister of Justice, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning and the Main House Jaffaria and Sunni Endowments, they have agreed to Investigate and ask for clarifications regarding the role of worship. Jaffaria Waqf had also noted that they had agreed to form a committee that will correct the situation of worshiping houses in all of the Provinces of Bahrain.Assuring that they were very surprised, said the Jaffaria Waqf to see that some of media was talking according to the Chief of Media Affairs, that there are 600 violated of worshiping houses and what has been removed was only 10%! It is worth to mention that the tearing down process continued after the meeting that agreed to stop the removing and tearing down process, as in the same day of the meeting 10 mosques were torn down, and it is not stopped until this day!! 03 May 2011
Jaffaria Waqf
Also Read :
While Bahrain demolishes mosques, U.S. stays silent
By : Roy Gutman | McClatchy Newspapers URL : http://www.mcclatchydc. com/2011/05/08/113839/while-bahrain-demolishesmosques.html
Bahrain Opposition Accuses Government of Demolishing 30 Mosques
By : Glen Carey -Bloomberg URL : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-24/ bahrain-opposition-accuses-government-of-demolishing-30-mosques.html
U.S. Urged to Speak Out in Aftermath of Bahrain Mosque Burnings
By : human rights first URL : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-24/ bahrain-opposition-accuses-government-of-demolishing-30-mosques.html
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F1 AND ECONOMY
SECTION 23.0
F1 & E conom y :
F1 must shun Bahrains blood money
Espnf1 :Officially the FIA is sticking by its May 1 deadline for organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix to inform it if the race, postponed from March 13 because of the political situation in the kingdom, can take place later in the year. While the FIA has little alternative to stick to its deadline - which many believed was a fudge in the first place - events in the last week make it all but impossible there will be a Bahrain Grand Prix in 2011, and perhaps even beyond then. While the worlds attention has been on Japan and Libya, the Bahrain royal family invited in the Saudi Arabian army to help the security of the state. Few believe the troops are little more than neighbourly muscle aimed at crushing a popular uprising against the ruling elite which, if successful, could threaten the stability of Saudi Arabias own oppressive monarchy. The evidence of the first few days of occupation suggest a level of brutality hitherto unseen will be the order of the day. Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the heir to the Bahrain throne, is the man whose dream it was to bring Formula One to the state and who pumped in around $180 million to build the Bahrain International Circuit. Because the grand prix is very much associated with him, it made it likely as being a particular target for protests, one of the factors he agreed to its postponement. He is a more than welcome guest of the great and the good of the sport and of politicians globally, and is also the credible face of the regime, repeatedly urging a national dialogue while it clamps down with increasing violence on its own people who are demanding the removal of the Al-Khalifa elite. Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa may be a moderate some say he was caught unawares by the Saudi intervention - but he is inextricably linked to the unleashing of violence on his own people Such is the strength of the democracy movement, the only way the uprising will be quelled is by in-
Bernie Ecclestone chats with Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa ... but how far will that friendship stretch?
creasing violence and repression. If the regime is successful in doing that then a veneer of normality will return to the state. But even if that does happen, would it be right for the FIA to endorse the credibility of the regime in general and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa in particular by returning so soon to Bahrain? The sight of him swanning around the circuit at Sakhir would be positively nauseating given the numbers killed and hurt in the last month. Money talks, no more so than within Formula One. But there have to be limits, even for the likes of Bernie Ecclestone. Bahrain is a boring race in a state with an unpalatable, albeit wealthy, ruling elite in an already packed schedule. If an alternative is needed, Ecclestone is constantly raising the hopes of wannabe venues with hints they could host a grand prix, so there are no shortages of candidates. Perhaps this time money ought not to be the one and only reason for bringing the Formula One roadshow to town.
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F1 & E conom y :
Bahrain unrest brings economy to standstill
(Reuters) - In the marble lobby of one of Bahrains most prestigious hotels, smartly-uniformed staff with polite smiles outnumber the few guests. The Saudi cars normally parked outside are conspicuous by their absence. Once a relaxed and business-friendly island on the edge of the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrains economy has been brought to a standstill economy, said Ahmed Sanad, head of the hotel by unrest that has sucked in neighboring armies and restaurant association. and sent investors and expatriates running. Our occupancy is down from near 100 percent to Gulf Hotel has closed some of its floors and cut 30 percent. We cant do anything... People want back restaurant hours while some of its staff are on one thing, the government wants another and business...is stuck in the middle and losing. voluntary leave. Our occupancy has dropped from the high 90s If everyone pulls in a different direction we will all to the low 25 and 30s, so our business has been suffer. We must all offer concessions or we are all badly effected in all areas, Gulf Hotel CEO Aqeel losers. Raees told Reuters in an interview. GOING BUST Everybody in Bahrain has been affected ... For the business to recover will take time, because all Bahrains hotel industry, which relies on a regular planned activities, conferences, exhibitions, meet- calendar of business conferences to keep rooms full, has taken a severe hit. February-May is peak ings have been postponed or canceled. season in the Gulf Arab region, where searing Bahrain has been gripped by unrest since protest- temperatures make summer too hot for outdoor ers took to the street last month, setting up camp at activity. Pearl roundabout. Last week, they cut off the road to the financial district, prompting the government Bahrains Spring of Culture, a festival set to take to call in Gulf Arab troops, impose martial law and place this month, has been canceled. launch a crackdown that drove protesters off the Crown Prince Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa decided streets. last month to postpone the season opener for the Bahrains four main shopping malls were cut off Formula One Grand Prix, which draws over 40,000 from customers for five days and shops around the visitors annually and was scheduled for March. city were shut as fear spread. They have begun to That delay has had knock-on effects across the reopen, but business is slow. economy. The unrest has not just affected us but the whole Page | 143
F1 & E conom y :
Sitting on the terrace of Coral Beach Club, yachts bobbing in the jetty behind him, General Manager Chadi Sleiman said the restaurant could not last much longer, after business fell by over 70 percent and Formula One events were canceled. We do three parties for Formula One: Fashion TV, Head Candy with Ministry of Sound and Formula One Rocks, which is the official afterparty. We had 4,000 people for each. These types of parties you book in advance, so wed already paid, he said. On Monday at lunchtime, two or three tables were full. The daily buffet was scrapped for lack of demand. Normally, Sleiman would expect to serve lunch to 80-100 customers on a Monday. Bahrain established itself as the Gulfs financial hub in the 1980s, when banks catering to the regions wealth left Beirut because of the civil war. Its financial sector accounts for about a quarter of GDP and is an important player in the governments effort to create jobs and diversify away from oil. Along with Kuala Lumpur, Manama has established itself as a main hub of the $1 trillion Islamic finance industry. But over a month of worsening unrest has prompted Fitch and Standard & Poors to downgrade the sovereign debt of a small state that was once the Gulf financial capital. The Bahraini dinar fell to multi-year lows in the forwards market last Wednesday, the day of the crackdown, and the central bank was forced to move to an alternate location. Some banks briefly closed their branches due to fears about staff safety.
Venues like Coral Beach rely on overseas visitors for over half of their business, but that source has now dried up. The influx of tourists from Saudi Arabia, 35,000 of whom enjoy Bahrains more liberal nightlife every weekend and spend their cash in Manamas malls and cinemas, has ceased in re- The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions cent weeks. said on Monday that it would continue a general strike, and complained that workers were being Last weekend, a meager trickle of cars could be hampered by checkpoints around Manama. seen crossing the King Fahd Causeway, which Akram Miknas, a Lebanese businessman who has joins Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. That is in stark con- 77 offices in the Arab world but whose companies trast to recent years, when visitors could wait for are all headquartered in Bahrain, said the unrest in hours to get across amid heavy traffic. the Gulf had come as a big surprise.
Most Western nations urged their nationals leave His public relations company operates across the last week. Flights from Bahrain have been full as Arab world, and was first affected by the revoluforeigners, who comprise over half the 1.2 million tions in Tunisia and Egypt. population, evacuate their families. All our work in Bahrain is affected and Bahrain Most people already left last week. All the expats has affected the rest of the Gulf. We have officleft, said one taxi driver, who has sent his own es in Saudi Arabia, in the UAE... We are worried family to India after 26 years in Bahrain. Normally, about our staff. In my companies we have 4,000 we are always busy. Now, no one is busy. We are staff and that is a big responsibility, he said. all sitting in the parking area. Im afraid of the situation... If it continues we are destroying an economy that will be very hard to DESTROYING THE ECONOMY rebuild. Page | 144
F1 & E conom y :
Tourists, businesses flee to Dubai to escape storm
(Reuters) - Regional turmoil is creating an unexpected boom for Dubai as tourists and businessmen flock once again to the shopping and skyscraper oasis after fleeing just a few years ago in the wake of its spectacular debt debacle. Visitor numbers are noticeably higher in Dubais gleaming malls and restaurants, and hotels are ecstatic as rooms fill up and deals are done. It has been a windfall. There are 65,500 hotel rooms and apartments in Dubai, and they were all full. There was not a single one available, said Guy Wilkinson, managing partner at Viability Management Consultants, a hospitality consultancy.
Issa said the flow of deals has virtually dried up in Dubai occupancy has been better, unfortunately, Egypt, Bahrain and Oman, prompting banks and since the unrest started. It lives a charmed life other international businesses to switch their attention to Dubai. through big events in the region. Occupancy rates have surged for hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate since a wave of unrest hit the region. Hotel occupancy in Dubai increased by 7.9 percent in January compared with the same month in 2010, data from STR Global showed. February data is not yet available. Its become the place to meet with one another and negotiate a deal, said one Bahrain-based public relations executive who had moved operations temporarily to Dubai.
Youll see the coffee shops at the (Dubai International Financial Centre) and boardrooms are full However, Dubai is still off its peak, when free res- with business executives trying to close deals that taurant tables and taxis were as rare as water in may have been delayed if they had waited it out in Bahrain. the desert. The main driver, however temporary, appeared to Clubs and restaurants catering to the financial industry are witnessing an influx of clients from be business. countries affected by unrest. Were seeing a number of clients, particularly There are members from our club in Bahrain among large multinationals, that have moved who have moved to Dubai temporarily and they people and operations to Dubai, said Nabil Issa, are using the club here frequently, said Russell Dubai-based partner at law firm King and Spalding. Matcham, chief executive of Capital Club Limited, The common theme is becoming get them out of which runs Dubais Capital Club. We have also seen senior Saudis more in the club Bahrain and send them to Dubai for a while. Page | 145
F1 & E conom y :
recently as Bahrain has been off limits. Interest in Economics. membership has increased dramatically and we are getting three or four enquiries per day. Ziemba cautioned that the initial boost might not herald a long-term positive outlook for the emirA DRAW FOR TOURISTS ate. Besides businessmen, tourists are staying away from travel hotspots such as Egypts Sharm elSheikh, now known as the beach town where President Hosni Mubarak fled at the height of the uprising. Tunisia, seen as ground zero for regional unrest, is also off the tourist map. We changed our plans when we saw TV pictures of the huge rallies and violence in Egypt. We originally wanted to head to Sharm el-Sheikh, said Reinhold Fleischhacker from Germany, as he boarded a sightseeing bus at the Dubai Mall with his family. Dubai has worlds tallest building, Burj Khalifa, the Gulfs only indoor ski slope and has built an artificial palm-shaped island complete with resorts. Even more extravagant projects were being dreamt up when the cranes came to stop and construction sites fell silent when the asset and property bubble burst as the global financial crisis drew easy money away from Dubai and the region. The unexpected influx of business and tourism -in other words cash -- is a welcome boost for the emirate, which has struggled with an estimated $115 billion debt thanks to the collapse of the real estate market. The International Monetary Fund expects the Dubai gross domestic product to rise by 2.8 percent this year, compared with 0.5 percent in 2010. Dubai might be one of the few places in the region to see growth increase on a year-on-year basis amid political turmoil in the Gulf, said Rachel Ziemba, senior research analyst at Roubini Global Page | 146 Dubai and, more broadly, the UAE is somewhat sheltered and could see some benefit of tourism flows, she said. However the scope of the unrest and particularly its escalation to regions like Bahrain means even Dubai is not immune. (Additional reporting by Dinesh Nair; Editing by Andrew Dobbie)
F1 & E conom y :
U.S. labor urges trade pact with Bahrain be suspended
(Reuters) - The largest U.S. labor group wants President Barack Obamas administration to suspend a free trade pact with Bahrain over human rights abuses in the kingdoms crackdown on antigovernment protests. Jeff Vogt, deputy director of the AFL-CIO labor federation, told Reuters on Friday the group has urged the administration to notify Bahrain it intends invited in troops from Sunni neighbors to quash to withdraw from the trade agreement after a re- anti-government demonstrations. quired six-month waiting period. Bahrains Shiites say they are denied access to We felt this is tremendously important given that state employment, land and housing, and point to the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions the naturalization of foreigners from largely Sunni has really been bludgeoned during this crack- countries as proof of a policy of sectarian rule. down, Vogt said. The government has since cracked down on Shiite Many members of the GFBTU and several trade villages and opposition activists, arresting hununions have been fired or harassed or arrested. dreds, and fired hundreds of workers from stateWe see this as an effort to dismantle an effective, owned companies. At least three people have died independent voice in the country for workers. I think in custody. it would send a very negative signal to the rest of the region were this trade union to be destroyed, The government says it has targeted only those Vogt said. who committed crimes during the unrest. It announced on Monday that it would prosecute dozThe U.S. Trade Representatives office referred ens of health care workers for crimes committed Reuters to the U.S. Labor Department, which did during the protests, including causing the death of not have an immediate comment. The Labor De- wounded protesters by inflicting additional injuries partment has until about June 21 to examine the on them. groups petition and decide how to proceed. Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navys Fifth The AFL-CIO believes the best course would be Fleet and a regional financial and banking hub, is for the United States to notify Bahrain it intends to one of four Arab League countries that have a free withdraw from the pact, and then begin consulta- trade pact with the United States. The others are tions to see if various labor rights abuses can be Jordan, Morocco and Oman. corrected, Vogt said. U.S. exports to Bahrain have grown sharply since At least 13 protesters and four police died during the free trade agreement went into force in Januunrest that gripped the island kingdom in February ary 2006. and March until Bahrain declared martial law and Page | 147
F1 & E conom y :
The United States shipped $1.25 billion worth of goods to the kingdom last year, compared to $350.8 million in 2005. The pact also helped boost Bahrains exports to the United States to more than $625 million in 2007, from $431.6 million in 2005. However, the kingdoms exports to the United States tumbled during the global financial and totaled just $420.2 million last year.
Also Read :
Bahrain, the business hub that was
URL : http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/03/17/ bahrain-the-business-hub-that-was/
Bahrains Bapco sees fall in oil production

URL : http://english.ahram.org.eg/ NewsContent/3/12/8138/Business/Economy/BahrainsBapco-sees-fall-in-oil-production.aspx
Bahrain Losing Its Edge as Finance Hub

URL : http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/ middleeast/31iht-m31-bahrain.html?_r=2
Activists hope Bahrain is not reinstated

URL : http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com//25042011/66/ activists-hope-bahrain-reinstated.html
US union group: End trade pact with Bahrain
URL : http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/02/ general-ml-bahrain-us-trade_8444701.html
Page | 148
F1 And Economy :
NY TIMES : Bahrain Losing Its Edge as Finance Hub
DUBAI The protests in Bahrain, and their brutal repression, have raised major questions over its future as a regional financial hub, analysts say, with banks acting to relocate employees and capital to elsewhere in the region in case conditions worsen despite the declaration of a three-month state of emergency. Bahrain has suffered irreparable damage to its reputation as a financial hub, one that will take a long time to repair, said Ayesha Sabavala, a Middle East economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, based in London. Before this, its position was already protesters at the request of Bahrains govchallenged by business centers in Dubai, ernment. Now, a month after the kingdoms crisis Doha and Abu Dhabi anyway. started, businesses have begun seeking Now, she said, the protests and unrest have backup facilities in surrounding countries, persuaded banks to start transferring as- banking analysts say. sets and employees to places perceived as Banks are starting off with expatriate staff, safer. moving them from Bahrain offices to Dubai Bahrains financial center is one of the old- and Doha, particularly offshore banks that est in the region, established in the early already have offices in other countries, 1980s as part of an economic diversification Ms. Sabavala said. There is talk of complan away from oil dependency. Although pletely relocating by many of them; the losing a bit of an edge to competition from fact that there are similar financial hubs so newer financial centers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi close to Bahrain means companies dont and Doha in the past decade, the kingdom have to think too hard about relocating. remained a hub for offshore banking and The infrastructure and similar business environment make the change easy for them. Islamic financial services. A spokesman for HSBCs Middle East opBut its status was challenged anew when erations said the bank had robust continprotests began in late February. Condi- gency plans in place for crisis situations, tions worsened and a three-month state of designed to keep critical services, includemergency was declared on March 15, with ing cash machines and call centers, functroops from Qatar, the United Arab Emir- tioning in times of disruption. ates and Saudi Arabia sent to control Shiite HSBCs first consideration is for the safePage | 149
F1 And Economy :
ty and security of its staff, the spokesman in an e-mail. While no staff were evacuated, HSBC will continue to closely monitor events in Bahrain, taking all necessary steps to protect its staff, customers and their interests. Analysts have also begun noticing a flow of capital as banks transfer some assets to neighboring countries. The Central Bank of Bahrain is expected to release statistics early in April, which will indicate the impact of the unrest on banking activity, and in particular on the liquidity available to banks, said Sofia El Boury, an analyst at Shuaa Capital in Dubai. What weve seen so far, in general, is a money flow to places like Dubai and other cities where banks can operate in a safer political environment. So far, banks have mostly taken short-term measures to protect their operations and assets, but if uncertainty continues, without signs of a political resolution, relocations could be permanent, analysts said. With this scenario, it is possible that regional businesses will look for an alternative financial center, said Raj Madha, banking analyst at Rasmala Investments in Dubai. It is clear that Bahrains reputation as a stable, business-friendly place has taken a major hit, and that might shift the balance in favor of places like Dubai. Standard & Poor s downgraded Bahrains credit rating three times after the onset of political tensions, ultimately to BBB, one notch above junk status. That was complemented by downgrades of Bahraini banks and insurance companies: Ahli United Bank, BMI Bank, the Bahraini branch of Arab Bank, Bahrain National Insurance Co., and Arab Banking Group, which is based in Bahrain but majority-owned by the Libyan government. All of these companies were placed on credit watch with negative implications. Support for financial services in Bahrain will be crucial in the coming months. The financial sector makes up 25 percent of the kingdoms gross domestic product, and assets in the banking sector are roughly equivalent to 10 times Bahrains gross domestic product, said Philipe Dauba-Pantanacce, a senior economist at Standard Chartered Bank covering the Middle East and North Africa region. Bahrain will also continue to benefit from close relations with Saudi Arabia, as well as any longstanding stable regulatory framework this hasnt changed, Mr. Madha said. The current situation, however, tips the case towards Dubai, especially for businesses set to launch operations in the region for the first time, he said. But unless the situation further deteriorates, Mr. Madha added, it is unlikely to precipitate wholesale flight from Bahrain. What the unrest has done is strengthen the case for Dubai and Doha as commercial hubs in the region, although this is one factor among many, including regulatory, commercial and legal stability. It would be unfair to say that Bahrain is dead as a financial hub, but it will suffer long-term reputational damage, Ms. Sabavala said. What we are seeing is that companies will first repatriate staff to other countries in the region and then wait and see if there is any improvement. If conditions worsen, we will definitely see relocations. Page | 150
Pearl Tube: Bahrain Revolution
SECTION 24.0
Pearl Tube : Bahrain Revolution Videos

Attack the Holy Koran CNN report - after Saudi army come in Bahrain (CNN) The hunger strike of Zainab Alkhawaja
URL : http://youtu.be/0_azsRwNcYg
URL : http://youtu.be/vsVLzFBx7Dw
URL : http://youtu.be/QlnMUe757d8
CNN Demonstrators Victory in Bahrain
CNN Rreporter detained in Bahrain
Protesters Shot With Live Rounds In Bahrain
URL : http://youtu.be/k8lBSG-23ko
URL : http://youtu.be/mc1vr18Eoa0
URL : http://youtu.be/Um3zuH1Xpo0
CNN Reporter Comes Under Live Gunfire While Interviewing Protesters In Bahrain
CNN report about Bahrain 11-04-2011
Amber Lyon Report On Bahrain - CNN
URL : http://youtu.be/fSoyThKEN0w
URL : http://youtu.be/3WgyTR1oEZg
URL : http://youtu.be/wsXxbusimgA
Page | 152

CNN Report On Police Crackdown On Protestors At Pearl Roundabout
CNN reporter kicked out of Bahrain for reporting the truth
Amber Lyon Report On Bahrain CNN
URL : http://youtu.be/wRFy9dFmE8M
URL : http://youtu.be/AtRj0SaHkLU
URL : http://youtu.be/wsXxbusimgA
CNN Report - BAHRAIN 12-4-2011
CNN - BAHRAIN 22-04-2011
BBC - Report on Bahrain
URL : http://youtu.be/pPH3FI6xb1E
URL : http://youtu.be/458St6IdAm4
URL : http://youtu.be/UctunIGMCxc
Christopher Davidson discussing Bahrain and Libya on BBC News
Crackdown in Bahrain (Extended Report) -BBC
BBC1 Crackdown in Bahrain (Short Report)
URL : http://youtu.be/2M_Uxk_t9HM
URL : http://youtu.be/-L0nYChbn3Q
URL : http://youtu.be/g1A-F5bOA_E
Page | 153

Violent response to Bahrain protest
Bahrains Dark Secret
People Power :Aljazera Report
URL : http://youtu.be/B6RCBOC-MAM
URL : http://youtu.be/6I7xsWEBt7w
URL : http://youtu.be/J9vsbwtgsho
Poverty in Bahrain on CNN
CNN IN BAHRAIN .. THE TRUTH
pro-government group attacks doctors at university of Bahrain
URL : http://youtu.be/fDfVo_Noino
URL : http://youtu.be/_CKG0wStFeA
URL : http://youtu.be/nLqcvPwM6dg
The Truth about university of
Bahrain
Urgent Call to the World: Please Save the People of Bahrain
Solidarity of Australians to Bahrain
URL : http://youtu.be/1SLjp8duoPU
URL : http://youtu.be/3TDsLK7QO5w
URL : http://youtu.be/DisXyIxC5rs
Page | 154

ABC Undercover Report on Bahrain
CNN Report
Human Rights Activist Attacked by government
URL : http://youtu.be/__E-s3um0YA
URL : http://youtu.be/6ksvntY0VXY
URL : http://youtu.be/i1L061B7GoI
A message to Obama
shooting women and demonstrators
Police Arming thugs in Bahrain
URL : http://youtu.be/dlfao2CJklE
URL : http://youtu.be/pZ-OHg-qbSI
URL : http://youtu.be/PprosUsdQ1E
Apartheid Bahrain
Bahrain compilation protesters shootings dead riot police army
Saudis Attack mosques in Bahrain
URL : http://youtu.be/ePUxrreorbg
URL : http://youtu.be/lBBMfpv2eDk
URL : http://youtu.be/vbyBevkGkxE
Page | 155

Bahrain hospital raided
Bahrain forces attack protesters in Manama
Bahrain Revolution facts and lies 1of 3
URL : http://youtu.be/wALKnL8QsSw
URL : http://youtu.be/IlTi4RLKbAM
URL : http://vimeo.com/23406658
Page | 156
Bahrain in Pictures
SECTION 25.0
Bahrain in Pictures :
Leaked Photos on the Day of the Attack by GCC Army
Page | 158
Leaked Photos on the Day of the Attack by GCC Army
Page | 159
Return Back to the Pearl roundabout on 19/2/2011
Page | 160
Page | 161
Protest at Pearl Roundabout From / / To / /
Page | 162
Protest at Pearl Roundabout From / / To / /
Page | 163
The Pearl roundabout : The Revolution Figure
Page | 164
The security forces attack the Pearl Square with tear gas and shotguns.
Page | 165
The security forces attack the Pearl Square with tear gas and shotguns.
Page | 166
protest inside Villages
Page | 167
Bahrains Pearl Statue is gone, but it remains an icon of democracy
washington post
Page | 168
Attack the Mosques in Bahrain : Coptic Christians must have the right to worship freely in Cairo, just as Shia must never have their mosques destroyed in Bahrain Barack Obama
Page | 169
Attack the Mosques in Bahrain : Coptic Christians must have the right to worship freely in Cairo, just as Shia must never have their mosques destroyed in Bahrain Barack Obama
Page | 170
Page | 171
Fre e dom Mart yrs
SECTION 26.0
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 173
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 174
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 175
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 176
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 177
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 178
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 179
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 180
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 181
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 182
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 183
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 184
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 185
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 186
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 187
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 188
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 189
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 190
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 191
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 192
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 193
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 194
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 195
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 196
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 197
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 198
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 199
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 200
Freedom Martyrs
Page | 201
Revolution ART
SECTION 27.0
R e v o l u t i o n ART :
Page | 203
Page | 204
Page | 205
Page | 206
Page | 207
Page | 208
Page | 209
Page | 210
Revolution Cartoons
SECTION 28.0
R e v o l u t i o n Cartoons :
Page | 212
Page | 213
Page | 214
Page | 215
Page | 216
Page | 217
Page | 218
Websites
SECTION 29.0
Websites :
Human Rights defender and president of Bahrain center for Human Rights http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nabeel-Rajab/194515507249804#!/pages/NabeelRajab/194515507249804 Bahrain Center for Human Rights http://www.bahrainrights.org/en Bahrain Freedom http://bahrainfreedom.org The Pearl Roundabout http://www.thepearlroundabout.org Free Bahrain http://www.freebahrain.co.cc Lulu Online http://www.luluonline.net Bahrain in Pictures http://bahrain.viewbook.com Bahrain Revolution News https://www.facebook.com/bahrain.revolt Bahraini Youth Eng Media Team https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahraini-Youth-Eng-Media-Team/151833981547153 Bahrain Revolution https://www.facebook.com/Bahrain.Feb14
Page | 220
Websites :
Freedom to Bahrain https://www.facebook.com/Freedom4Bahrain Bahrain Bleeding https://www.facebook.com/bahrain14bleeding Feb14 Revolution in Bahrain https://www.facebook.com/pages/Feb14-Revolution-in-Bahrain/206588129353604 14 Feb Media Network https://www.facebook.com/14FebMN Revolution of 14 February in Bahrain https://www.facebook.com/BHR14FEB Rose Revolution in Bahrain http://www.rose-revolution-in-bh.com
Political societies: Al-Wefaq Islamic Society http://www.alwefaq.org Amal Islamic Society http://www.amal-islami.net National democratic Action Society http://www.aldemokrati.org Democratic progressive Tribune http://www.altaqadomi.com Page | 221
The Pearl Revolution Lulu Newspaper Team Contact us: lulu.newspaper2011@gmail.com www.facebook.com/luluNewspaper

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Bahrain Rev Details

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TABLE OF CONTENTS :

Bloggers ...............................................................................105 Journalists ............................................................................109

why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

CNN Report : Poverty in Bahrain . URL : http://youtu.be/fDfVo_Noino

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Bahraini Shiites feel neglect in government housing crunch

Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Al Wefaq steps up demands for naturalisation

Why there is a revolution in Bahrain?

Could Google Earth cause a revolution in Bahrain?

Could Google Earth cause a revolution in Bahrain?

Ask the same questions for this Bahrainisland over here!

Could Google Earth cause a revolution in Bahrain?

Could Google Earth cause a revolution in Bahrain?

Could Google Earth cause a revolution in Bahrain?

Could Google Earth cause a revolution in Bahrain?

For more information, visit : http://www.ogleearth.com/BahrainandGoogleEarth.pdf

Protesters in Bahrain defy ban on rallies

BAHRAIN: Security forces continue wide, deep crackdown on dissent

4 Bahrain protesters sentenced to death for killing 2 officers

After crushed protests, Bahrain is accused of increased oppression of Shiites

Revolution Timeline: Feb. 14, 2011 In Bahrain, protesters take to streets

By Ned Parker and Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times

February 17, 2011 Bahrain authorities launch surprise attack on protesters

By Ned Parker, Los Angeles Times

By Ned Parker, Los Angeles Times

By Ned Parker, Los Angeles Times

March 5, 2011 U.S. tacks toward king amid Bahrain turmoil

Hamad I. Mohammed / Reuters

By David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times

Hasan Jamali / Associated Press

By David S. Cloud and Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times

Saudi Arabian, gulf forces

Revolution Timeline: March 15, 2011 Bahrain declares state of emergency

By David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times

March 16, 2011 Troops, police assault protesters in Bahrains capital

By Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times

From the L.A. Times

Violent crackdown in Bahrain

Talking with Crown Prince of Bahrain

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE

Bahrain must commute protesters death sentences

Concern Over Bahrain Human Rights

By : Amnesty URL : http://www.amnesty.org/en/newsand-updates/bahrain-must-commuteprotesters%E2%80%99-death-sentences-2011-0523

URL : http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67855/ justin-gengler/how-radical-are-bahrains-shia

URL : http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2692740. html

Bahraini State Terror Continues

How Bahrain is oppressing its Shia majority

Obama gives Bahrain a pass on crackdown

By : The Guardian URL : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/ may/22/bahrain-change-view-human-rights

URL : http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_ room/2011/05/13/bahrain_human_rights_state_department/index.html

Whats changed in Bahrain?

URL : http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art. php?id=24789

Robert Fisk: Why no outcry over these torturing tyrants?

Detained Bahraini activist said to show signs of abuse

URL : http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/ URL : http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/13/2872645/ report/051011_bahrain_abuse/us-quiet-as-bahrainactivists-decry-us-silence-on.html abuses-increase/ URL : http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/201 1/05/201151285040679763.html

U.S.quiet as Bahrain abuses increase