Akbar Ahmed on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, "Bahrain: Small Country, Big Ally"

Akbar Ahmed on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, "Bahrain: Small Country, Big Ally":

Manama, Bahrain

The Systematic torture in Bahrain continues with full impunity on torturers
http://bit.ly/myjPGq 14feb

Bahrain: Front Line’s Andrew Anderson highlights the denial of justice in the trial of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja
http://bit.ly/jwMb1l 14feb

Bahrain uprising Martyrs
http://ping.fm/tQRKG

Photo

Photo

* Those who want to discuss the issue of an elected government in the dialogue need to understand that Prince Khalifa bin Salman -especially after the recent events- isn’t seen as just a prime minister any more. 
He became a symbol to Sunna and their dignity, a symbol to standing tall and not surrendering. 

What those who marginalized sunna and labeled them as thugs in the roundabout didn’t know, was that they unknowingly tied the destinies of those they eliminated together. 
When they demanded the fall of regime and that Prince Khalifa steps down, they accidently created  a “Sunni and Khalifa bin Salman” union and tied their destines together, which made the demands that the prime minister “leaves” means that sunna must leave too. 

*This post is a translation of some segment of Sawsan AL-Shaer’s article published on Sunday, June 21st, in Al-Watan newspaper.

More here

My husband was abducted by Bahrain 'security':

A personal story from Dr Ala’a Shehabi on the abduction, trial and imprisonment of her young husband on charges of actions against the nation of Bahrain.

Honorable Moan of Bahrain protesters

Sitra today [June 25, 2011]

Human rights activist Nabeel Rajab in Sitra today [June 25, 2011]

Bahrain doctors in prison for daring to speak out
http://ping.fm/kp3fN 14feb

The Al-Khalifa Regime is Short Sighted
http://bit.ly/my3mgv Bahrain humanrights 14feb

Honorable Moan of Bahrain protesters
http://bit.ly/iSjRej 14feb

Bahrain: Dangerous Statistics and Facts about the National Security Apparatus

Bahrain: Dangerous Statistics and Facts about the National Security Apparatus: Its role in the escalation of violence 5th March 2009 The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses again its deep concern regarding the mounting dangerous role of the National Security Apparatus (NSA) at the expense of liberties and human rights in Bahrain. A list which the BCHR has obtained reveals that amongst the more than 1000 employees working for the NSA, 64% of them are non-citizens, mostly of Asian nationalities. The king’s relatives occupy the highest posts in the NSA; Sheikh Khalifa bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa heads it, in addition to three others from the King’s family. The aforementioned list also reveals that the NSA is formed on sectarian basis. The percentage of Shiite citizens employed at the NSA does not exceed 4%, and they work as informants and in the low level jobs. While the Shiites, who form two thirds of the Bahraini citizens, are the main target for the NSA. This appears when verifying the sectarian identity of the villages and areas that the Security Special Forces are besieging on an almost daily basis, the organizations that are being targeted, the protest events that are being suppressed, the hundreds of people being arrested and trialed on security charges, and the activists targeted with smearing media campaigns. The general budget, which the government presented for the years 2009/2010 for the National Assembly, revealed an increase of 34% in NSA budget compared with the previous one. This is the largest increase in any of the governmental institutions in recent years. On the other hand, the BCHR issued a statement last month expressing its worry about the issuance of a Royal Decree amending some of the provisions of Decree (14) for the year 2002 which provides for granting the members of the National Security Apparatus: law enforcement authority; judicial power to arrest and interrogate suspects, and immunity from prosecution in regular courts, bearing in mind that the NSA is not accountable before the Council of Representatives or any other monitoring body. The NSA first appeared in May 2002 as an alternative for the “General Directorate for State Security Investigations” which was part of the Ministry of Interior. Thus, the NSA became a parallel directorate to other government bodies, instead of being part of them. Its authorities overlap the Ministry of Interior and the judiciary system, while it extends its influence to the Central Informatics Organisation, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Social Development. The NSA derives its managerial influence from its connection to, and its role as an executive arm of, the Supreme Defense Council which is considered the highest authority in the country, as it consists of the King, the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Royal Court and ten others from the King’s family who occupy leading political and security posts in the country. The Royal Decree for the establishment of the NSA stated that “the NSA is a subordinate of the President of the Council of Ministries (the Prime Minister), and its president is appointed by a Royal Decree with a rank of a minister”. In the year 2004, the Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, issued an order regarding the organizational structure of the NSA, where it consists of a number of units and departments, amongst them: special operations department, international affairs department, political security department, counter-terrorism department, central department for information and documentation, department of information technology, department of association and coordination and department of legal affairs. The first president for the NSA was Sheikh Abdul-Aziz bin Atiyat-Allah Al-Khalifa, who was appointed in May 2002, then the NSA was headed by Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid Al-Khalifa since 26 September 2005. The current president is Sheikh Khalifa bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa. Both previous and current presidents occupied the post of an ambassador for Bahrain in the United Kingdom before heading the NSA. The NSA, according to the decree it was established by, specializes in “preserving national security” and in order to do so, “it monitors and detects all activities that harm the national security of the Kingdom or its institutions and systems, or anything that threatens the security and the safety of the country” and also “develops necessary security plans to face all normal and exceptional circumstances in cooperation with the specialized government bodies”. Since its establishment in 2002, the NSA, has been playing an escalating role in penetrating civil society institutions and monitoring and pursuing political opponents and human rights defenders, at home and abroad. The NSA is directly responsible for the death of the activist Ali Jassim Mohammed in December 2007, subjecting tens of citizens to wounds and suffocation due to the use of excessive force and suppressing seminars, demonstrations and other protest activities. Furthermore, it is also responsible for arresting hundreds of human rights defenders and activists, systematic torture which returned to Bahrain again since December 2007, fabricating or exaggerating terror events or plans to justify intensive security measures, running media campaigns in the inside and outside to smear the reputation of activists and to justify arrests, and unfair trials and extreme sentences against activists considered dissidents of the political regime. The NSA supervises the field work of the Special Security Forces (SSF). The SSF is a paramilitary force which adds up to more than 20 thousand, 90% of who are non-Bahrainis, headed by high ranking officers from the King’s family or other Bedouin tribes that are in political alliance with them. There isn’t a single Shiite citizen among these forces. The SSF have been used effectively in the surroundings of the villages or areas where the majority of residents are Shiite. They penetrate these areas with tear gas and rubber bullets, which cause injuries and suffocation of hundreds of people, amongst them women, children, and elderly citizens. Properties, houses and mosques were damaged. The SSF also use armed militias, who sometimes wear civil clothes and black masks. They attack villages and chase the demonstrators and abuse them. According to the international standards, the composition and role of the SSF falls in the prohibition of the use of mercenaries, the non-Bahrainis recruited to the SSF can be categorized as mercenaries as they were brought selectively from outside the country, they are used for security or military purposes outside the regular security and military bodies, they are trained and prepared in a special manner, and they are provided with careers and advantages not provided to other foreign or Bahraini employees, such as housing, travel expenses and family reunifications. Most of them live with their families in “Safra”, an isolated area which lies south of Riffa city where most relatives of the king reside. The majority of these recruits were granted the Bahraini citizenship in order to nationalize them within the hidden ongoing project of demographic sectarian change to marginalize the Shiite citizens in Bahrain. The votes of those mercenaries were used effectively to marginalize the opposition and the Shiite majority in the elections of the council of representatives in 2006. In his comment, Nabeel Rajab – president of the BCHR said, “What increases the danger of supporting the role, powers, influence, and budget of the National Security Apparatus is its full dependence on mercenary men who do not have any relation with Bahrain. This also reveals the policy of the regime to use an external force to face the citizens, which shows its loss of confidence in the country’s native residents, Sunnis and Shiite. Thus, the authority is creating a new suppressive reality, more organized and dangerous than the measures taken in the previous State Security era. Hence, the National Security Apparatus is treading in the same footsteps as the Iranian “SAVAK” Service, which caused wide violations to human rights in Iran during the era of the Shah, and was a main reason for both the wide international criticism, and for the people’s revolution which ended the Shah’s reign in 1979”. Based on the above, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights renews it demand for the following: 1. To end the policy of bringing non-Bahraini mercenaries to work for the National Security Apparatus and the Special Security Forces in order to suppress citizens who practice basic rights and freedoms. 2. To dissolve the National Security Apparatus and the Special Security Forces and to give their powers back to the regular security bodies. 3. To stop the current methodology of using laws, institutions and practices that restrict and suppress public liberties, and instead guarantee and maintain civil and political rights, and the rights related to freedom of expression, assembly and association. 4. To end the continuous targeting of human rights defenders and political opponents, and to guarantee an appropriate and healthy environment for the work of human rights organizations and civil society institutions away from restrictive laws, interference, and threats of security apparatuses and forces. 5. To guarantee the independence of the judiciary system, to ensure the right of citizens in prosecuting public officials in all functions and levels, and to end any form of immunity and impunity, especially in relation to arbitrary arrest, torture, and unjust trials, and targeting human rights defenders

Dissident parrot. The parrot utters: “yaskut Hamad”...

“The Obama administration stood by, whether or not it approved, as Saudi soldiers and mercenaries crushed the democratic movement in Bahrain, the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet. There is no question that stability takes precedence over democracy there. Like every president before him, Obama has never uttered the words “democracy” and “Saudi Arabia” in the same sentence.”

- The Voice Is Obama’s; The Hands are Bush’s

Dissident parrot. The parrot utters: “yaskut Hamad” and then “yaskut al-Khalifa”, which means “down with [King] Hamad [al-Khalifa]” and “down with [the house of] al-Khalifa”.

Life sentence for Bahraini blogger

Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace has been imprisoned for life for the crime of blogging views contrary to that of the Bahraini government. This sad event makes abundantly clear the dangers of speaking out for Bahrainis.

Read more at ReadWriteWeb.

Posted via email from Mad With Glee | Comment »

Bahraini Blogger - State Dept. Knew ‘All The Details’ Of Violent Crackdown, Stayed Silent

Bahraini Blogger - State Dept. Knew ‘All The Details’ Of Violent Crackdown, Stayed Silent:

A Bahraini journalist and blogger spoke at the Netroots Nation conference today [on June 16th] about how her country’s protest movement has been beaten back, the personal costs of supporting the uprising, and how the U.S. State Department remained silent.

Lamees Dhaif said that she supported the protest movement that became widespread in Bahrain following the initial outburst of the Arab Spring. “It was very simple,” she said. “Those people have rights.” But her outspoken support cost her jobs at three newspapers in one day and her family was targeted. “As bloggers, as journalist,” she said

we pay [very high] price of speaking loud. I don’t think any American citizen can understand what I’m saying. If we say one word that they consider wrong, they can punish you in every possible way. They can punish you, they can punish your family, they can hunt you everywhere. [They] tried to burned my house with family in, attacked my house. My brothers were hunted in their jobs; they were punished because of their sister. My sister [was] arrested for fifty days as a punishment to me, to force me to stop writing.

[Read More]

Bahrain Beach on Flickr.

Bahrain Beach on Flickr.

Lies (Explored) by heshaaam on Flickr.

“

“Poor, innocent, Asian expats” is how they are now described. But just a few months ago there was little concern at a national level about the abuse of migrant workers. They represent 54% of Bahrain’s resident population, and as in the neighbouring Gulf monarchies, they constitute the bulk of the workforce. Most are from south Asia, and they are arguably the most marginalised community in the country.

Now their welfare has suddenly become a matter of concern for the regime and its apologists. After the start of the crackdown, the foreign minister scurried between the different expatriate community clubs and embassies, hailing the “strong relations bonding” them to the kingdom of Bahrain. Local state-run television suddenly started broadcasting news bulletins in Hindi, Urdu and Tagalog.

”

- via Spare us Bahrain’s sudden ‘concern’ for its Asian expat workers

Lies (Explored) by heshaaam on Flickr.

[Guardian] Bahrain rights activists jailed for life

Bahrain unrest: Eight Shia activists sentenced to life:

Bahrain has sentenced eight Shia pro-democracy activists to life in jail for “plotting to overthrow the government”, the state news agency says.

They were among 21 opposition figures tried by a special security court. Others got sentences of up to 15 years.

Ahead of the verdict, their supporters blocked roads and staged rallies.

Bahrain’s mainly Shia protesters have been calling for democratic reforms and more rights for the country’s Shia majority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

They have long complained of systematic discrimination, and point to high unemployment, poor housing and the fact that they are denied high-level positions in government departments.

A wave of peaceful protests swept the country in February and March, but they were put down by force by the government, which called in troops from neighbouring Gulf states. Emergency law was only lifted on 1 June.

Correspondents say the sentencing threatens to re-ignite simmering tensions in the tiny Gulf state.

Read More: BBC News

Bahrain's crackdown: Out of the streets into the courts:

Eight activists are given life sentences and hundreds more face trial and torture

Durrat Al Bahrain is the largest artificial islands in Al Bahrain  after the Amwaj Islands, the island is composed of 13 series of artificial island with an area of about 20 million square meters with a 6 and 5 fish-shaped island crescent-shaped island. Facilities at the Durrat Al Bahrain is so complete, there are five-star hotel, an extensive golf course, 12 bridges. The marina is developed by a joint venture between Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain and Tameer, one of the GCC region’s leading developers. The marina development is the first of its kind in the Middle East, based on the type and size.

[source]

A perspective from space can be found here.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahraini protesters poured back to the streets Wednesday after a security court sentenced eight Shiite activists to life in prison in the latest blow by the Western-backed kingdom to cripple the biggest Arab Spring opposition movement in the Gulf.

The fast and angry reaction to the verdicts — the most significant display of unrest in weeks — underscored the volatility in the island nation after four months of unrest and raised questions about whether any credible pro-reform leaders will heed calls by the Sunni monarchy to open talks next week.

In size, Bahrain is little more than a speck off the coast of Saudi Arabia. But it draws in some of the region’s major players: hosting the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and serving as a growing point of friction between Gulf powers Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Security forces used tear gas to drive back hundreds of Shiite marchers trying to reach a central square in the capital Manama, which was once the hub of their protests for greater rights. In other Shiite areas, protesters gathered in the streets but were held back by riot police. No injuries were reported.

Bahrain has allowed two major rallies this month by the main opposition party, but the confrontations Wednesday were among the biggest challenges to security forces since martial law-style rule was lifted June 1.

Shiites account for 70 percent of Bahrain’s population of some 525,000, but claim they face systematic discrimination such as being barred from top government and political posts.

The protests — claiming at least 31 lives since February — have put U.S. officials in the difficult position of both denouncing the violence and standing by Bahrain’s rulers and their call for dialogue. In response, opposition groups have increased demands that include an end to the political trials and withdrawal of a Saudi-led regional force helping prop up Bahrain’s ruling family.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was “concerned about the severity” of the sentences and the use of the military-linked security courts. He noted that President Barack Obama said in May that “such steps are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain’s citizens.”

“We continue to urge the Bahraini government to abide by its commitment to transparent judicial proceedings, conducted in full accordance with Bahrain’s international legal obligations, and to create the conditions for a meaningful, inclusive and credible dialogue,” he said.

Bahrain’s government said in statement late Wednesday that the convicted activists were responsible for “bringing the country to the brink of total anarchy” with a wave of marches and sit-ins earlier this year.

“Today’s sentencing sends a message that law and order will be preserved,” the statement said, pledging to guard against “attempts to overthrow the regime.”

The official Bahrain News Agency said those sentenced to life include prominent Shiite political figures Hassan Mushaima and Abdul Jalil al-Singace and rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. Mushaima returned from self-exile in London earlier this year after Bahrain’s leaders promised to erase old charges of opposing the state.

Pro-reform activist Ibrahim Sharif — the only Sunni among the suspects — received five years in prison, while other sentences ranged from two to 15 years. The sentences can be appealed.

A leading opposition figure cast doubt on whether talks can get under way.

“We should conduct the dialogue in an open atmosphere, not when people are being arrested,” said Khalil al-Marzooq, who was among the 18 Shiite parliament members who staged a mass resignation to protest the crackdowns earlier this year.

The charges at the latest security court trial show the depths of the tensions. The activists were convicted of trying to overthrow Bahrain’s 200-year-old monarchy and having links to “a terrorist organization abroad” — an obvious reference to claims that Iranian-backed Hezbollah is behind the unrest.

Eight received life sentences while 13 others received shorter prison terms apparently because they weren’t considered leaders.

Bahrain’s rulers fear that any Shiite gains in the country could open new footholds for influence by Shiite power Iran.

Shiite leaders in Bahrain repeatedly have denied any ties to Iran and accuse leaders of using the fears of Iranian string-pulling to wage crackdowns that have included hundreds of arrests and purges from jobs and universities.

Fourteen of the 21 convicted are in custody while the rest were sentenced in absentia by the security court, which uses military prosecutors and a military-civilian tribunal. Among the life sentences, however, all but one of the suspects was in Bahrain.

Sharif’s wife, Farida Ghulam, said her husband cried out “Our people demand freedom” after the sentences were read.

Ghulam said al-Khawaja then shouted: “We will continue our struggle.” His daughter, Zainab, was dragged from court by female guards after she yelled “Allahu akbar,” or “God is great,” said Ghulam.

The verdicts could also bring some direct diplomatic fallout. At least two of those sentenced to life also hold European passports: al-Khawaja, who is a Danish citizen, and Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, who has Swedish citizenship.

The court has presided over a series of cases linked to the protests, including issuing two death sentences against men accused of killing police officers during the demonstrations. Earlier this month, it sentenced a 20-year-old woman to a year in prison for reading poetry critical of Bahrain’s king.

Next week, a trial is scheduled to resume for more than 30 doctors and nurses accused of supporting the protests. Some of the medical personnel claim they were abused while in custody.

___

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Barbara Surk in Dubai contributed to this report.

[BBC] Bahrain unrest: Eight Shia activists sentenced to life[Guardian] Bahrain rights activists jailed for life:

Military court finds eight campaigners guilty of plotting coup during protests in Sunni-ruled kingdom

We All Should Be Ashamed.

We All Should Be Ashamed.

Bahrain is going ahead with the military trials of scores of...

Bahrain is going ahead with the military trials of scores of medical personnel on charges of collaborating to overthrow the monarchy. 

Bahrain medics on trial over protests

Bahrain medics on trial over protests :

Bahrain has begun the trials of 48 medical professionals accused of attempting to topple the monarchy.

Those on trial include some of the country’s top surgeons, accused of supporting weeks of pro-democracy protests in the country.

It is the latest trial at a special security tribunal set up by Bahrain’s rulers amid a far-reaching crackdown in the kingdom, which is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Human rights organisations have condemned the trials, saying the staff are being hounded for treating hundreds of wounded protesters.

Mosley: GP Bahrain Mustahil Digelar

US defense sales to Bahrain rose before crackdown :

President Obama, Merchant of Death

11-6-2011

Riot police firing from close range at a small group of female protesters in Karzakan village on June 10, 2011:

Worst Internet Countries Ecclestone Berharap GP Bahrain Digeser Lagi: Article by at 2011-06-08 12:00:26

[Independent] Kate Allen: A warped response to calls for democracy

Love you, guys!! XD

If you wanna see it again, go HERE. :)

Biggest rally in Bahrain since March calls for Shia-Sunni unity in the opposition camp

Bahrain Opposition Rally Draws Thousands:  ”We call for the crown prince to lead these talks … to pull this country out of the bottle neck which it is stuck in.”

???? ??????? ,???? ???? ????

???? ????? ? ?????.

???? ????? ?????: “???????? ????????? ????? ??????? ??????? ? ???????? ??????? ??????” ???? ??? ?????

KUWAIT, June 11 (Reuters) - Kuwait has arrested a Kuwaiti Shi’ite Muslim man for publishing criticism of the ruling families in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on social media site Twitter, a security source said on Saturday.

Nasser Abul was arrested on Thursday and no charges have been pressed against him so far, the source said. He gave no details.

Democracy activists have used social media to debate, organise and share information in Bahrain where the government crushed a protest movement in March after inviting Saudi and United Arab Emirates forces to help restore order.

Bahrain questioned a rights activist in April for publishing an image which appeared to show signs of torture on a man who died in detention during the unrest. It is not clear if the case will be brought to court.

A Bahraini journalist said last month he was questioned about his Twitter postings during two hours of detention.

Gulf Arab governments, run by closely-allied ruling families, are trying to stop protest movements that brought down Egyptian and Tunisian leaders this year taking off in their patch.

They fear democracy movements could allow Shi’ite power Iran to gain influence. Bahrain has a Shi’ite majority and Kuwait and other Gulf countries have Shi’ite minorities. (Reporting by Eman Goma; writing by Andrew Hammond)

Rally in Bahrain today.

[Independent] Detained poet 'beaten across the face with electric cable'[Independent] Kate Allen: A warped response to calls for democracy

Manama, Bahrain

Bahraini Citizen Convicted of Reading a PoemBahrain Protests: Opposition Rally Draws More Than 10,000:

MANAMA, Bahrain — More than 10,000 demonstrators joined Bahrain’s first public rally in months Saturday as the leader of the Gulf nation’s main Shiite political party urged backers to press ahead with peaceful protests for greater political rights after fierce crackdowns by security forces.

BWTC: Blue by heshaaam on Flickr.

[Reuters] Bahraini protest poet gets one-year jail term:

A Bahraini court sentenced a young Shi’ite poet to one year in prison on Sunday for taking part in illegal protests and incitement against the Gulf state’s monarchy.

[IPS] BAHRAIN Tribunal-Issued Death Sentences Cause Outcry:

But the trials were held behind closed doors, and the men all pled not guilty. The men were held in undisclosed locations in the weeks leading up to the trials, and were denied communications with family, friends, and attorneys.

[CNN] Thousands turn out for reform in Bahrain[CNN] Bahrain tries ex-lawmakers, imprisons poet[Amnesty International] Bahraini activist jailed for reading poem

Manama, Bahrain