Bahrain Freedom Movement

The story of the tortured and the torturer

Bahrain Freedom Movement – 31/07/2007

The recent discovery that the notorious torturer Ian Henderson was still enjoying the protection of the Al Khalifa regime in Bahrain has infuriated human rights activists and added impetus to the moves to try him and other torturers for crimes against humanity.
Grievances fuel Bahraini unrest

By Bill Law – 29/07/2007

BBC Radio 4’s Crossing Continents Periodic unrest in the Gulf state of Bahrain has been blamed by some on Iranian influence but local people speak of more immediate grievances.

29/07/2007

Bill Law asks if social and religious tensions could destabilise the important island nation of Bahrain. To listen the full program click

Riots reinforce Bahrain rulers’ fears

B.B.C – 22/07/2007

The acrid smell of tear gas hung in the air as a group of young men drifted across a street where piles of garbage and tyres were burning. Not far ahead stood a line of riot police. An officer wearing a balaclava gestured at the youths to stop and as his colleagues fired off a volley of tear gas canisters, he shouted: “You have no permission to be here. Leave now.” This was the scene in Malkiya, a small Shia fishing village on the outskirts of Manama, the capital city of the Gulf state of Bahrain. Known in the West as a booming business centre, Bahrain is increasingly being promoted as an upmarket tourist destination, with luxury villas built on land reclaimed from the warm blue sea. Yet the country’s authorities, bolstered by an almost entirely Sunni muslim police force and army, are being forced to step up security in preparation for a summer of unrest by the country’s Shia majority. As riot police clashed with Malkiya’s protesters, Nabeel Rajab, a human rights activist, said: “They want you to see Formula One and the Financial Harbour. But that’s not the real Bahrain. What you see here? This is the real Bahrain.”

Bahrain: Safia’s hunger strike led her to hospital

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights – 20/07/2007

The Ministry of Housing refuses to provide her a residence while she is dying. Manama, 18 July 2007 Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is highly concerned by the developments of the case of Safia Ahmed Ali, 36, from Al-Deer “Al-Muharraq” village. The Bahraini citizen is still calling upon the Ministry of Housing to provide her and her daughter Mariam, 10 years-old, with an adequate house. For this goal, she launched a hunger strike on Tuesday 17 July 2007 at 9:00 a.m.
Riots in Bahrain after PM awarded UN prize

Saturday, 07 July 2007 – 12/07/2007

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon enraged Bahraini citizens by awarding Sheikh Khalifah bin Salman Al Khalifah, Bahrain’s 36 year long prime minister-cum-dictator, the Habitat Scroll of Honour. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Bahraini rights groups also strongly criticised the decision to award Sheikh Khalifah. Seen by Bahrainis as a stark symbol of the kingdom’s authoritarian rule, Sheikh Khalifah was awarded the prize at the Economic and Social Council in Geneva on Tuesday setting off riots across Bahrain.
People of Bahrain: You are not alone in your Peaceful Struggle

American for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain – 09/07/2007

We, in the Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), salute and admire the determination of the Bahraini people to achieve democracy and the rule of law in their country by peaceful means.

Strategic rift in Bahrain’s royal court

By Borzou Daragahi, Times Staff Writer – 07/07/2007

Some members of the ruling family reportedly back hard-line Sunni groups; others advise helping disenfranchised Shiites.

30/06/2007

Clashes began after a heavy riot police presence in the capital prevented a demonstration against the United Nations for giving Bahraini Prime Minister Sheik Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa an award for easing poverty. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is to present the award Monday in Geneva

29/06/2007

About 500 people, including many jobless Bahrainis, participated in the peaceful demonstration, which urged the government to use increased oil revenues instead. The placard reads: ‘People live in poverty. We want a solution now… now.

27/06/2007

you don’t plan on housing those on low incomes, you will get slums — not now, but in the future,” Gulf Daily News quoted Sayed Aqa, the U.N. resident coordinator in Bahrain.

While systematic torture of detainees continues,

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights – 21/06/2007

Trial of minors turned into secret mode due to lack of knowledge of non-Bahraini “Interior” witnesses to Arabic For the third time, ten minors have been summoned today before the Lower Criminal Court judge against charges of crowd and riot according to Article 178 of the Penal Code, to hear witnesses, representative of the Ministry of Interior, who arrested those kids.

20/06/2007

PARIS, June 19, 2007 – Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) by the Kingdom of Bahrain to procure nine Sikorsky UH-60M helicopters from the U.S. Army through the Foreign Military Sales process. With the sale, valued at $204 million, Bahrain becomes the international launch customer for the newest and most advanced BLACK HAWK helicopter. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), made the announcement today from the Paris Air Show.
U.S.State Department Trafficking in Persons Report

13/06/2007

Bahrain made no discernible progress in preventing trafficking this year. The government initiated no new campaigns to prevent trafficking, but continued to distribute multilingual brochures on workers’ rights and resources to incoming workers. The government should ensure that recruitment agencies and employers are aware of the rights of foreign workers to prevent their abuse

13/06/2007

Bahrain, the Persian Gulf home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, was cited for failing to crack down on human traffickers who are bringing in men, women and children for forced labor or commercial sex work, the report says. “Bahrain made no discernible progress in preventing trafficking this year,” it said, noting that laws aimed at protecting foreign workers, largely from South and Southeast Asia, are not enforced and that authorities are not seriously investigating alleged widespread abuse
Bahrain, low ranking in peace UNSUSTAINABILITY

11/06/2007

The Economist Intelligence Unit, (EIU), in conjunction with an international team of academics and peace experts, produced Global Peace Index (GPI), which ranks 121 nations according to their relative peacefulness. www.visionofhumanity.com/index.php
AP : Pictures The protest was against wealthy Bahraini landowners

10/06/2007

Demonstratoration against shiekh hamed bin mohd al-khalikfa Saturday, June 9, 2007, in the fishing village of Malkiya, Bahrain. The protest was against wealthy Bahraini landowners who continue to fence off and build properties along the Bahraini coast. Graffiti on the wall reads ‘Bahrain’s lands are not for sale

Committee of Solidarity with Activists and Detainees of Conscience in Bahrain – 07/06/2007

The collective efforts, inside and outside Bahrain, have contributed into forcing the Bahraini Authorities to release this afternoon the youngmen Ali Saeed Yaqoob Al-Khabaz (22yrs) and Hameed Yaqoob Yousef (in his forties), from Sanabis village, who were beaten and tortured before abduction and arrest since Sunday last May 20 th

The Committee of Solidarity with Activists and Detainees of Conscience- Bahrain – 06/06/2007

The Committee of Activists and Detainees of Conscience in Bahrain learned, from private sources, that the United Nations working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, in Geneva, has urgently addressed the Bahraini Authorities to inquire about the disappearance of Ali Saeed Yaqoob Al-khabaz (22 years) and

Demonstrators clash with police in Bahrain

02/06/2007

Manama, Bahrain – A picket against increasing poverty in Bahrain turned violent Friday when demonstrators and police clashed in the Shiite village of Sanabis, near Manama
Bahrain: Jailed Protestors Show Signs of Severe Abuse

01/06/2007

In dispersing a demonstration protesting a police action the night before, Bahrain riot police on May 21 detained ‘Ali Sa’id al-Khabaz, 22, and Hassan Yusif Hamid, 46. Al-Khabaz’s family was unable to learn his whereabouts for more than a week, but a photo of him in detention shows swelling, bruising and other signs of trauma to his face and head. When Bahraini human rights activists attempted to visit al-Khabaz in a military hospital on May 29, they found Hamid recovering from a broken jaw and other injuries. Hamid said police had taken al-Khabaz and him to several nearby locations and beat them severely.
Urgent Appeal-Another day another victim

01/06/2007

BCHR calls for urgent and impartial investigation in the use of excessive force by the Special Security Police, especially in Mr. Ali’s case, and to bring violators to Justice.
Yet another victim of the security forces found today

01/06/2007

The BCHR again urges the authorities to put an end to the use of excessive force and torture by its security forces, and to promptly and impartially investigate these cases and find and put on trial anyone who is involved in these atrocious acts. Finally the victims of such acts must be redressed and compensated

01/06/2007

The Human Rights Watch said Friday it had written a letter to the Bahrain king, urging an immediate investigation into allegations of police torture of two arrested protesters.
intervention for the release of Ali Saeed Yaqoob AlKhabaz

27/05/2007

With blood and sufferings, our son, Ali, was then thrown in one riot forces cars, after being handcuffed. He was taken to Nuaim police station, and then transferred to the military hospital, after showing sign of loss of life, as he was covered in blood in the eye, head and all parts of his body. He was repeatedly taken to the military hospital for treatment since his abduction, arrest and beating. Eyewitnesses reported the following injuries, indicating disappearance of his feature as a youngman
Bahrain defends naturalisation policy

25/05/2007

http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10127504.html 05/25/2007 12:15 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief Manama: Bahrain has granted the kingdom’s nationality to 6,323 people in the last four years, said the Interior Minister. According to Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, 52 per cent of those who were naturalised were born in Bahrain.

Bahrain Center for Human Rights – Manama, Bahrain – 25/05/2007

Victim’s family has been denied rights to visit or information Urgent Appeal Ref. 24/05/07 The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is highly concerned about the health and well being of a Bahraini citizen by the name of Ali Saeed Al-Khabbaz, 22 years, from Al-Qufool. An eyewitness told BCHR that he saw Al-Khabbaz being beaten severely by more than ten of the Special Security Police, most of them were non-Bahrainis.
Bahrain preparing for a U.S.-Iran war

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM – 10/05/2007

Bahrain has reported preparations for a war between Iran and the United States. Bahraini officials said the Gulf Arab kingdom has been working with Western allies to protect strategic sites from Iranian missile strikes amid any war with the United States. They said Bahrain has been introducing measures to protect against Iranian infiltration and respond rapidly to any missile or insurgency strike
Bahrain official warns U.S. on pullout

By David R. Sands – 10/05/2007

The U.S.-led war in Iraq has damaged America’s image in the Arab Middle East, but a premature withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq would make the situation worse, Bahrain’s information minister, Muhammad Abdul Ghaffar, said yesterday
Bahrain’s Shiite opposition in parliament walkout

08/05/2007

Deputies from Bahrain’s Shiite opposition bloc walked out of parliament on Tuesday after the chamber voted against grilling a minister over corruption allegations.
Bahrain says businesses violations and runaway cases rising

dpa – Deutsche Presse-Agentur – 04/05/2007

Manama, Bahrain – Labour violations by businesses and cases of foreign workers fleeing their jobs both jumped in 2006, according to figures released by the Bahraini Labour Ministry on Thursday. Inspectors issued more than 480 violations of Bahrain’s Labour Code in 2006, a 57-per-cent increase on 2005, according to the head of the Labour Ministry’s inspections department, Ahmad Al Khabaz
Bahrain vies to reclaim finance role

By Simeon Kerr in Manama – 03/05/2007

Bahrain launched a $1.5bn financial development on Wednesday as part of its attempts to reassert itself as the natural financial centre of the oil-rich Gulf region amid competition from Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

02/05/2007

A Thai woman, Uoom, 36, lured to Bahrain as a sex worker, managed to escape back to Thailand, recently, vowing to have her 2 friends still there repatriated with the help of the Pavena Foundation
Woman whofled Bahrain sex trade aims to help friends

ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA – 01/05/2007

A Thai woman who fled the sex trade in Bahrain and returned home late last week yesterday sought help from the Pavena Foundation to bring two friends back to Thailand as quickly as possible. Uoom, 36, said her friends Bao and Tong are the only two Thai illegal female workers still at the Thai embassy in Manama. Others who fled their workplaces earlier had already sent back to Thailand.
Parliament’s law to ban migrant workers

28/04/2007

Parliament’s law to ban migrant workers who are unmarried from living in residential areas is discriminatory and promotes derogatory racist attitudes towards migrant workers. “…bachelors also use these houses to make alcohol, run prostitute rings or to rape children and housemaids.” (MP Nasser Fadhala, quoted in the Gulf Daily News, making claims to justify the law)
Bahrain bomb exercise tests collaboration

27/04/2007

U.S. Marines stationed at Naval Support Activity Bahrain treat a “patient” during a training exercise “Desert Sailor 07” on Tuesday. The exercise simulated a car explosion on the U.S. Navy base, with nearly two dozen people “killed” and another nearly two dozen “wounded.”

25/04/2007

The detainees of Karbabad -Sayed Ali Sayed Akbar (20 yrs), Jaafar Sadiq Kadhem (21 yrs), and Mahmood Ali Mahdi (22yrs) –were summoned today at Fourth Lower Criminal Court who were released on April 9, 2007 on bail of 500 Dinars each. After the deliberation of their defense lawyers, the judge, Mane’a Alboflassah, ruled the postponement of the trial to May 30th, 2007 of crowd and riot charges against them by the Public Prosecutor. Yesterday, April 23, 2007, was the third court session of Jaafar Salman Yousif (23 yrs) from Karranh, Rahdi Ali Radhi (22 yrs) from Abu Saiba, who were arrested since the beginning of the fourth week of last February after protests in Bani Jamrah and Jassem Jaafar Madan (25 yrs) from Hamad town, who was arrested in the same period, aftermath protests in Daih. The coroner report was supposed to be read after their defense counsel request due to subjecting the detainees to torture during detention and interrogation. The judge decided to postpone the two cases to Sunday, May 13th, 2007 to issue the verdict against the three defendants to charges of rioting and crowds, as per articles 178 and 179 of the Penal Code

Oil lifts 2006 Bahrain current account surplus to record

15/04/2007

Bahrain, the smallest Gulf Arab economy, posted its highest current account surplus on record in 2006 as oil exports climbed, central bank figures showed

Committee of Solidarity with Activists and Detainees of Conscience in Bahrain – 07/04/2007

During yesterday evening (Friday), the Bahraini Special Forces showered Sanabis village with extensive abundance of tear gas and rubber bullets after besieging its main entrances in large numbers. Dozens of citizens had gathered in a peaceful sit-in, raising slogans demanding basic rights and release of detainees of conscience in Bahraini prisons since last February. The Special Forces fiercely attacked the men and women demonstrators using rubber bullets, and dispersed them with heavy amounts of of tear gas.

Bahrain defends contacts with US Jewish body

By Habib Toumi, Correspondent – 06/04/2007

Gulfnews-Manama: Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa has defended Bahrain’s contacts with influential American Jews, saying that they were part of a drive to bring genuine peace to the Middle East.