NOV 93

November 1993 Political Corruption Sponsored by Great Powers Politics in a modern society is about how people manage their differences (democratically) with regard to choices and allocation of resources so that a peaceful coexistence may be established. In this case corruption may be present, but only on the margin. Moreover, such corruption would be limited and liable of being exposed by the press or any of the state’s institutions, and hence pcrpetrators are severely punished . However, in a country like Bahrain, such arrangement is vigorously resisted. Contrary to the official and some western governmenl’s official, the resistance does not emanate from the culture of the people. Indeed Bahrain experienced a form of frec debate between 1972 and 1973 before the dissolution of the parliarnent. In August 1975, the head of the ruling tribe, referred to as the Amir, decided that he and his brother (the Prirne Minislcr) could net tolcrate thc clected parliamentarian any more. The MPs have crossed the rcd line by exposing the corrupt and dictatorial nature of the ruling farnily. The latter are not only ruling in an absolute manner but are also trading and competing with ordinary people. Although the MPs were very careful not to criticize the Amir, as required by the constitution, there were many issues that touch on the corruption of the ruling family. The reader can imagine living in a country ruled by a tribal chief. The cabinet is headed by the eldest brother of the chief. Morc than one-third of the cabinet carry Lhc same family narne, two of whom havc their sons silting with them as ministers. Outside the cabinct, more than half the public organizations are headed by members of the same family. Ncarly all sport clubs and associations arc presided over by members of the same family. All profiting companies trading in every business imaginable belong to members of the same family. All the mcmbers of the family receive monthly salaries as from thc day of birth by virtue of carrying thc family name. They are also cxcmpt from paying all thc utilities bills, custom duties and e~{hcr rates. Above all, they can never bc prosecuted as individuals. Any claim by an ordinary person against a member of the Ming family would be refereed to the ruling family council. The latter corporate body will stand against any claim in any court. The courts are headed by members of the same family. So don’t waist your time waiting for justice. When some one attempts to oppose this set-up, a professional security team composed of expatriates from an advanced democratic country (Britain) conduct sessions of interrogations and torture until the persecuted person “confess” of meddling in politics. Then, 3 to 15 years or life (if not actual death under torture, as has happened to some eight people in the Eighties) prison sentence is waiting This is not a gloomy and exaggerated picture. It is bread and butter of a peoplc subjected to internal repression propped-up (for selfish reasons) by external powers dominating the world stage. Britain controlled B ahrain for 150 years. In l971, independence was formally pro claimed. Since then the US influence picked up and peaked recently to a superior level. Britain crushed the pro-democracy uprising in the fifties, a fact fully documentcd in the Foreign Office released files. Then, it was stated that the movement was pro-Nasser of Egypt. Now, both the American and British claim that Islarnic fundamentalism may win from liberalising the political system. The fact of the matter is that there are interests that are more important to the US and Britain than principles of democracy. The banner of democracy may be raised in countries where there is nothing at stake to loose, like Cuba, and where a propaganda theme is needed. In the past Britain wanted the Gulf for its geographical location on the way to India. Now the US is more interested in the barrels of oil than in a”bunch” of human beings. Attacking Freedom of Expression On 25 September 1993, Seyed Dhia Yahya Al-Mosawi, delivered a speech at Mo’min Mosque in the capital, Manama. Since the day that followed until now, he has been detained without charges. Al-Mosawi, a young religious scholar, was participating in a socio-religious Fathering. He happened to choose the peace agreement singed in Washington between the PLO and Israel as a subject matter. This was unforgivable by the intelligence department since “meddling with politics” is a crime in Bahrain. The care-taker of Mo’min Mosque had received a threat that the mosque would be closed, in a similar fashion to the way that another place Ma’ tam Al-Qassab was closed on 21 August. The message was that the mosque must stop inviting personalities who criticise the regime, implicitly or explicitly. In August, Ma’tam Al-Qassab, was sealed (banned) and the care-taker, Seyed Alawi Mohsin Al-Alawi was detained, tortured and had his arm broken under torture before being released in mid October, amid wide-spread condemnation by international human rights organisation. Ma’tam Al-Qassab was also unsealed in mid October with a threat to other members of the executive committee that they would suffer the same consequences if they resume mvltmg speakers. Mo’min Mosque is one of the oldest in the country and has a history of independence from government pressure. Moreover, it is located in a strategic place, only a few minutes waLk from the notorious Qala’a prison, where political detainees receive their torture recipes. The security service is skilled at picking on some people and making an “example” to deter others. The arbitrary (Russian-roulette type) selection landed this timeonSeyed Dhia Al-Mosawi. He is to be the example for the organisers and participators in the Mo’min Mosque activities. After searching his house and possessions, he was led away to Al-Qala’a Fort for interrogation under the State Security Law. Since his arrest, people were outraged and his photographs were distributed around the country calling on the government to release him. Furthennore, a petition, the first of its kind for a decade, was signed by forty religious scholars and delivered to the Interior Minister stating the following: “His Excellency the Minister of Interior. Greetings. On 26 September, the security services of your ministry detained a religious scholar, Seyed I)hia Seyed Yahya Al-Mosawi, without charges. We consider this action an intimidation to religious scholars. We are astonished and condemn this move. We hope that you order his release, to serve the stability and security of the country, and in doing so, the State would abide by its slogans on allowing freedom of expression. Signed by 40 dignitaries on 15 October 1993”. This has come about after Bahrain was removed from the UN list of countries whose behaviour on human rights is but under observation. Since then, hundreds of young people and senior personalities have been subjected to vanous forms of intimidation; interrogation, torure, jail or deportation. Is this what the UN would like to happen in Bahrain? Human Rights Montly Monitor * on lsl October 1993, a public meeting was held to commemorate the 40th day of [he passing away of Ayatollah Sabzawary in Iraq. Sccurity forces surrounded Mo’min Mosque and attcmp[cd to identify pariticipants. * on 2nd October, Mr. Mahdi Al-Saced was detained. He remained in his cell for scvcral days for unspecified charges. On the second nigh, Mr. :tuhair Ismail Bador, was arrested, and later reIcascd. He was interrogated again on 4th Octobcr. At the same timc, a third man, Ali Al-Jallawi, was arrested. He is still in jail. + Early in the month, Intelligence Scrrvice searched thoroughly the Al-Khcdher Mosque in Bar-Bar village. No reason for search was given. + on 26th Septcmber, Mr. Hassan Al-Sa’ati, was summond to the Interior Ministry. He was questioned about his activities in Al-Khawajah Mosque. He was threatened with severe punishments, if he continue his social and cultural activities in uhe Mosque. * in the same week, Jamil Al-Ageefa, Jaafer Selail, Abbas Kalzaman and Seyed Ahmed Seyed Nerna, were interrogated and tortu
red. * on 11 th October, Jamil Ali Salman and Jaafer Selail (again) were interrogated. * Political prisoner, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Marhoon, had been jailed in 1983, when he was 19 years old, and was .sentenccd to 10 ycars imprisonment. On August 1993. he complcted the 10 years term. But, the prison authorities refused to release him. When he complained, he was told that neither Ian Henderson or the Interior Minister. $ on 20th October, Mr. Abdul-Hassan Al-Motaghawi, was detained and interrogated for a day. He had bean in a family trip to Iran. He was questioned about his relationship with Bahraini religious scholars studying in the holy city of Qum.

* A group of Bahrami exiles wrote a letter to the UN Secretar-General, asking him to intervene and urge the Bahraini authorilies to allow exiles back home.

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