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Political Naturalisation, a Menace to a Stable Society As well as being a remarkable display of unity and consensus on national issues, the massive turnout in the seminar on naturalization held in Bahrain last week is a striking evidence of the popular discontent due to the government policies that undermine the stable social structure in Bahrain. The popular seminar was organised by the leading political societies and attended by over 15 thousand people. The speakers and audience expressed serious concerns about the real motives behind naturalization and their long-term economic, political and social implications. The organizers have shown that it was evident, from the many interviews held with Saudi nationals who were granted the Bahraini citizenship as part of the political naturalization, that the move was aimed at destabilising the social fabric of the country and attempting to influence the outcomes of the October 2002 elections. Many of those interviewed had Identity Cards with false . The adverse consequences of naturalization are felt by all Bahrainis in many aspects. Among the most obvious negative consequences are the deteriorating health services manifested in the long waiting queues and scarcity of medicine. The sudden increase of the population by many thousands results in greater burdens on public services such as health, housing, education employment and others. This is further exacerbated by an already strained economy due the deeply entrenched corruption by leading figures in the government. In a recent opinion pull conducted by a leading and popular website in Bahrain on the political naturalisation, it was revealed that over 43% of the participants thought the government would respond with assuring statements that the naturalization is in accordance with the current legislations and another 47% said the government would not even respond to the event. The opinion pull also showed that less than 5% of the participants expected the government to react positively to the issue or that it would take steps to stop naturalisation. The rest (5%) voted as (Do not know) These percentages are indicative of the diminishing trust in the government policies and the feeling that the government actions are at odds with the wishes of the people. The seminar has proven that the political naturalization has been taking place at least for the past five years, i.e. before the notorious and widely condemned dual nationality decree was actually put into effect, thereby confirming the illegal actions by the government and that the naturalization has been politically motivated. What is more worrying and unique to the government of Bahrain is the granting of political rights, such as nomination and voting together with the citizenship to people who know nothing about the country except its location on the map. The government’s reaction to the massive turnout and irrefutable demonstration that naturalization has been conducted outside the law is equivalent to ignoring serious problems and great concerns about critical issues in the country. The public demand expressed in that massive gathering called for the resignation of the Undersecretary for Immigration and Passports. This demand should be accompanied by an independent public inquiry with unhindered access to the facts and figures pertaining to the issue of political naturalization. Bahrain Freedom Movement

24 July 2003

Loss of Bahraini Saudi Bank: The BMA and Flaifel could be the culprits  Manama-based Bahraini Saudi Bank (BSB) has suffered substantial losses in 2002 on the back of a provision to cover bad loans. For the year ending December 2002, the bank reported losses of BD5.14 million (US$13.64 million) versus profit of BD4.47 million achieved in 2001.  Press reports attributed the losses to lending irregularities extended over the last few years. The bank admitted problems with some BD20 million worth of guarantees it had obtained in return for extending credit facilities.  Flaifel, al-Sayed and Marjan The bank has largely fixed the blame on Ismaeel Marjan, a local real-estate merchant. It has emerged that the outstanding amount of credit facilities extended to Marjan amounts BD17 million. This amount is extraordinary, as the total shareholders’ equity including paid-up capital stood at less than BD28 million in 2002.  However, it is widely believed that Adel Flaifel, deputy head of the now defunct Bahrain Security and Intelligence Service (BSIS), is at least partly responsible for BSB’s financial troubles. Flaifel fled Bahrain in May 2002 after swindling banks and individuals of some BD24m ($63.83m). He left or, more accurately, was encouraged to leave the country while being investigated on charges of fraud, embezzlement, and issuing bad cheques. For the next seven months, Flaifel lived in Australia until last November when he returned home. This followed decree No. 56/2002 issued by Sheikh Hamad that provided protection for torturers from prosecution for past practices. In May, human rights activists submitted to Sheikh Hamad’s court a petition signed by some 33,000 Bahrainis urging the king to revoke decree 56/2002.  Flaifel was a client of the bank, dealing directly with Mansoor al-Sayed, BSB’s general manager for several years. However, BSB’s board fired al-Sayed as General Manager earlier this year. Flaifel and al-Sayed were known to be close associates and believed to have operated as a bank within the bank. Some contend that al-Sayed used to extend low-interest credit facilities to Flaifel, who would in turn lend the fund to others at higher interest rates. The customers happen to be those individuals and businesses that could not get loans in normal conditions because of their poor credit rating.  BMA, poor supervision In January, Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) revealed that it became aware of a significant irregularity in credit facilities at BSB. Many merchants have privately censured the BMA as a central bank for its failure to intervene at the right time to help avert crisis. At this time, the BMA placed BSB under receivership and later placed Khalid Shaheen as the new Chief Executive. 

As evidence of prevailing unjust practices in Bahrain, al-sayed was imprisoned for a few days. But Marjan was detained for some six months until early July when he was released on bail of BD100,000. But the real culprit, Flaifel was left untouched. Also, no actions were taken against the external editing firm. More importantly, the government has not faulted the BMA. The BSB case has demonstrated that Bahrain’s commercial banking industry is poorly managed. Some have described its practices as “a sham”. 

Wednesday, 16 April, 2003, 14:04 GMT 15:04 UK  Is the UK facing up to Bahrain’s past?  Jon Silverman  Home affairs analyst  Unrest marred Bahrain’s recent past  The security services of Bahrain – a close Gulf ally of the UK – are alleged to have violently repressed dissident voices. A Briton commanded these forces. So why no prosecution?  With Britain a key player in the war with Iraq, what are the chances of a prosecution being launched in the UK which would cause severe embarrassment to one of our staunch allies in the Gulf, Bahrain?  This is not a hypothetical discussion topic, but a dilemma which arises from a little-noticed investigation being conducted by Scotland Yard.  In 2000, serious allegations of torture against a British citizen, Colonel Ian Henderson, were passed to detectives from the Yard.  Colonial past  Colonel Henderson, who is in his mid-seventies, has had an interesting career. In the 1950s, as a colonial police officer, he helped stamp out the Mau Mau insurgency in Kenya.  When Kenya gained its independence, he was dispatched to Bahrain – then a British protectorate – where he became head of state security for some 30 years.  BAHRAIN  King Sheikh Hamad Bin-Isa Al-Khalifah is supreme authority  His family, from a Sunni Muslim tribe, has ruled since 1783  Bahrain gained independence from the UK in 1971  National Assembly dissolved in 1975, provoking Shia Muslim majority into years of unrest  In 2001, Bahrainis backed plan to turn their state from emirate to constitutional monarchy  An elected parliament and independent judiciary should be in place by 2004  Bahrain is an important military ally of the US and UK  Pro-democracy unrest was ruthlessly suppressed in Bahrain and allegations of brutality were made against both Colonel Henderson and his deputy, Adel Felaifel.  According to organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty, the methods used to cow anti-government activists included beatings, sexual abuse and the ransacking of whole villages.  The fact that Colonel Henderson owns a property on the edge of Dartmoor puts him within the jurisdiction of the British courts and explains why Scotland Yard opened a file on him.  No formal details have been disclosed about this inquiry, although detectives are believed to have travelled to a number of European countries to interview potential witnesses.  At first, organisations which campaign against the use of torture, like Redress, were delighted at the possibility of justice for the many Bahraini victims of the regime.  Now, though, after nearly three years, questions are being asked about how serious this inquiry is and whether, even if the evidence is strong enough, the political will exists to prosecute.  ‘Leaden-paced’ investigation  Carla Ferstman, of Redress, says: “As far as we know, the police have not been to Bahrain – presumably because they would not be welcome there – and they have not questioned Colonel Henderson. Given the length of this inquiry, this may be thought surprising.”  The vice-chair of the parliamentary Human Rights Group, Lord Avebury, goes further. “This is by far the strongest UK torture case we have seen, and yet the police investigation seems extraordinarily leaden-paced.  If we discovered that they had been given a nod and a wink not to investigate too thoroughly to avoid embarrassing Bahrain, there would be a hell of a row  Lord Avebury, parliamentary Human Rights Group  “We are completely in the dark about what the Yard has been doing. But if we discovered that they had been given a nod and a wink not to investigate too thoroughly to avoid embarrassing Bahrain, there would be a hell of a row.”  In response to inquiries, a Yard spokesman would say only that “a report was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service in August 2001 but no formal decision has been taken on charges.”  In a letter to Lord Avebury, the Attorney-General – who would have to approve any prosecution – said he was “serious about the UK’s commitment to the UN Convention Against Torture”.  As it happens, Bahrain is also a signatory to the convention – although in July 2002, the king showed his commitment to it in rather an odd way by issuing an amnesty to public servants who had committed acts of torture.  Australia, another signatory, had an opportunity to detain Adel Felaifel last year, when he visited Brisbane. But a similarly lethargic approach allowed him to leave the jurisdiction and return to Bahrain.  Lord Avebury said that when he visited the Gulf state in early January, victims of the state security police were “lining up” to show him the marks of their torture and many would welcome the chance to testify in an English court. 

The chances of that happening do not look high. As for Ian Henderson, he denies the allegations of torture.

The Unabated Attack on Journalism Freedom of speech is once again under heavy fire from the Minister of Information of the Bahrain Government. Scores of journalist were summoned by the court for fictitious crimes they were alleged to have committed by reporting on events the ruling family prefers to keep secret. Nabil Al Hamar, the Information Minister has publicly imposed restrictions on the freedom of expression in Bahrain thus launching an era that is worse than that before the so-called reforms programme. Today the repressive measures practiced against the citizens of Bahrain are publicly declared and supported by royal decrees. The Information Minister has failed to recognize that the ability of collection and dissemination of information without restrictions is the essence of the freedom of speech and expression. Thus, despite the constitutional provisions that guarantee these critical rights, the minister seems to be persistent in becoming the tool with which the Bahrain Government violates human rights and abuses its authority. The conditions pertaining to the function of Bahraini journalists are degenerating into a total anxiety and great concern. The recent press law is indiscriminate in its treatment of journalists. It empowers the minister of information to incriminate any writer if the government thinks that the views he/she expressed can influence the investment opportunities of the country. This includes criticizing the widespread corruption practices amongst officials, the monopoly of businesses and the unlawful accumulation of wealth by many royal members, in particular the Prime Minister. The so-called reforms programme has so far turned a blind eye to the practices that plunder the wealth of the country and has directed the country’s resources to silencing those who utter words of honour. The confiscation of the right to freedom of expression is in line with the many policies the government adopted to curb the opposition, impose the Al Khalifa’s unjust constitution and protect the criminals of the past era. The people of Bahrain have a great commitment to their liberties and rights. Their struggle to gain and secure these rights shall continue to confront the repressive policies of the regime. One of the most fundamental requirements of democracy is the freedom to express opinion without fear of retribution. This right has now ceased to exist in the “new era” imposed on the people by the ruler. It marks the end of any hope that this monarchical dictatorship is capable of modernizing its outdated system of government. Bahrain Freedom Movement

1 July 2003