November 1999

November 1999

Bahrain: A major crackdown in Hamad Town and more intimidation for mosque leaders
The security forces continued its campaign against the nation. By 28 November, more than forty people have been arrested from Hamad Town. Five days ago, the torturer Adel Flaifel summoned Mulla Abdul Jalil, the religious scholar who used to pray in Hamad Town Mosque (Al-Zahra Mosque) and threatened him of grave consequences. The mosque was closed down earlier last month and the residents of the town had been angered by this flagrant abuse of their religious rights. The youths of the town campaigned against the closure with graffiti. Those arrested are now being tortured in several places including the Qala’a and the Dry-Dock camp. Al-Sadiq Grand Mosque in Manama is still closed down every Friday. Haji Abdul Karim Mohammed, the head of Matam Bin-Khamis of Sanabis was summoned by the intelligence department and threatened with arrest if he does not comply with intimidating conditions being imposed by the interior ministry on all mosques and community centre. On 26 November, two helicopters flew at low level over the houses of Sanabis, in a cheap show of force. All these atrocities come at a time when the Amir claims in front of the Pope and other religious leaders to be guaranteeing freedom of religion in Bahrain. Prisoners in Jaw (Sheikh Ali Ashor, Hasan Mushaimaa, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Rayyash, Seyyed Ibrahim Al-Alawi, Sheikh Hassan Sultan, Sheikh, and Sheikh Hussain Al-Deihi, Omran Hussain Omran and others) started another protest on 28 November. This followed the insistence of the prison officers to strip them naked before and after family visits. This is aimed at intimidating the citizens who are detained for no reason other than calling for their legitimate rights. A new policy by the Al-Khalifa ruling family has been uncovered. This policy aims at driving out citizens from senior positions and replacing them with members of the ruling family. Close circles also revealed that the new Amir established a new salary structure for members of the ruling family. All salaries are now three times as they were before. The lowest grade of an Al-Khalifa used to receive a free salary of 300 dinars ($800) per month. This lowest grade had been increased to 900 dinars ($2400). The average grade of an Al-Khalifa used to receive around 800 dinars ($2136), and now 2400 dinars ($6400) per month. All members of Al-Khalifa with qualifications are to be made directors and officials of the State. This is now called “Khalfanisation of the Adminsatration.” Moreover, all Al-Khalifa members will be allocated new houses built by the State (not from the money they already get). Every week, the Amir to meet with other Al-Khalifa members to answer their needs. When members of Al-Ghatam tribe attended one of these meetings, they were told out, because the meeting is reserved for Khalifas only.

Bahrain Freedom Movement 29 November 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: A British FA club is used as a publicity stunt
On 24 November, the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, met in London Norwich City Football Association’s chairman Mr. Bob Cooper. The Amir donated money to the FA Youth Academy (in Norwich) and premised to visit Norwich next April when he visits the United Kingdom again. The meeting was aimed at creating an official link whereby the son of the Amir (Abdulla bin Hamad) would send youths for training at Norwich fields. A spokesperson for the Bahrain Freedom Movement said “the meeting with Norwich FA team is being used by the Bahraini-controlled media as a PR stunt. There has been no mention of money in the official reports, instead it is simply being portrayed as a successful visit to Britain by the Amir. This was used to cover up the embarrassment caused by the wide coverage in the British media of human rights abuses in Bahrain. The idea that the general population in Bahrain would benefit from such a link is not true. Only the elite few would benefit from this scheme”. Jeremy Corbyn MP, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, tabled on 25 November an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons about the visit to the UK this week of the Amir of Bahrain. The motion refers to the Channel 4 News report broadcast on November 23rd, which detailed gross human rights abuses in Bahrain including arbitrary detention and torture. The text of the motion is “That this House notes the visit to the UK by the new Amir of Bahrain ,Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, on 22nd November 1999; congratulates Channel 4 News on its secretly filmed report about arbitrary detention and torture in Bahrain and the leading role played by the British ex-Colonel, Ian Henderson; deplores the regime’s continued detention of several thousand political prisoners, such as Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussein, who has been in detention without charge since 1996; is deeply concerned that, despite his coming to power on March 6th 1999, human rights abuses have continued in Bahrain under the new Amir, including the forcible exile of dissidents and arbitrary detentions including a ten year old child, Issa Abdulla Issa Maki, from Karana village in the last few days; notes that leading opposition figure, Sheikh Abdul Ameer Al-Jamri, although now released after three years imprisonment without trial, is still under house arrest and banned from any political activity; and, therefore calls on Her Majesty’s Government to raise the findings of the Channel 4 News report with the Amir; and to urge him to halt all human rights violations in Bahrain, release immediately all political prisoners, halt the forcible expulsion of Bahraini citizens, allow the hundreds in exile to return, and to enter into dialogue with the Committee for Popular Petition for the restoration of Bahrain’s Parliament and Constitution.”

Bahrain Freedom Movement 26 November 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

UK Parliamentary Motion on Bahrain:
Jeremy Corbyn MP, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, tabled an Early Day Motion on 25 November in the House of Commons about the visit to the UK this week of the Amir of Bahrain. The motion refers to the Channel 4 News report broadcast on November 23rd which detailed gross human rights abuses in Bahrain including arbitrary detention and torture.

The text of the motion is:

“That this House notes the visit to the UK by the new Amir of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, on 22nd November 1999;

– congratulates Channel 4 News on its secretly filmed report about arbitrary detention and torture in Bahrain and the leading role played by the British ex-Colonel, Ian Henderson;

– deplores the regime’s continued detention of several thousand political prisoners, such as Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussein, who has been in detention without charge since 1996;

– is deeply concerned that, despite his coming to power on March 6th 1999, human rights abuses have continued in Bahrain under the new Amir, including the forcible exile of dissidents and arbitrary detentions including a ten year old child, Issa Abdulla Issa Maki, from Karana village in the last few days;

– notes that leading opposition figure, Sheikh Abdul Ameer Al-Jamri, although now released after three years imprisonment without trial, is still under house arrest and banned from any political activity;

and, therefore calls on Her Majesty’s Government to:

–  raise the findings of the Channel 4 News report with the Amir; and to urge him to halt all human rights violations in Bahrain, release immediately all political prisoners,

– halt the forcible expulsion of Bahraini citizens, allow the hundreds in exile to return, and

– to enter into dialogue with the Committee for Popular Petition for the restoration of Bahrain’s Parliament and Constitution.”

Bahrain: Henderson to face criminal charges in Britain
On 24 November, the State Security Court, presided by a member of the ruling family, sentenced several citizens to six months imprisonment. All the following citizens had already spent over a year in administrative detention: Dr. Isa Ibrahim Matar, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Ali Mosa, Hasan Ibrahim Matar (brother of Dr. Isa), Saeed Ali Makki, Fadhil Abbas Al-Deiri, and Seyyed Jaber. A short documentary film broadcast on 23 November at a British television station has led to a political furore. The film which was aired as part of the main Channel 4 news at 7.00 pm dealt with what it called the “British legacy” in Bahrain, and detailed in some length the accusations levelled against Ian Henderson, by his victims. Several Bahraini nationals described how they had been subjected to severe torture either by Henderson or at the hands of his henchmen in the notorious SIS (Security and Intelligence Service) which had been established by the British in mid-sixties. Henderson, himself, was recruited by the British Government in 1966, according to the film. Channel 4. They also say they have documents on this. The victims described their ordeals during their detention. A young girl described how, together with other women detainees, she was stripped naked and threatened with rape if they did not “cooperate” with the torturers, and signed false statements incriminating themselves. Treatment of women in this way is repugnant everywhere especially in the conservative society of the Bahrain. Another victim, Hashim Redha recollected his encounters with Mr. Henderson over a six-months period in 1982, and described unethical acts committed against him as he was being hanged like a chicken. The film also suggested that Henderson be extradited to Britain to face charges for crimes against humanity. Lord Avebury supported this idea. Channel 4 news presenter, Jon Snow, asked the Bahraini Ambassador to his reaction to the film, but the latter failed to offer any convincing argument, repeating the same answer for all the questions, that his government had signed certain international conventions. On 21 November the Scottish Herald, had published an important article about Henderson and his role in torturing pro-democracy activists in Bahrain. The article detailed the ordeal of Abdulla Hassan, who was tortured by Henderson himself. It cited other torture victims who may have been ill-treated by Henderson. Roseanna Cunningham, of the Scottish Nationalist Party offered her help should extradition of Mr. Henderson to Britain be contemplated. Another member of Parliament, Jeremy Corbyn, promised to take up the issue with the Foreign Office. The British Government has become under strong pressure to act especially as the Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is being received at the highest possible level. Yesterday the Amir had an audience with the Queen and the Prime Minister Tony Blair, and was expected to meet the Foreign and Defence Secretaries today. Several Human Rights organisations wrote to the FCO requesting them to take up the issues of human rights with the Bahraini delegation. Article 19, OMCT and FIDH, presented their demands to the FCO, while the Independent (24 Nov 99), the Daily Telegraph (24 Nov 99) and other newspapers covered the event in a balanced way outlining the concerns towards the appalling situation of human rights in Bahrain. Bahrain Freedom Movement 24 November 1999 Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

The Independent, 24 Nov 1999

Anti-torture groups object to visit by Bahrain’s Emir

By Fran Abrams, Westminster Correspondent A state visit to Britain by the new Emir of Bahrain was at the centre of a dispute last night with anti-torture groups calling for ministers to raise human rights issues with the leader. Two groups, Article 19 and the Geneva-based World Organisation Against Torture, and the UK-based Bahrain Human Rights Organisation, wrote letters protesting about the visit. The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who arrived on Monday, was due to meet the Queen and Tony Blair during his first visit to Britain since the death of his father earlier this year. The British government believes the Emir should be given time to address calls for an end to torture, and to reintroduce democracy to the tiny Gulf state, whose National Assembly was dissolved in 1975. Although human rights organisations say some improvements have been made, their letters said that serious abuses were still taking place. In particular, Article 19 – whose name refers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – said there had been a recent ban on religious activity by some groups, during which security forces had surrounded at least one mosque during prayers. They also said a National Assembly member and leading pro-democracy campaigner, Sheikh Abdel Amir al-Jamri, had his house stormed by security officers in September while he was held there after his release in July from a long imprisonment. The World Organisation Against Torture said only a few hundred of the thousands detained under State Security laws in the past 25 years had been charged. Some were held for up to three years. “The violation of human rights in Bahrain is extremely serious and can only be effectively addressed by the Bahraini authorities…. We urge you to discuss these matters with Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa during his visit and to ensure appropriate action is taken.” Despite these concerns, Britain maintains close links with Bahrain and regards it as strategically important. Robin Cook’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, Ken Purchase, heads the All-Party Bahrain Group and makes regular trips there with MPs, paid for by a lobbyist, Omar al-Hassan. Last month Mr Purchase visited Bahrain with a group of MPs. Bahrain’s state security forces are run by a British ex-colonel, Ian Henderson. Last night, in a Channel 4 film, former prisoners said they had been tortured by Henderson. “They trussed me up like a chicken for fifteen minutes. They take you and bend you double and handcuff you. They insert a wooden rod and they suspend you,” one prisoner said. Others said Henderson’s officers had set dogs on them.

SPECIAL REPORT

UK CHANNEL 4 (TV) NEWS

“What They Don’t Want You to Know” SPECIAL AN ETHICAL FOREIGN POLICY? Broadcast November 23, 1999 Reporter: Sarah Spiller Production: Catma Films A month after controversy over the visit of President Jiang – tonight Channel 4 News has an exclusive report which raises yet more questions about Labour’s ethical foreign policy. As the ruler of the Gulf State of Bahrain visits, -we disclose evidence of British complicity in torture and repression. Tonight we can reveal new information on a British Colonel who has been at the centre of a terror campaign for thirty years – and whom activists say should face torture charges. We also reveal anger over Labour MP’s who, it’s been claimed, have allowed themselves to become part of the Bahraini regime’s propaganda machine. Sarah Spiller posed as a tourist to film this undercover report in Bahrain. We should warn you some of the pictures may be upsetting. If you’re a Brit in Bahrain – it could be home from home. You can enjoy British music, pleasant resorts – even a beer. But whilst this state might have gained independence twenty eight years ago – whilst it may have a new ruler, according to campaigners, this is a country where citizens are still denied some of the most basic human rights. A place where the real British legacy is repression and torture. HASHEM REDHA: “They put your hand in the clamp and they bring the hammer down, beating your finger.” Filming undercover, we posed as tourists in Bahrain’s opulent hotels, – and went to see the sights. The luxurious palace grounds of Bahrain;’s rulers, the Al-Khalifa family. And the villages where the calls are for freedom, and democracy. At secret locations we heard how young people have been arrested after peaceful political protests. Many were so terrified they asked us to disguise their appearance. This young girl was held for two weeks after a demonstration at her school. She was beaten with a hose-pipe, then came the threats. GIRL: “And she said to us if you don’t confess we’ll put you on the electric chair until you confess. And if you don’t confess you will be raped. They took us all to a room and we were stripped naked all over and made to stand as a method of torture.” When youngsters paint slogans on walls – they risk being beaten. A 12-year-old told us how he was held for nine days. BOY: “They put us in a room and they started beating us inside the room whilst interrogating us.They used a hose to beat us. They hit me on the back, on the feet.” Pictures smuggled from Bahrain show the scale of the democracy movement here. The country’s rulers maintain the movement for political reform has been responsible for violence and deaths. Activists say what they want is the restoration of Bahrain’s national assembly dissolved in 1975. One of the figureheads of the opposition is Sheik Al-Jamri. He’s been effectively – with a twenty four hour security presence around his home. MANSOOR AL-JAMRI, Bahrain Freedom Movement: “My father was put in jail isolated from the world, tortured psychologically and physically. He is under house arrest now. The government uses him as an example to show the government has no limits.” Sheik Al-Jamri’s picture now appears on walls alongside other activists. Over the last few months Bahrain’s ruler has pardoned political dissidents, released over three hundred prisoners and set up a human rights panel. These moves, the regime’s opponents say don’t go nearly far enough. And the European Parliament along with human rights groups have condemned arbitrary arrests, detention for three year without trial, the ruthless use of force. The US State department has also highlighted cases of torture. One – the death of this 19-year-old, Seyed Ali Amin. Reportedly beaten and tortured after his arrest, the US State department has said this case is one of a number the authorities have failed to investigate. And at the heart of outrage over torture – a British Colonel who has operated from this fortified castle. SARAH SPILLER: “Stretching along this road is the headquarters of Bahrain’s secret police. It’s a place of fear for political dissidents. Many people we’ve talked to here have told us horrific stories of torture. – And of their meetings with the notorious Ian Henderson.” This rare TV interview with Ian Henderson was recorded when he was deported from Kenya following independence in 1964. IAN HENDERSON: “What I did as a police officer during the emergency in Kenya many years ago is today seen as not very desirable.” Not desirable in Kenya – but according to confidential Foreign Office documents, Henderson became highly desirable to the British. Secret papers show how the British Foreign Office persuaded Henderson to take charge of Bahrain’s security services in 1966, and soon became impressed by his performance, as he began ‘firing on all cylinders’. As the man who’s directed the state’s security forces for over thirty years, Henderson’s been condemned by the European Parliament and labelled by a British MP “the Butcher of Bahrain”. Tonight we can present new evidence about Ian Henderson stretching back to the early 70s. One man witness told us how the British colonel hit a prisoner when he refused to confess. MAN: “He put on the knuckleduster, he did not control himself. He punched him on the glasses and that’s why the eye started bleeding.” Another witness told us how, four years ago, after he was tortured by an officer, Henderson came to interrogate him. SECOND MAN: “They trussed me like a chicken for 15 minutes. They take you and bend you double and handcuff you. They insert a wooden rod and they suspend you. After one week of my arrest it was him who interrogated me. He said – what do you want – why do you call for the restoration of democracy?” But the most damming evidence is from the man who drew these pictures of his ordeal at the hands of Henderson’s officers. He agreed to be identified, at great personal risk. HASHEM REDHA: “They torture us by the dog. Sometimes they bring the clamp and they take your nail off.” He told us that officers sexually assaulted him. HASHEM REDHA: “Of all the things about torturing, the worst of them, is that torturing they put something in your body. Sometime his finger, sometime his penis, sometime the stick. That is very bad, really very bad.” Then he told us of the times he met Ian Henderson. Hasham Redha said Henderson hit him, threatened him. HASHEM REDHA: “He kick me and shook me two times. He told me, if we need to torture you, if you like the hit, we can hit you more than that.” Redha met Henderson at a room in the castle. He was shown a TV monitor. Redha saw his family outside waiting for him. It was a way of trying to make Redha sign a confession. HASHEM REDHA: “I saw my wife, I saw my son. He told me if you don’t sign we take you out of Bahrain, and never come in Bahrain again.” Ian Henderson has a house near the castle and apparently retired recently. But our research has led to more demands that Henderson be arrested if he ever steps foot in Britain. The view of one campaigner – that Henderson ‘s role in Bahrain could lead to a lengthy prison sentence. LORD AVEBURY, Parliamentary Human Rights Group: “I’d love to see him before the magistrates in the same way that Pinochet was, except that of course he would finish up in our prisons and he would get a very long sentence, I hope for the crimes that he has committed. But there are questions not only over Ian Henderson, – but the larger role Britain has played in repression here. In Bahrain’s smart shopping malls – British household names are everywhere. What’s rather less apparent are New Labour’s other exports to this Gulf state. This year the government gave 29 licences to British firms to supply Bahrain with arms. New Labour’s ethical line – that they ensure such weapons aren’t used for internal repression. LORD AVEBURY, Parliamentary Human Rights Group: “I think that whenever governments ask you to take their word for it you begin to smell a rat and you want to know a bit more, because we know what happens in the arms sales field. And Britain has yet another export to Bahrain. It’s not only holidaymakers who’ve enjoyed the cor
dial climate here. It’s our own Members of Parliament. Over the last two years these MP’s have enjoyed a study visits to Bahrain courtesy of a pro-regime lobbying group. Their number includes MP’s who have been senior advisors to Robin Cook and Claire Short. Some have even declared gifts of jewellery from Bahrain’s former Amir. These MPs went on another trip last month. The verdict of Labour Mr Purchase and Mr Kumar – reported in the region’s main newspaper, was that Bahrain was always the freest country in the region – and it was even more free now. Society here, is open and transparent. Both Labour MP’s told us they stood by their comments – they were impressions they gained on their study visit. MANSOOR AL-JAMRI, Bahrain Freedom Movement: “They should be ashamed of themselves being members of the House of Commons, the mother of all parliaments in this world. They should know every word they have uttered in favour of a dictator who is torturing people is basically increasing the pain of victims. And as Bahrain’s ruler visits Britain – some are keen he sees all the sights. LORD AVEBURY, Parliamentary Human Rights Group: “I’d like him to see from a distance the names of people who have been tortured to death under his regime and the names of people who have been kept in custody for years and years without trial, the names of people who have been wrongly convicted before the infamous state security court.”

At this party, the theme – what Britain has done for Bahrain. But there’s another message campaigners want Bahrain’s ruler to hear today. No British complicity in a brutal regime.

Daily Telegraph, 24 Nov 1999

Bahrain ‘uses torture on dissidents’ By Christopher Lockwood, Diplomatic Editor

BAHRAIN was accused last night of human rights abuses as its new emir continued his first visit to Britain since his accession in March. A secretly-filmed report by Channel 4 News, broadcast yesterday to coincide with the first full day of the visit by Emir Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa, claimed that torture and arbitrary arrest were still used in Bahrain, an absolute monarchy where parliament is appointed, not elected.

However, the Foreign Office stressed that the country’s record had improved recently and one official confirmed that Robin Cook, Foreign Secretary, intended to congratulate his counterpart at a meeting later today.

The Channel 4 report quoted victims who alleged that they were tortured by police. One young girl claimed she was arrested after a demonstration and beaten with a hose-pipe. The girl says she was told: “If you don’t confess we’ll put you on the electric chair until you confess. If you don’t confess you will be raped.” Two Britons jailed for fraud have been released from a Bahraini jail under a pardon from the emir. Richard Cunningham, 35, of Sheffield, and Coren Dillon-White, 25, were sentenced to three years in jail in July for forging travellers’ cheques.

Sunday Herald (Scotland), 21 November 1999

Victims identify Scots colonel as Bahrain torturer BRITAIN faces a major diplomatic embarrassment during the state visit by the Emir of Bahrain this week after evidence was obtained by the Sunday Herald confirming that Scottish colonel Ian Henderson tortured pro-democracy campaigners during his tenure as head of the gulf state’s secret service. The revelations will also once again embarrass the Blair government over its professed commitment to an “ethical” foreign policy. The Bahraini ruler, Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is to arrive late on Monday night on a three-day trip which will see him welcomed by the Prime Minister and the Queen. Last night, politicians and human rights campaigners called for Henderson’s extradition to Britain andprosecution . The revelations will also embarrass the Royal Family. Prince Andrew arrived in Bahrain on Wednesday as part of a three day visit to the country during which he was welcomed by members of the ruling family who are close to Henderson. Now in his early 70s, Henderson took up his position as head of the Bahrain Security Intelligence Service in 1966. At the time of his appointment he was in disgrace following his deportation from Kenya, where he worked as aSpecial Branch chief, on charges of co-ordinating violent reprisals against Mau-Mau rebels.

Henderson has long been suspected of co-ordinating and directing torture and repression in Bahrain. However, a former detainee of the SIS, now living in exile in London, has come forward, claiming he was tortured by Henderson personally at the notorious Fort Prison, the SIS headquarters in Bahrain’s capital, Manama. The man, who asked for his real identity to be disguised fearing for the safety of his relatives still living in the country, spent 10 years in the country’s jails. Going under the name Abdulla Hassan, for the purposes of this interview, he said: “My first experience of Henderson took place in 1982 when I was hanged like a chicken at the office of Adel Flaifel, one of Henderson’s henchmen. “I was hanged by my arms and legs when Henderson entered the room and said: ‘Do you want to confess?’.

He immediately assaulted me in an immoral way and after a while he left the room.” Hassan said he was naked at the time and Henderson beat him over the buttocks. He went on: “The encounter lasted about 10 minutes during which I was in severe pain. The three torturers – Flaifel, Abdulla Al Tanak and Abdulla Al Dowsari – stopped when he entered the room awaiting further instructions from him, but upon receiving satisfactory approval from him, they resumed their beating. “I was held in Room 88 – the torturers call it the room of execution. I had already spent eight days forced to stand up day and night. My feet were swollen up to my knees, the blood had clotted and the pain was all over my body. I thought I was going to die. “The last time I encountered Henderson was in his room. He made me sit on a chair and covered files and papers from my sight. He said to me in broken Arabic: ‘Do not look at anything except my face. If you want to go home, confess first; otherwise you will remain here as our guest.’ One of the things he said to me which has remained in my memory ever since was: ‘You like to be beaten and we like to beat.’ He threatened me with further severe torture if I did not co-operate.” There are at least three other men who are willing to testify to Henderson’s direct involvement in torture, including one man still living in Bahrain who claims that, in 1970, he saw Henderson hit a hooded detainee in the mouth with a knuckle-duster and watched as blood poured out from beneath the mask. Zaki Khalifa, now 27, was confronted by Henderson in prison 10 years ago. He was being moved from an interrogation room to his cell when Henderson stopped him on a stairway. “I said to him that I had told the guards everything I knew. He just looked at me with cold, motionless eyes and said: ‘Do you think you can ever go home?'” Now in exile in Britain, Zaki was tortured at the notorious Al Kala desert castle. He was kept standing for 72 hours, hung by his arms and beaten with truncheons. “Henderson is a terrorist and a monster. I want to see him charged with human rights crimes,” Khalifa said. Lord Avebury, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee and a campaigner for democracy in Bahrain, said: “The Henderson issue must now come to a head. There is direct evidence that he is personally involved in torture.” Mansoor Al Jamri, one of the leaders of the Bahrain Freedom Movement, which will lobby the government during the Emir’s visit, said: “Britain should show there are no double standards. If we are happy to arrest Pinochet then we must be happy to arrest Henderson.” SNP shadow justice minister Roseanna Cunninghamsaid: “Testimony pointing towards a British national taking part in torture must be seriously investigated. I would support any attempt to investigate the possibilities of extradition.” Jeremy Corbyn, the campaigning Labour MP, is to raise the Sunday Herald’s findings in the Commons tomorrow during the foreign section of the Queen’s Speech. He said: “How can we claim we have an ethical foreign policy when we behave like this?”

The Foreign Office said the Government did have concerns about Bahrain’s human rights record, and was in dialogue with the ruling family.

Bahrain: More arrests on the eve of the Amir’s UK visit As the Amir arrived in London last night, more news came of further vicious attacks on human rights and civil liberties in the country. Yesterday morning, 13 people were arbitrary arrested in Hamad town. They are: Shakir Salman Al Ali, 17 and his four brothers, Radhi, 17, Yousef, Ali and Hussain, Sayed Ali Sayyed Kadhem, 22, Mohammad Abbas Al Sabe’, 17, Ahmad Abdul Karim, 18, Shawqi Ali Khalifa, 23, Jassim Al Sabe’, Mohammad Al Sabe’, Saleh Al Sabe’ and Isa Al Sabe’. The last four are brothers. Their cousin, Fadhel Al Sabe’ had been arrested earlier. More arrests had been reported earlier. From Karrana three people including two children were arrested: Isa Abdulla Isa Makki, 10, Sayyed Jaffar Sayyed Jaber Alawi, 15, and Hussain Salman Helal, 21. From Nuwaidrat several people were arrested few days age: Ali Qambar, the brother of Isa Qambar who had been executed in March 1996, Murtadha Al Qayyem, 19, Ali Madan, 23, Hussain Habib, Abbas Al Barbouri, 18, and Sadeq Al Mulla, 20. The latter was arrested immediately after his brother, Abdul Shahid, 14, had been released. The opposition has decided not to disrupt the Amir’s visit to London, as a sign of goodwill gesture. It expressed the hope that the visit would result in good progress to the country. The opposition has done everything possible to create a positive atmoshpere for the Amir to take a historic decision revoking his father’s disastrous decision in 1975, and reinstating the country’s constitution and elected parliament. It had earlier called off its protest when he became the ruler after his father’s demise. So far, no serious improvement has occurred. Even the collective releases of detainees is viewed with scepticism. Following every such initiative by the Amir, the security forces go on the rampage arresting and torturing more innocent civilians. On the other hand, the World Organisation Against Torture, OMCT, wrote a letter to Peter Hain, the British minister of state for foreign affairs, to draw his attention to “the human rights situation in Bahrain in the light of the Amir’s visit to London”. In the letter, the organisation condemned the practices of the State Security Court and called for an urgent visit by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. It took up the case of Sheikh Al Jamri and called for ending his house arrest. It also requested Mr. Hain to raise the case of Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain and his colleagues who have been in detention without charge or trial for almost four years. Finally, OMCT urged the minister to “discuss these matters with HH Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa, during his visit to the UK, and ensure that appropriate action is taken by the Bahraini authorities in order to put an end to the gross violation of human rights in Bahrain”. The letter was signed by Anee-Laurence, Deputy Director. Bahrain Freedom Movement  23 November 1999

Tel / Fax : (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Replenishing jails for another “Amiri pardon”

On the eve of the first official visit by the Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the Vatican and the United Kingdom, which started today, a wave of arrests has swept through the country. No less than twenty people have been arbitrarily arrested over the past ten days, thus compensating for the few who were released following the Amiri pardon last week. Among the latest victims are: Sayyed Alawi Sayyed Hussain, 25 Abdul Karim Abdul Nabi, 18, aand Sayyed Alaa Sayyed Nasser Sayyed Mohsin, 18. The three are from Duraz and were arrested in the early hours of Saturday. It was reported earlier that Mr. Mansoor Abdul Wahid Al Shehabi,18, had also been arrested. The first person had been arrested at least three times over the past five years, and has since been dismissed from his job with Bahrain Telecom, which is under the direct control of the minister of transport, the son of the prime minister. The third was pulled from his bed in front of his elderly and terrified grandmother. Further arrests took place in other areas. From Samaheej, Moosa Al Mu’allem, 26 was arrested at 1.30 am on 18 November together with Yousef Al Maseeh, 25. From Ras Rumman Mohammad Ali Al Jaziri was arrested on 20 November. These arrests are looked at with disdain from the people who believe they are intended to fill up the jails so that when the next occasion comes, such as the National Day, there will be a stock of humans lanquishing in the torture chambers to receive the Amiri pardon. It is now known that only a handful of detainees have been released after the Amiri decree to pardon 200 prisoners. It also emerged that many of those included in this act are common law prisoners, and political detainees who have already served the sentences imposed on them by the notorious State Security Court. .As a sign of the continuing repression, armed security forces and riot police are roaming the streets in several areas, brandishing their guns in a show of defiance to the international calls to abandon the policy of repression. It is also reported that Duraz, one of the areas continuously targeted by the government, is under constant police surveillance to preempt any possible outburst of anger against the repressive policies of the regime. Last Friday the grand mosque at Ras Rumman, a suburb of Manama, was the scene of intensive activities by the security forces to stop any attempt to demonstrate. A week earlier worshippers had demonstrated against the government in a show of defance. On the other hand, the 33rd Conference of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) which is being held in Washington DC, has dealt with the situation in Bahrain. Yesterday, Dr. Louay Bahri, an academic author on the affairs of Bahrain, presented an important paper on that country and discussed the socio-economic foundation of the Bahraini opposition. Dr. Bahri said that: “on 6 March 1999 the Amir of Bahrain Isa bin Salamn Al-khaifa died unexpectedly from a heart attack after 37 years of rule. The council of the ruling al-Khlifa family met on the same day and pledged allegiance to his son. The arrival of a relatively young (49 yrs) new Amir, brought with it many hopes that he will implement the kind of reforms needed in Bahrain, and that he will calm the political situation. He further added: Vague signs came from the Amir but no real progress or reform could be cited. In fact the situation remain stagnant and the indications are that unless the Amir and the government of Bahrain start reforms, a new uprising will erupt in the next few years”.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

22 November  1999

Tel / Fax (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Concerns for human rights mount as more arrests are made

In the early hours of Thursday 18 November, Mansoor Abdul Wahid Al Shehabi,18, was arrested by the security forces while walking home. He was severely beaten on the sport, kicked and punched until he passed out. The young man was carried to the police car which drove at high speed to take him to the torture chamber. Mr. Al Shehabi is in his first year of university education, and is likely to deprived of his education in line with other Bahraini youth who are denied peaceful existence by the regime. 

This arrest is yet another proof that the reign of terror imposed by the government has not been abandoned despite some minor step by the new Amir.

There is now a growing concern that the evil forces under the command of the prime minister may be trying to thwart any attempt to open up the country and close the back chapter of years of repression. The people, on their part, have not compromised their demands, and are engaged in peaceful acts of protest to demand the reinstatement of the constitution and the unconditional release of prisoners. In the village of Al Qeriah in Sitra, the local inhabitants went out in force yesterday and sprayed their pro-democracy slogans on the walls. The slogans dealt with the government’s attacks on the freedom of worship and the religious intolerance that has characterised its policies over the past few years. There is now a growing concern that the situation is becoming more gloomy especially after the closure of mosques and other places of worships and religious worship. At least two major mosques are still closed to the public. On the other hand, there is growing unease in London following serious remarks published by a pseudo-official newspaper in Bahrain and attributed to Ken Purchase, MP. The article was published on 12 November and was full of praise of the government. At no point did the article refer to the people’s grievances, the lack of democracy or the absence of the rule of law. Furthermore, the article attacked with a degree of viciousness, Lord Avebury for his human rights activities and criticism of dictatorial regimes. Several journalists and politicians have shown interest in the subject, especially after they discovered that Ken Purchase had confessed to having obtained “a gift of jewellery” from the Amir of Bahrain. When pressed about this jewellery he said it was gold women’s wrist rings.  As the Amir of Bahrain prepares to set off for his first state visit to the United Kingdom, human rights activists have expressed interests in the even especially with regards to the continuing crisis of human rights. Several of them are preparing themselves for one kind of action or another. Contacts with the Bahrain’s embassy have been made. The opposition has requested to meet the Amir in order to be able to discuss the political and human rights crisis in the country. Bahrain Freedom Movement 20 November 1999 Tel / Fax : (+44) 207 278 9089

Cautious welcome to the Amiri decree whilst arrests continued

The opposition reacted cautiously to the Amiri decree which was issued yesterday and which ordered the release of 200 prisoners. According to the official Gulf News Agency, 150 detainees and 50 convicted prisoners would be affected by the Amiri decree pardoning them. The decree was to mark the advent of the Holy month of Ramadhan (8 December) and the National Day (16 December). However, analysts believe the timing of the decree was made to coincide with the state visit by the Amir to the United Kingdom next week. While welcoming the order to release these forgotten prisoners of conscience, the opposition expressed reservations as to the methods of release and the written undertaking by the prisoners not to get involved in the peaceful struggle for democratic rights in the country. It reiterated that the core demand of the people of Bahrain; the reinstatement of the 1973 Constitution, has not been addressed yet by the Amir. According to the opposition, the absence of a constitutional reference for the government’s actions makes the releases of little significance. Under the prevailing emergency laws, more arrests could follow anytime. Meanwhile, arbitrary arrests continued unabated. In the early hours of last Saturday (13 November) many people were arrested. Among them are: Sahker Ibrahim Yousef, 21 (detained for two years before), his borhter, Saeed, 20, Ahamd Ali Ahmad, 24, Ahmad Hamid, 19, Abdul Amir Ahmad Al Hamadi, 22, Redha Abdulla Khamis, 22, Fadhel Abbas Al Sabe’. 20 (detained for two years before), Hussain Abu Madan, 17. From Nuwaidrat the arrests induded Aqeel Matar and his brother, Ahmad, and Ali Abdul Mahdi Hassan, 22. On 9 November, Mr. Mulaih Mohammad Al Sharrakh, 20, was arrested and tortured. His house was searched and its contents damaged. News from the prisons have confirmed a serious escalation in the use of torture against innocent detainees. Mr. Ali Mirza Al Qassas (from Al Ma’amir) who has been in prison since April 1995, has recently been subjected to severe torture, and was moved to incommunicado detention. He had been sentenced by the notorious State Security Court for five years imprisonment for taking part in peaceful pro-democracy protests. In London, the Bar Human Rights Committee listened last night to an account of the situation in Bahrain given by one of the exiles in London. He explained the main demands of the opposition and expressed the hope that the Amir would relent to this. He hoped that the Amir’s visit to London would be a turning point towards the reinstatement of the constitution and the election of the National Assembly. The audience took the discussion seriously and expressed their full support to and sympathy with the people of Bahrain. Bahrain Freedom Movement 18 November 1999

Tel / Fax: (+44)207 278 9089

Update on 17 November:

An official statement on 17 November said that the Amir “has pardoned 200 prisoners ahead of the Moslem holy month of Ramadan,”. The opposition welcomes the release of prisoners of conscience and calls on the Amir to release all political detainees and prisoners and to allow all Bahrainis to return home without unconstitutional conditions. It is regrettable that the Bahraini government labels the citizens who call for their rights as “criminals”. The citizens of Bahrain are considered to be the most peaceful and civilised, while the government of Bahrain has been condemned as the worst violator of human rights amongst the Gulf countries.

It would be more appropriate for the government to aplogise for these citizens and to compensate them for the unnecessary suffering and torture they had undergone under the hands of the mercenaries imported by the government for the sole purpose of repressing the nation.

Bahrain: Amir to visit the UK while repression campaign escalates

Al-Hayat newspaper (16 November) stated that the Amir met with church leaders in Bahrain ahead of his planned visit to the Vatican on Monday 22 November. The paper also said that the Amir will then visit the UK on 23 and 24 November. Source inside Bahrain revealed that the Amir will be accompanied by more than 50 senior officials and will be met by Queen Elizabeth II and British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The visit to the UK will be the first since the Amir assumed his role following the death of his father last March. In the past months, several British MPs were invited to Bahrain by a pro-dictatorship lobbyist only to be received by royals and to be showered with gifts in return for voicing support to absolute tribalism in Bahrain. Just as the Amir met churches leaders, the security forces were conducting their repression campaigning against the citizens who have attended Friday prayers in grand mosques around the country. Scores of people who attended the Friday prayers in Ras Romman Grand Mosque (on 12 November) were arrested. Amongst these were: Ali Abdul Mahdi Hasan Al-Motawwa, 22, Aqueel Matar, 24, and his brother Mohammed Matar, Abdulla Taher, 18, Saeed Ibrahim, 20, and his brother, Hassan Jaffer Madan and several others. These were arrested during dawn raids conducted on 13 November and are being tortured in Al-Hoora prison. Al-Sadiq Grand Mosque in Qafool, Manam, remained closed and the security forces prevented prayers by threatening the religious scholar with torture and by physical presence around the mosque. The government of Bahrain is keen to be seen in the West as a tolerant regime towards religion, while at the same continues to harass citizens and continues to confiscate all remaining religious freedoms that had been practised in Bahrain for centuries. Moreover, a religious scholar, Sheikh Hassan Al-Qaidom, was arrested several weeks ago and nothing has been known about him since his arrest. The religious scholar had suffered from detention and torture several times in the past few years. News from inside the jails revealed a drastic deterioration in the conditions and many prisoners of consciences are being tortured and placed in solitary confinement. Raed Al-Khawajah, Jaffer Sahwan and Mahdi Sahwan had been transferred to solitary confinement as part of the routine punishment. The deficit in the budget is expected to widen with further announcement of defence equipment procurement from the United States. The Amir is expected to request the Kuwaitis on ‎17‎ ‎November‎,‎ for more financial aids to support the defence and security programmes. Many thousands of Bedouins from Syria and Arabia are being imported into Bahrain for employment in the security and defence forces. A new law governing the status of these mercenaries has been presented to the cabinet on 15 November. Bahrain Freedom Movement 17 November 1999 Tel/Fax: +44 207 278 9089

Demonstrators call for an end to dictatorial policies

Scores of citizens marched in Ras-Romman (Manama) on 12 November, mid-day, denouncing the government’s policies, and calling for the restoration of parliament and an end to violation of human rights. The Special Forces attacked the demonstrators near Ras-Romman Grand Mosque, and the demonstrators responded by throwing stones at the attackers.

This is one of the reactions against the latest dictatorial practices of the government, which has gone ahead with a plan to confiscate all civil and religious rights of the citizens. On the evening of 11 November, loud sounds of explosions and columns of fire were reported around the country.

People in Bahrain have been angered by the atrocious policies of the tribal dictatorship. Last Friday marked the fourth week since the closure of the Grand Al-Sadiq Mosque in Manama as well as several other principal mosques around the country. The tribal dictatorship has banned all religious programmes that have been practised by the people of Bahrain for many hundreds of years.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

13 November 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: The cabinet of dinosaurs is non Y2K-compliant Bahrain, which leads the way in communication and computer technology, has been rated down by the Gartner Group of the US. The latter has ranked Bahrain as part of countries comprising “level 4” with respect to readiness to deal with the millennium bug (Y2K compliance). Other countries of this category include Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Cambodia. This level indicates possible disruption to basic services including power, water and trade. This is an extremely worrying report, as the government has wasted its resources on other non-productive schemes such as the prevention of Internet web-sites that explain the political situation in Bahrain. Government’s resources were directed to non-productive activities and lost the opportunity to protect the country’s infrastructure from the serious Y2K-compliance problem. It is hard to imagine that Bahrain has been placed with countries as Afghanistan and Ethiopia (which are presently considered to lack telecuminication & IT advancement in par with Bahrain), Such ranking questions the sanity of the government. The political joke in Bahrain is that both the prime minister and his dinosaurs in the cabinet are not Y2K-compliant. The non Y2K-compliant prime minister has been busy in the past months in attempting to present himself as the people’s prince. He has set a pre-requisite for all senior officials who wish to survive his wrath that they must all leave their work and stand in long queues on Tuesdays to meet and kneel before him in a Bedouin-style tent in Rifaa. On 7 November, the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa issued a decree naming Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa as the new governor of Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA). He succeeded former governor Abdulla Saif, who is now finance minister. Also, it is expected that Bahrain’s new ambassador to France is likely to be a female. She is Haya Al-Khalifa, a practicing lawyer. Dr. Ali Fakroo’s future is not known yet. Many people have welcomed the appointment of a female for an important position in the diplomatic service. However, it was disappointing that the Al-Khalifa restricted the choice to members of its family. All senior appointments were restricted to Al-Khalifa members. Abdullah bin Hamad, the other son of the Amir is tipped to be the next person in charge of sports and youth. The Amir has sacked Isa bin Rashid Al-Khalifa after making comments in the aftermath of the death of prince Faisal bin Fahd of Saudi Arabia. He gave a lot of credit for Faisal with respect to sports in Bahrain. This angered the Amir, who wished to reserve all praises in this regard for himself. On 10 November, the Bahraini opposition distributed hundreds of pamphlets on the football teams at the opening of the World Tournament of Football under 17 years in Christchurch City, New Zealand. Members of football teams from Brazil, Australia, Mali, Qatar, Germany, FIFA officials, New Zealanders and others, received the pamphlets during the opening procession.

Bahrain Freedom Movement 12 November 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Security court to sentence citizens; UK Questions & Answers on Bahrain The State Security Court resumed its campaign of repression against the people of Bahrain. On Saturday 6 November, a member of the ruling Al-Khalifa family together with two Egyptian judges dragged six citizens after one year in detention and torture. The six persons are: 1. Dr. Isa Ibrahim Mattar 2. Mr. Hassan Ibrahim Mattar (brother of Dr. Isa) 3. Dr. Mohammed Saeed Ali Mosa 4. Mr. Saeed Ali Makki 5. Mr. Fadhil Abbas Al-Deiri 6. Seyyed Jaber The session was held in Jaw, south of Bahrain, and it lasted about half an hour. In this session, the Al-Khalifa judge accused the citizens of inciting hatred to the political system. One of the defendants replied “How could we incite hatred to the regime if we were calling for restoration of parliament and constitution?”. The Al-Khalifa judge replied by adjourning the session to 4 December. The routine of the unconstitutional court is now based on two quickie sessions. One lasting less than an hour and the second lasts less than five minutes. The Al-Khlaifa judge pre-determines what sentences to pass in order to silence the nation and goes ahead to his State Security Court to announce it.

UK Questions & Answers:

In the UK, Lord Avebury was elected by hereditary peers to serve in the House of Lords for the next period. This was a happy news for human right activist as Lord Avebury had spent his life defending the wronged and the oppressed all over the world. On 1 November he submitted two questions on Bahrain and received official answers, as follows: Question 1: Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty’s Government: “Whether they will give details of licences issued for the export of arms to Bahrain since the beginning of 1999” The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): “The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. (A list of exported equipment was provided). This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict…. In addition, Bahrain is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences, covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.” Question 2: Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty’s Government: “Whether they have been given any reason for the postponement by the Bahrain Government of the visit by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, originally agreed by them at the meeting of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in August 1998; what date has now been proposed for the visit; and whether they will press the Bahraini authorities to release in particular Sheikh Hussain al-Daihi, Sheikh Ali Ashur, Sheikh Hassan Sultan, Hassan Meshma’a, Sayyid Ibrahim Adnan al-Alawi and Abd al-Wahab Hussain, who were arrested on 21 and 22 January 1996 and have not been charged with any criminal offence.” Baroness Scotland of Asthal: “The Bahraini authorities have not discussed with us the postponement of the visit to Bahrain by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. We believe that dates for a future visit are under discussion between the Bahrainis and the Working Group. We expect all states to co-operate with UN human rights mechanisms. Bahrain is no exception. We will be monitoring the situation carefully. The Bahraini authorities are aware of our concern over detainees. We welcomed the recent release of 320. We have urged the Bahraini opposition to react positively to the Amir’s gestures towards reconciliation with the Shia population of Bahrain.”

Bahrain Freedom Movement 7 November 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

UK PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON BAHRAIN

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they will give details of licences issued for the export of arms to Bahrain since the beginning of 1999.[HL4293]

The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation’s computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1999 and 15 October 1999, 15 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 14 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued for the export to consignees or end-users in Bahrain of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings (and/or countries).

Individual Licences issued between 1 January 1999 and 15 October 1999 for the export to Bahrain of goods on the Military List Rating	No of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating	No of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

ML1

6

1

ML2

2

1

ML3

1

2

ML4

0

2

ML5

3

6

ML6

0

3

ML7

0

1

ML8

0

1

ML9

0

9

ML10

1

2

ML11

0

6

ML12

0

1

ML13

0

1

ML14

0

2

ML15

1

3

ML16

0

1

ML17

0

1

ML18

0

1

ML19

0

1

ML20

0

1

ML21

0

1

ML22

0

1

PL5002

0

1

PL5006

0

1

PL5014

0

1

PL5017

2

1

PL5018

1

1

PL5020

0

1

PL5030

0

1

PL5031

0

1

PL5033

0

1

PL5034

0

1

This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

This information should be considered in light of the answer given by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Competition and Consumer Affairs to the Member for Kingswood on 27 July 1999, House of Commons Official Report, columns 307-308.

In addition, Bahrain is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences, covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

1 November 1999

Bahrain: Human Rights

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have been given any reason for the postponement by the Bahrain Government of the visit by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, originally agreed by them at the meeting of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in August 1998; what date has now been proposed for the visit; and whether they will press the Bahraini authorities to release in particular Sheikh Hussain al-Daihi, Sheikh Ali Ashur, Sheikh Hassan Sultan, Hassan Meshma’a, Sayyid Ibrahim Adnan al-Alawi and Abd al-Wahab Hussain, who were arrested on 21 and 22 January 1996 and have not been charged with any criminal offence.[HL4265]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal:

The Bahraini authorities have not discussed with us the postponement of the visit to Bahrain by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. We believe that dates for a future visit are under discussion between the Bahrainis and the Working Group. We expect all states to co-operate with UN human rights mechanisms. Bahrain is no exception. We will be monitoring the situation carefully.

The Bahraini authorities are aware of our concern over detainees. We welcomed the recent release of 320. We have urged the Bahraini opposition to react positively to the Amir’s gestures towards reconciliation with the Shia population of Bahrain.

Bahrainis are not criminals to be pardoned

The official Gulf News Agency reported today that the Amir has pardoned 20 Bahrainis living abroad who had requested an amnesty from “crimes against security”. It also reported that the 20 people “pledged good behaviour,” A spokesperson for the BFM said “we are not aware of any leading or active members of opposition who had sought to go back to Bahrain through a medieval-type pardoning. It is sad that the Bahraini ruling establishment continues to deal with Bahrainis as if they were criminal because they demanded their constitutional rights. The Bahraini government seems to consider every Bahraini a criminal unless he or she proves otherwise by begging pardons or mercy. We believe that there would be no exit from the on-going political crisis as long as the ruling family refuses to restore the country’s constitution and refuses to recognise the inalienable right of citizens to live with dignity in their homeland.” Bahrain Freedom Movement 3 November 1999 Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Resurfacing of protests around the country

Monday night, 1 November, witnessed a resurfacing of protests around the country. Many areas either switched off lighting or blocked all the main ways by burnt tyres. The resurfacing of protests came as a result of the crackdown on mosques and the closure of the Grand Al-Sadiq Mosque in Manama. The citizens lso commemorated the 1st of November when in 1995 some 80,000 people gathered around the house of Sheikh Al-Jamri in support for the call to reinstate the rule of constitutional law. Sheikh Al-Jamri is now under house arrest and is being harassed and intimidated by the security forces. Last month, six security officers, led by the notorious Adel Flaifel stormed the house of Sheikh Al-Jamri and informed him that the government decided to press new charges against him, and that these charges are based on new confession extracted from recently arrested youths. Flaifel said a new file is ready to go to the State Security Court whenever Sheikh Al-Jamri resumes his contacts with the pro-democracy campaigners (members of the Committee for Popular Petition). Loud sounds of exploding gas-cylinders were heard around the country on the evening of 1 November. Two very loud explosions (of gas cylinders) were heard near the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. The main reason for the resurfacing of protests is the failure of the ruling Al-Khalifa family to abandon their 200-year-old mentality of dealing with Bahrain and Bahrainis as “invaders”, “conquerors” and as an “occupation” force. The ruling family continues to import mercenaries from the Syrian and mainland tribes, grants them full citizenship, and deploys them against the peaceful nation. At the same time natives are being forcibly-exiled while many some 30-40 thousands (third generation people) are still denied their right for citizenship. A scandal was uncovered last month when the director of passports, Abdul Rahman bin Saqr Al-Khalifa (a member of the ruling family), was found out to have been selling passports to these denied people at a rate of BD15,000 ($40,000) for each person. The new Amir is expected to visit the UK later this month and it is not yet clear whether the British Foreign Office would press him towards realising the nature of today’s world. The best advice would be for him to act as a constitutional monarch, to restore both the parliament and constitution, to order a complete halt of attacks against mosques and to order a verifiable stop of all torture and arbitrary detetions. The opposition was encouraged by the statements of the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Peter Hain, last month in Kuwait. He told reporters that he plans to raise the issue of democracy and human rights with Gulf leaders. Bahrain Freedom Movement 2 November 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

November 1999

The first oficial visit to the UK Time to Awaken the Amir

The stagnation of the Gulf Cooperation Council is a worrying fact that is increasingly becoming more irritating even to the policy makers themselves. It is now almost two decades since the inception of the Gulf alliance that had been dictated at the time by regional developments and the desire of some rulers to protect their thrones. If their aim was to form a formidable alliance in political, economic and military terms, then none of these aims has been fulfilled.

Today the GCC has become an almost empty shell save for the annual summits of its heads of state and periodical ministerial meetings. The political divergence among the member states have occasionally surfaced, sometimes on trivial and perhaps insignificant issues.

The latest in this episode has been the barrage of accusations in the local media between Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The crisis erupted to the open after Kuwaiti coastal guards detained a ship with a cargo of children powder milk destined to Iraq. The Kuwaitis insisted that the cargo was being exported from Iraq, and that was, according to the Kuwaiti version, a solid proof that Saddam’s regime was engineering the shortage of children food and medicine and then blaming them on the sanctions.

The Emirates have since insisted that the ship was not registered in Dubai and that the cargo was which was, according to them, destined to Iraq was in fact owned by a Kuwaiti company. Such a trivial matter became focal to the dispute between the two countries with regards to the relations with Iraq, an issue that is becoming a divisive factor among the GCC member states. Earlier in the year insults were exchanged between the Saudi defence minister, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, and the UAE foreign minister of state for foreign affairs., Rashid bin Abdulla. Again, the contentious issue was the relations with Iran.

While the border issues have remained a source of occasional tension among the GCC member states, the alliance has failed to agree on the relations with regional powers, most notably, Iraq, Iran and Yemen. It is now clear that each country in the alliance has adopted its own form of relations with each of these countries. For example, Qatar, the UAE and Oman have strengthened their relations with Iraq while Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are still too sensitive to such relations. The first three countries also enjoy relatively warm relations with Yemen while the Saudis and Kuwaitis have unresolved issues with Yemen. The Saudis have deep-rooted resentment towards the Yemenis and the Kuwaitis have not forgiven Sanaa for its policies towards Iraq.

Bahrain’s relations with neighbouring Qatar have never been good, and are now made even worse as the attitudes of the governments to their internal policies are becoming almost contradictory.

Bahrain has a more acute internal problem than other states. Its government refused to adapt internal policies to the realities inside its borders.

The events of the past five years have not changed the attitudes of the Al Khalifa ruling family towards issues of democracy, human rights and constitutional rule. Furthermore, the new Amir has disappointed not only the citizens of Bahrain but also other Gulf rulers.

The Saudis are not happy about the Bahraini government which failed to take an acceptable stand, from the Saudi view point, during the crisis in relations with the UAE. Almost all Gulf rulers look at the Bahraini government with disdain for its lack of vision with regards to its internal policies.

The nomadic style of rulership has remained stagnant with an adamant refusal from to adapt to the new realities. Basic issues which are usually taken for granted in the civilised countries such as democratic practices, human rights, pluralism, and the rule of law have remained uncultivated, and any open discussion on them is not allowed. With an economy that is almost solely dependent on oil revenues, the government will eventually come face to face with the prospects of major political upheavals as soon as oil prices show signs of weakness.

The educated elites which are generally alienated from the political process have, so far, remained on the sidelines of the political process, but will gradually find themselves sucked into it. As prohibited information becomes more readily available through the Internet the outdated regime will realise that a major line of defence has been breached and that the censors can no more do their jobs as quickly and effectively as they used to.

It is absurd to assume that the people can remain enslaved forever. And when the Amir of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa starts his proposed state visit to London this month it is hoped that he will hear serious advice from his hosts that it is futile to continue in resisting the calls for political reforms in the country.

There is a widespread feeling that he has failed to make use of the golden opportunity presented by the opposition to him upon his rise to power after his father’s death. A sense of anger is gradually developing that he has been dwarfed by his uncle soon after he assumed power, and that his lack of decision has contributed to marginalise his power base.

The GCC alliance needs courageous decisions by its leaders in order to maintain stability and continuity. Instead of avoiding the issue of democratisation, they need to address the real political needs of their people and start a healing process with their political opponents. Stereotyping the opposition has never been an effective tool to stop positive change. Debate, dialogue and mutual recognition must become the order of the day especially when it comes to internal politics.

The Bahraini opposition has succeeded in presenting a real case and will continue its endeavour to create a civil society based on mutual respect, understanding and tolerance. When in London, Sheikh Hamad ought to be told, in no uncertain terms, that he and his ruling family are set to lose most if they persist in their passive attitude to the democratic movement in Bahrain.

Reinstating the Constitution is a reasonable start to the lengthy healing process needed for the long term stability and prosperity of the country. Other initial steps go without saying: the Bahraini government must halt torture, arbitrary detention, forcible exile and intimidation of citizens.

Bahrain Freedom Movement 1 November 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089