oct95

24 October 1995 Bahrain: Hunger Strike

Two People Transferred to Hospital

Two pro-democracy leaders have been taken to hospital at around 8.00 pm (24 October). They are Seyed Ibrahim Adnan (37 years old) and Sheikh Ali bin Ahmad (55 years old). Both have started their hunger strike together with Sheikh Al-Jamri, Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain, Mr. Hassan Mushaima, Sheikh Hussain Al-Daihi and Sheikh Hasan Sultan, on the dawn of Monday 23 October. Protesters surrounding the house of Sheikh Al-Jamri chanted pro-democracy slogans and pledged to continue their participation and solidarity. A group of religious scholars declared that they will join the strike starting at dawn tomorrow, Wednesday 25 October, and will be issuing an announcement. The hunger strike is taking place at the residence of Sheikh Al-Jamri in Bani Jamra, north-west of Bahrain, has been opened today for others to participate. Hundreds of people rushed to join the hunger strike and are now gathering in Zain-al-Abedin Mosque, located in front of Sheikh Al-Jamri residence.

Other people are showing their solidarity with the hunger strike by wearing black-coloured shirts and by hanging black banners and cloths on public walls. Other pro-democracy leaders, including Mr. Ahmad Al-Shamlan, Mr. Ali Rabea, Mr. Hassan Kamal-u-Din, Mr. Mohsin Marhoon, Ahmad Mansoor, Hesham Al-Shehabi and Saeed Al-Asbool, have met, today, with the hunger strikers and declared their support and solidarity with the action taken.

The spokesman for the hunger strike, Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain stated that “the hunger strike has now been opened for other participants and we hope the government will positively respond by releasing all political detainees, stopping political trials, allowing citizens to return home and allowing the start of discussions on political rights”.

10 October: The political situation in Bahrain is becoming more volatile with a tense atmosphere has been created by the moody and unwise governmental attitude and practices.

1. Today, 9th October, a group of 13 people from Dair village (Muharraq) were put on trial and were later released on bail. Each of the defendants had to pay 300 Bahraini dinars. The group was put on trial two weeks ago to signify a presumbly tougher attitude. The people of Bahrain were angered by such maneuvers and responded with several demonstrations. Last night (8 October), tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Manama to celebrate a religeous occasion and declared their disgust with government’s attitude.

2. The Bahraini government went as far as hunting several Bahrainis living in Kuwait. A young 18 years old person, Jawad Ahmad, was handed by the Kuwaitis to the Bahraini intelligence department several days ago. Another social Bahraini figure living in Kuwait, Sheikh Mohammed Habib Al-Moqdad, is going through an ordeal while the Kuwaitis seek to hand him to the notorious Bahraini intelligence department. A delegation from the latter is known to be in Kuwait for that purpose. Thousands of Bahrainis went to Kuwait after its liberation to fill cheap labour vacancies after being refused the opportunity to work in their homeland.

3. The military man who was put in charge of Bahrain University, Mohammed Al-Ghatam, has issued a memorandum on 7 October to all university staff prohibting them from delivering any paper or giving any statement to any media organisation. This action follows his unjust decision to sack Dr. Monira Fakhroo after she delivered a paper in Italy on the uprising in Bahrain. The case of Dr. Monira Fakhroo (Assistant Professor of Sociology) is now a major one. Her dismissal is a grave vilolation of freedom of expression.

4. The Bahraini Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, stated to Al-Hayat newspaper on 7 October that the Government of Bahrain has nothing to learn from what had happened in the last months. This was in response to a question from the London-based paper when the corrospondent asked “Are there any lessons to be learnt from the experience of the internal events of the past months?”. The minister replied “Never. I believe that we have an advanced system which treats all matters contniuously and attempts at improving the situation”. This has added to the belief of the opposition that the government is not yet ready to modernise itself and adopts civilised dialogue with the pro-democracy movement to exit the current crisis.

5. The Foreign Ministry of Bahrain summoned the Iranian Ambassador in Manama to protest against the conducting of an interview by Teheran Radio with the recently released pro-democracy leader Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri! It is interesting to note that Sheikh Al-Jamri was intreviewed by AFP, the BBC, the American Compus newsagency as well as other Western news organisations. No explanation can be found for this childish behaviour.

Opposition forces unite their approach

On the 5th of September, Reuter rported that “Diplomats said the Gulf island’s Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa al-Khalifa met jailed clergymen who were detained during the unrest which broke out in early December. The minister held talks with Sheikh Abdul-Amir al-Jamri, the most prominent of the jailed clerics, they said. He also talked to Abdul Wahab Hussain, Sheikh Khalil Sultan, Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Hasan Mushaimaa.. . A Shi’ite clergyman, apparently reflecting the new spirit of reconciliation, on Sunday night urged people to keep calm and shun violence to pave the way for reconciliation. “Sheikh Abdul-Amir al-Jamri is thanking you for maintaining security. I also urge all of you to maintain self-restraint and security as agreed with the government,” Sheikh Hassan Sultan told a Shi’ite gathering at a mosque in the capital Manama.

By the end of September, the Bahraini authorities should have released about one thousand political detainees to pave the way for political dialogue with the pro-democracy opposition. Instead, many hundreds remain in detention while security forces step up their violations of human rights. A press conference was held in Washington on 4 October 1995 at 9.30 am in the National Press Club and was addressed by Dr. Mansoor Al-Jamri, spokesperson for the Bahrain Freedom Movement who stated that the government’s attitude exacerbated the situation: “on one side, this proves the ill intentions of the government; on the other, the denial exposes the nature of absolute rule which has no regards to the basic rights of Bahraini people”.

A seminar that was to take place in A’ali village on 3 October was canceled by the Interior Ministry. The seminar was to be addressed by recently freed pro-democracy leaders as well as Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Mahmood. This sparked-off a street protest the next day by residents of A’ali. The Interior Ministry objected to the participation of a leading Sunni opponent at a Shia gathering in order to preserve its not-anymore-effective policy of “divide and rule”

On 5 October, a mass demonstration took to the streets of Duraz demanding the release of those who should have been released last September and protesting against the resumption of political trials. Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri addressed a mass gathering in Duraz on 6 October and stated the following: “I would like to point out that the denial of the existence of dialogue by the Information Minister is perplexing. Civilized and modern governments take pride in conducting dialogue for resolving conflicts because this prevents violent means. The denial of the Information minister has provoked the people and created obstacles in the way to end the crisis.”

Political detainees started a hunger strike on 8 October, and are continuing their protest to date. Several schools are witnessing daily protests. These include Al-Jaberyah, Nuaim, Ahmad Al-Omran and other schools in Jedhafs and Bilad-al-Qadeem. The students in other schools have also been refusing to chant the “Amiri” anthem in protest against the security forces which are encircling their schools and which subject the students to degrading search during their exit and entry.

On the other hand, the government continued to ban freedom of expression. On 16 October, a leading women activist, Dr. Ibtehal Al-Aali, was prevented from delivering a talk at Awal Women Society. In response to all these government’s violations, Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri and six other pro-democracy leaders, started a hunger strike on the dawn of Monday 23 October at the residence of Sheikh Al-Jamri in Bani Jamra, northwest of Bahrain. The spokesman and coordinators for the hunger strikers were interviewed by international news agencies while the residence of Sheikh Al-Jamri was surrounded by tens of thousands of people.

Schools all over the country witnessed silent protests by thousands of students who put-on black-coloured shirts (as a sign of solidarity with the strikers) and walked-out of class-rooms. Scores of lorries packed with riot police surrounded the campuses of Bahrain University and schools all around the country.

Many women refused to prepare dinners for their families in solidarity and people of all ages declared their support in various forms. Tens of thousands of people have applied to join the hunger strike and await permission from the leaders of the opposition. Many senior opposition figures declared their support and could also join the protest at a certain phase.

The spokesman, Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain stated that “the meeting that was supposed to have taken place on Sunday (22 October) with the Ministry of Interior did not take place because of the stalemate. The picketing and hunger strike will continue and will be subjected to continuous assessment and their ending will be announced as may be appropriate for furthering our noble cause. We are also studying the many offers and options from all sections of the society for participating in the strike, one way or the other. Our aims remain as were initially declared: (1) the release of all political detainees and banning political trials; (2) allowing those banned from entering the country to return home; (3) the official recognition of the existence of dialogue; (4) putting in place provisions for releasing political prisoners, allowing the return of political exiles and restoring the parliament.”

On the other hand, the State Security Court, rushed haphazard sentences against 14 teenagers, acquitting two of them while sentencing the other twelve to 8 months imprisonment and a fine of 300 dinars ($600) each. It is worth noting that these young people have already spent some ten months in jail. On 24 October a security court summoned two children from Sitra, Naser Hassan Abdul Redha Al-Basri, 12 years old and Khalil Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Eskachy, 13 years old. A kangaroo court session ajourned itself for another date for the sentencing of these two children. Today, Thursad, the State Security Court will be holding a session for a group of people which include Mr. Mahdi Sahwan from Sanabis.

Jet fighters belonging to the Bahrain Defence Force broke the sound barrier on 25 October in an attempt to fighten civilians. Scores of religuous scholars joind the hunger strike after issuing a statemet to the nation stating “We stress the importance of rationality and resupmtion of serious dialogue and the the only solution to prevent the dangers looming in the horizon is for the for the government to positively encourage good relationship with the people. In solidarity with the leaders of the opposition, we join the hunger strike demanding the release of all poltical detainees, allowing forcible exiles to returen home anf officially recognizing the existance of dialogue”.

Three university students were arrested yesterday, 24 October, as part of a sweeping security campaign. The students of the University of Bahrain issued a statement declaring that they will stage a one-day hunger strike on Thursday 26 October. In their statement they added “All students were surprised to see the reluctance of the government to implement what have agreed, and were surprised to witness provacative measures. The latter created a tense atmosphere and in order to prevent an expolsive situation, the leaders of the opposition staged a political hunger strike in an attempt to notify the government about the dangerous situation”.

On the third (25 October) of the hunger strike, Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri’s health condition deteriorated and had to be transferred to hospital at around 6.30 pm (wednesday 25 October). Along with Sheikh Al-Jamri, Seyed Ibrahim Adnan was also transferred, in this case for the third time since yesterday. The health condition of the other five is also deteriorating. At the time of transfer, seven thousands people were gathering in front of Al-Jamri’s home in Bani Jamra, north-west of Bahrain. Earlier in the day, Dr. Faisal Al-Zeerah (member of the all-appointed and powerless Consultative Council) visited the seven pro-democracy leaders and requested an end to the strike. He informed that the visit was his own initiative. The pro-democracy leaders requested him to take the statement to the political leadership and get an answer. Later in the day, Dr. Al-Zeerah, contacted the group to say that he was prepared to mediate after the end of the strike. This was not found satisfactory and hence the strike continued.

The State Security Court continued its sessions unabated. Mr. Mahdi Sahwan was acquitted. Sheikh Fadhel Jaafer Rashid Hammad and four of his brothers and relatives were released on bail after paying 500 dinars ($1000) each. Several others appeared before the State Security Court and had their sessions adjourned.

The fourth day of the hunger strike has been characterised by the gathering of university students and religious scholars in Zain al-Abedin Mosque, situated in front of Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-JamriĂs home in Bani Jamra, north-west of Bahrain.

On 26 of October, eaceful gatherings took places in Duraz, Dair and Sitra, while delegations from many parts of the country were visiting the pro-democracy leaders. A meeting was also held with other pro-democracy leaders, including Mr. Ahmad Al-Shamlan and Mr. Ali Rabea. Mr. Rasool Al-Jeshi, member of the dissolved parliament, held talks with Sheikh al-Jamri on the way forward for pressing for democratic demands. The leading businessman, Mr. Taqi Al-Zeerah also visited Sheikh Al-Jamri to covey his support.

Debate was taking place in the past two days in the leading Al-Orooba Club, with solid support emerging from this important liberal club in the country.

Leaflets have been distributed in the name of the residents of each village and area of town, declaring their support and calling on the government to save the country from another crisis. ˘Dialogue is the only way out of the crisis÷, stated an announcement by the people of Duraz. Another one called on all Bahrainis to join the peaceful protest by declaring their solidarity with the pro-democracy leaders in hunger strike.

A statement by the Teachers and Students of Religious Circles in Bahrain÷ called on the ˘leaders of the GCC to alleviate the situation in Bahrain by using their influence to help Bahrain out of the crisis through encouraging dialogue÷.

On 26 October, forty thousand people surged toward the home of Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri. At around 8.00 pm, both Budaya and Abo-Subh main roads linking the northern region of Bahrain to Manama were jammed by traffic stretching back to Jedhafs and Sanabis, west of Manama. Many senior religious leaders issued statements in support of the hunger strike. Seyyed Alawi Al-Ghoreifi stated “Emanating from our religious duty, we advise the respected government to honour its agreement with the group of the initiative to exit this crisis. We also stress that the only way out is through serious dialogue on both security and political issues”. Similar statements were made by Sheikh Abdul Hussain Al-Setri, Seyyed Jawad Al-Wedai and Sheikh Isa Qassim. All come from the highest level of religious circles.

A statement for the residents of Manama stated “You (pro-democracy leaders) were and remain for the restoration of the constitution and National Assembly and stood with your sincerity for the unity of the nation and worked for the public interests”. Thousands of people from Sitra raised a banner carrying a statement written in blood “This is our manifesto of loyalty”. As the mid-night approached thousand upon thousands of people were chanting slogans such as “With our souls and blood we defend you, O’Jamri”, “Al-Jamri does not compromise; He stands for our rights”, “We are not saboteurs, we demand the Constitution”, “We demand the return of Sheikh Ali Salman”.

On 27 October, a statement by the pro-democracy leaders declared the intention of Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri and other six leaders to continue their hunger strike further. The statement was read on their behalf in three major mosques, Al-Sedek Mosque in Duraz, Al-Sadek Mosque in Manama and Nuweidrat Mosque in Nuweidrat. A group of Bahraini engineers announced that they will hold a picket in Zain al-Abedin Mosque in Bani Jamra, tomorrow Saturday at 4.30 pm. At 7.00 pm, they will be joined by a group of Bahraini teachers to demonstrate the wider appeal of the hunger strike on all tendencies and sections of Bahrain Society.