Saudis kill citizen as Alkhalifa exact revenge for anniversary activities

Saudis kill citizen as Alkhalifa exact revenge for anniversary activities

The Saudi regime yesterday murdered another citizen in cold blood. Daniel Mohammad Al  Muslab, 16. in the Eastern Province. The victim was hit with a live bullet to the heart. There was outrage in the province as the trail of killings has continued even after the present ruler assumed power last month. Daniel was among people protesting on motorbikes four years ago whom the regime wanted to punish.

Meanwhile, the Alkhalifa regime has intensified its repression against the political movement and has taken steps to dissolve Al Wefaq Society, the largest in the country. The dictator has ordered its prosecutors to hand papers to this effect to the kangaroo courts which will declare the Alkhalifa decision against Al Wefaq. This follows the arrest three days ago of Jameel Kadhem, the head of Al Wefaq’s Shura Council and the detention of its Secretary General, Sheikh Ali Salman in December. This is a serious escalation that closes the last door of any reconciliation between the ruling clan and the political societies.

On another level, native Bahrainis have marked the fourth anniversary of the Revolution in their own peaceful style. First there were major strikes on 12th, 13th and 14th February which brought the country to a virtual standstill. Then there were more than 300 local protests over the three days. This year the people have been able to stage their most comprehensive programmes of civil disobedience which has shown the world how isolated the ruling family is. The main slogans were: The people want regime change; Down with Hamad (referring to the dictator). The regime had been warned before hand by Amnesty International to “rein in the security forces ahead of the anniversary protests”. But it did not heed the call.

The Alkhalifa tyrants have exacted severe revenge on the people for marking the Revolution’s anniversary. More than 70 people were arrested in the past week. Among them is Hussain Jawad, Chairman of European-Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights (EBOHR). Shortly after midnight on 16th Feburary he was snatched from his home by masked members of the Death Squads and taken to undisclosed location. Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action; Expressing concern that Hussain Jawad may have been arrested because of his human rights work; Calling on the authorities to release him unless he is charged with an internationally recognizable criminal offence and Urging them to ensure that Hussain Jawad is not tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and is given prompt access to his lawyer, family and medical attention.

In the early hours of this morning, Jaffar Islami, from Duraz, was snatched from his home by masked members of Death Squads. He is a popular orator whose orations may have angered the rulers of the kingdom of silence. It is now nine days since Mohammad Yaqoob, the uncle of Martyr Mohammad Yaqoob, was arrested and his family is extremely worried for his safety as no news have been heard from him. On Monday 16th February Alkhalifa court ordered the detention of a child from Bilad Al Qadeem. Ahmad Abbas will be held for seven days as punishment for joining anti-regime protest. Also Ali Mahdi Khamis from Duraz and Mohammad Adel Omran, from Barhama, have been detained for one week.

The regime continued to revenge from Hassan Mushaima by confirming one year sentence on his son, Ahmad. Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action; Urging the  authorities to quash the sentence imposed on Ahmad Mshaima’ and release him immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience, jailed solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression; Urging them to drop any pending charges against him, if he has been charged solely for exercising his right to freedom of assembly; and Urging them to uphold the right to freedom of expression and repeal laws that criminalize the peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly including Article 214 of the Penal Code.

A woman from Bani Jamra was detained and abused before she was released. Maryam Marzooq was snatched by regime’s Death Squads on Monday for taking part in anti-regime protest. Another detained woman, Jalila Sayed Amin, has been transferred from her torture cells to the hospital due to extreme forms of torture. On Monday 16th February Hussain Faisal Al Shehabi from Duraz and Sayed Hassan Al Alawi from Sanabis, were detained and taken to unknown destination. From Bani Jamra two youths were detained; Salah Jaffar Kadhem, 21, and Ahmad Mohammad Al Ghasra, 17. From Sanabis three people were arrested on Monday; Maitham Saeed Mushaima, Murtadha Al Haidari and Mohammad Jawad. Two photo journalists were arrested in the past few days; Hameed Al Qadami and Sayed Baqir Al Kahmil.

Hats off to British artist Jane Frere who cancelled trip to Bahrain after reading about violations there. She was invited by the regime’s spin officials as part of the multi-million public relations efforts to whitewash Alkhalifa crimes. Instead Jane decided to side with the victim, not the criminals. On 4th anniversary of Bahrain’s revolution, she was painting for the people’s cause. The artist later tweeted: “All of us in creative industries must use whatever media to hand to support democracy”

Bahrain Freedom Movement (vob.org)
18th February 2015 (email: info@vob.org)