…from beneath the crooked bough, witness 230 years of brutal tyranny by the al Khalifas come to an end

Official: Hezbollah inciting strife in Bahrain
30 April, 2013 -YaLibnan

Bahrain’s Minister of State for Information Affairs Samira Rajab accused the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of encouraging terrorism and inciting strife in her country.

“Hezbollah is fanning the flame of conflict in Bahrain and training terrorists,” Rajab was quoted as saying by Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai on Tuesday during a press conference at an Arab media forum in Bahrain.

The minister also said that her country was “coordinating with Gulf states and other world countries” to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

The tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain became the first Arab country to place the Shiite Lebanese militant movement, Hezbollah, on its list of terrorist organizations. It is a rather bold step on their part and the implications are enormous while the ultimate consequences are yet unknown. In punishing Hezbollah, Bahrain is at the same time pointing an accusing finger directly at Iran.

For the past 2 years the authorities in Manama, the Bahraini capital have been blaming Iran and Hezbollah for fomenting the troubles. Bahrain claimed that Hezbollah was training Bahraini Shiites in revolutionary tactics in secret camps in Lebanon. …source

Activist: Saudi Regime’s Collapse Inevitable
29 April, 2013 – FARS

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior political activist underlined the Saudi regime’s weakness and inability to suppress popular protests across the country, and said the al-Saud dynasty is on the verge of collapse.

“Sooner or later a great revolution will be sparked off in Saudi Arabia and important political changes will be made, given the expansion and spread of the protests and the continued detentions and suppression of the people,” Ali al-Ahmed said in an interview with Arabic-language al-Alam news channel on Monday.

He stressed the Saudi regime’s desperateness in confronting popular protests, and said, “I believe that if massive rallies are held across Saudi Arabia for 10 days, the ruling regime will collapse.”

Since February 2011, demonstrators have held anti-regime protests on an almost regular basis in Saudi Arabia, mainly in the Qatif region and the town of Awamiyah in Eastern Province, primarily calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.

Since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in Eastern Province, the demonstrations have however turned into protests against the Al Saud regime.

On Saturday, Saudis held an anti-regime demonstration in Qassim Province in solidarity with political prisoners.

Demonstrators in the North-central city of Buraydah demanded the immediate release of political prisoners.

The protesters also condemned the maltreatment and abuse practiced by regime forces against the prisoners.

Activists say there are over 40,000 political prisoners, mostly prisoners of conscience, in jails across the kingdom. Most of the prisoners are being held by the Saudi regime without trial or legitimate charges.

Some of the prisoners have reportedly been held without trial for more than 16 years.

Attempting to incite the public against the Saudi regime and allegiance to foreign entities are usually the ready-made charges against prisoners. …source

Saudi forces shoot, arrest two activists in Eastern Province
29 April, 2013 – PressTV

Saudi security forces have stormed the houses of two anti-government activists in the village of Al-Awamiyah in the Eastern Province, shot them, and arrested them.

The regime forces conducted the raids on Monday.

One of the activists was covered with blood when he was being taken away, according to eyewitness reports.

Saudi activists say one of the detainees is Abdullah al-Suriah, whose name is on the Saudi Interior Ministry’s wanted list for allegedly organizing anti-regime protests in the kingdom.

There have been numerous demonstrations in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province since February 2011, with protestors calling for political reform.

Anti-government protests have intensified since November 2011, when security forces opened fire on protestors in Qatif, killing five people and leaving scores more injured.

Activists say there are over 40,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia, many of them being held without trial or charges.

In October 2012, Amnesty International called on the Saudi authorities to stop using excessive force against pro-democracy protestors.

“The Saudi authorities must end their repeated moves to stifle people’s attempts to protest against the widespread use of arbitrary detention in the country,” Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, said on October 16.

“The right of people to peaceful protest must be respected and the security forces must refrain from detaining or using excessive force against people who exercise it,” he added. …source

Bahrain: Amnesty renews call to free jailed teachers’ union chief
1 May, 2013 – BBC

Rights group Amnesty International has renewed its call for the release of the jailed president of the Bahrain Teachers Association, Mahdi Abu Dheeb.

Mr Abu Dheeb was convicted by a military court of plotting to overthrow the government during unrest that swept Bahrain in 2011.

His original 10-year sentence was subsequently reduced to five on appeal.

Amnesty has described Mr Abu Dheeb as a “prisoner of conscience”.

Both Mr Abu Dheeb and his vice-president Jalila al-Salman allege they were tortured in detention after calling for a strike by teachers in March 2011 in support of pro-democracy activists who had taken over a prominent landmark, Pearl Roundabout, in the capital, Manama.

The Bahrain Teachers Association was dissolved by the government after its leaders were arrested.

Ms Salman was originally sentenced to three years in jail but that was reduced to six months on appeal.

However in March this year she was sacked from her teaching job after criticising Bahrain’s human rights record at a conference in Washington DC.

In a statement timed to coincide with 1 May, International Workers’ Day, Amnesty said: “All that they did was call for a strike in their role as trade union leaders. Mahdi and Jalila were punished for doing their job. This May Day stand with workers across the world and demand Mahdi’s release.”

Mr Abu Dheeb’s daughter, Maryam, in a recorded message accompanying the statement, said: “Silence is a crime.”

She urged people to speak up and “take a step and show you care about what is going on in my country”.

Teachers’ organisations around the world, as well as human rights campaigners, have called for Mr Abu Dheeb’s release.

The Bahraini authorities did not respond to a request from the BBC to comment on the Amnesty International statement. …more

Bahrainis rally to call for release of two female inmates
30 April, 2013 – PressTV

Protesters in Bahrain’s eastern town of Sitra are calling for the release of two female prisoners detained earlier this month for participating in protests against Formula One Grand Prix.

Bahraini security forces detained Reihanna al-Mossawi and Nafissa al-Osfour earlier in April.

The protesters in Sitra chanted slogans against the Al Khalifa regime, carrying Bahrain’s national flag.

Bahrainis have held several anti-F1 rallies over the past few weeks, stressing that “as long as there are oppression, arrests and killings, there should not be a Formula One.”

On Saturday, Bahraini police announced that they had arrested more than 22 people since February for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations.

This is while the country’s main opposition group al-Wefaq, says that 14 people were detained on April 25 and 26 alone and more than 100 have been arrested in anti-regime protests ahead of the auto race.

Formula One is Bahrain’s premier international event. Bahrain pays an estimated $40 million a year to host the race. It was cancelled in 2011 as a result of mass anti-regime demonstrations, but it went ahead in 2012 despite protests.

The anti-regime uprising in Bahrain began in mid-February 2011, when the people started holding massive demonstrations against the Al Khalifa regime. The regime promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states to help quash the revolt. …more

Ghost of arrests hovers on Bahrainis
25 April, 2013 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Since mid of April, the government started a violent arrest campaign arresting children, youth, elderly and even women. However, this isn’t strange for a criminal regime which killed hundreds of innocents and implies impunity.

In Karzakan, Ali AlFarsani was arrested after beating him in front of his mother. ₁ In Buri. Sayed Majed Sayed Hassan, 18, was arrested after raiding his house, not to mention that Majed is injured with live bullet and under treatment. ₂ In Hamad Town at dawn, Hassan Saeed was arrested too.

Moreover, security forces arrested a proofreader from AlWasat Newspaper after having a car accident. After 7 hours of investigation and torture, Hussain AlAsfoor was transferred to the public prosecution.

The court has sentenced Ali Mayoof, 41 years, to one week imprisonment for insulting an officer.
…more

Europe’s guns, debt and corruption
Frank Slijper – 27 April, 2013 – Open Democracy

This second of two essays on military spending and the EU crisis, explores the role of the European arms trade, corruption and the role of arms exporting countries in fuelling a debt crisis, and why these ‘odious’ debts need to be written off. See Part One here.

As social infrastructure is being slashed throughout most of Europe, spending on weapon systems has hardly been reduced. Perversely, military lobbyists warn of ‘disaster’ if any further cuts are made to military spending. But the real disaster has emerged from years of high military spending and corrupt arms deals. See Part One: Austerity in Europe: tighten the military belt

As we saw in the previous part, despite rhetoric from military bigwigs claiming that any further military cuts would endanger not only national security, but also the economy, military spending in Europe today is still at a higher level than ten years ago.

It rose over most of the past decade, sometimes very strongly – double digits in the case of Greece, Finland and Cyprus – only to fall over the past two or three years, and only in countries hardest hit by the crisis, like Greece and Italy.

Against the background of heavy slashing of social infrastructure, that was the least that could be expected. But most of those cuts come years too late, especially because major arms programmes have financial repercussions for many years to come: both repayment of debts and operational costs burden future governments’ budgets for many years.

So, wherever military expenditure has been cut, it was mostly on personnel costs – pensions, wages, jobs – rather than budgets for new weapons bought. Perversely, despite the emerging economic crisis the average budget for equipment in Europe went up 10% between 2006 and 2010. And that’s of course where the arms industry comes in. …more

Bahrain’s Eventful Week: Protests, International Races, Human Rights Abuses, and Promising Economic Opportunities
26 April, 2013 – Revolutions and Political Violence

Bahrain’s indefinite postponement of Juan Mendez’s planned May 8th-15th visit to the small island nation on behalf of the UN Human Rights Council sparks international concern. The Bahraini government’s decision to cancel this visit, for the second year in a row, follows a spike in national protests and flying rumors of torturing of torture within Bahraini prisons. It also falls on the heels of the internally controversial Formula One Race that was held just a few days ago on April 21st in the coastal region of al-Manamah, nearby the University of Bahrain.

The Formula 1 race had to be cancelled in 2011 due to the political unrest unfolding in Bahrain that year, but the race continued on as planned last year and this year with increased security despite the mass political protests of the people. During this year’s April 12th protests of the race where demonstrators carried signs with slogans like “Stop Racing on Our Blood” and carried signs of solidarity for jailed Bahraini human rights activist father-daughter duo Abdulhadi and Zainab al-Khawaja as well as the activist Nabeel Rajab. To the credit of the Bahraini government, the April 12th protests were officially approved by the recently enacted laws cracking down on large protests, which is at least a small step towards allowing its people to have larger political voices.

It was reported by the Saudi Arabian online news organization, Arab News, that two Bahraini girls were arrested for plotting a terrorist attack at the race track. The unnamed girls were claimed to have been arrested while doing a “dry run” in which one girl had concealed a pillow under her clothes to test the thoroughness of the track’s security. The Arab News article continued on to that the Bahraini police claims to have seized 1000 petroleum based bombs, 72 fire extinguishers intended to be used as bombs, and 137 tires that protestors were intending to set fire to. While the protesters in Bahrain are known for low scale violent acts such as setting tires ablaze at demonstrations, I think we must question the numbers and possible validity of the rest of the claims in this article. Not only are there a reason for the Bahraini government to exaggerate the scale of violence of the protestors, but the Saudi-run paper also has reasons to vilify these protestors in Bahrain. It is a well-known fact that the Saudi Arabian government and the Bahraini government have very close ties, close enough that Saudi forces were deployed onto the small island during the 2011 protests to help the Bahraini government quell protesters. …more

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights says Saudi-backed Bahraini troops have detained 120 people during the past week, including 20 children and 2 women.

Bahraini regime arrests 120 people in a week

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The Center said in a report on Saturday that “Saudi-backed Bahraini troops continued to arrest citizens and breach their homes during April 16-22. Within these days, they have arrested 120 people, 20 of whom children and 2 women.

“The regime’s troops have breached more than 61 homes during the period. At least 48 regions in Bahrain were exposed to public punishment by al-Khalifa troops.

More than 24 trial sessions were held for Bahraini citizens, some of which being extended, and also 35 of the detainees were released,” the report said. …more

The report mentioned that 132 arrests (105 males, 2 females and 24 children) have taken place. While 69 houses were arrested and 27 citizens were injured and 33 cases of torture by the regime forces were reported.

Bahrain regime committed wide violations during 10 days in concurrence with the F1 race
24 April, 2013 – ABNA

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The Liberties and Human Rights Department (LHRD) in al-Wefaq National Islamic Society issued a report highlighting the wide violations Bahrain military and security authorities committed in concurrence with the Formula 1 race from 13th to 22nd April, 2013.

The report clarified that the violations took place one week before the Formula 1 race started in concurrence with the race’s preparations and continued for 10 days.

The report mentioned that 132 arrests (105 males, 2 females and 24 children) have taken place. While 69 houses were arrested and 27 citizens were injured and 33 cases of torture by the regime forces were reported.

The report also stated that more than 27 areas were subjected to collective punishment by the use of toxic gasses and the forces’ provocative presence in residential areas. In addition to security pursuits in alleys.

First: Arrest cases

132 citizens have been arrested (105 males, 2 females and 24 children), while 40 detainees were released during the same period. The LHRD noticed that the number of arrests increased during the Formula 1 race period between 19thand 21st of the current month. It said 43 were arrested on Friday 19th and 45 were arrested on Sunday 21st from different areas.

The report confirmed that all arrest cases took place without legal arrest warrants or inspection orders in private house raids. A bug number of the detainees were made to stand before the Public Prosecution which then issued orders to keep them in detention for more than one month while most were not given a chance to call lawyers. The detainees told their family members that they were subjected to mistreatment and harassment; some said they were subjected to torture.

Second: Torture and injury cases

Citizens were subjected to the regime forces attacks which left 27 with injuries by the use of fire arms (birdshot guns) and by weaponizing teargas canisters to injure the protesters. The reported injuries varied from moderate to serious, some were to the face and head.

A number of citizens were subjected to torture, 33 cases were documented, as the forces tend to brutally assault protesters during arrest. The forces beat the protesters with batons and guns to retaliate, according to detainees.

Third: House raids and collective punishment

The regime forces raided 69 private houses and buildings in different areas over ten days (between 13th- 22nd April 2013) claiming to be searching for “suspects”. In most of the cases, the LHRD documented vandalism and robbery of private property and belongings as well as breaking doors. In some cases, inhabitants were beaten, pepper-sprayed and insulted. One case of firing live ammunition on three houses by unknown persons was documented in the village of Aali. The firing resulted in material damage in the houses.

More than 27 cases of collective punishment were documented. Residential areas were rained with teargas and a state of insecurity was imposed in those areas.

Fourth: Attachments; video footages

1. The regime forces point bisrdshot guns from house rooftops HERE

2. Intensive firing on houses at night HERE

3. Rescuing a family which’s house was targeted with toxic teargas HERE

4. Brutal arrest of youth HERE

5. Children beated for no reason HERE

6. Regime forces arrest a child HERE

…source

Bahrain: Crackdown Intensifies in Wake of F1 Race
23 April, 2013 -Bahrain Center for Human Rights

As the world’s attention shifts away from Bahrain, the authorities have sharply intensified the crackdown on ordinary citizens. The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights are both seriously concerned for the well being of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi who were arrested on April 22nd after peacefully protesting at the F1 race with t-shirts and slogans that support the freedom of imprisoned human rights activist Zainab Al-Khawaja and imprisoned photographer Ahmed Humaidan.

The husband to Rayhana Al-Mosawi was also arrested and interrogated, but has been released. Both women have been charged under the terrorism law for attempting to detonate a bomb at the F1 race, according to the defendants’ lawyers. Both activists stand accused of:

(1) joining an illegal group aimed at disrupting the provisions of the Constitution, terrorism was among the means used to achieve or execute the objectives;

(2) awareness of a terrorist schema without informing the authorities.

The official Ministry of Interior statement about the arrest states that:
“On the second day of the Grand Prix, police assigned to the BIC gate stopped two girls who were acting suspiciously. After searching them it was found that one of them was carrying a pillow stuffed under her dress. The girl told police she was testing the security procedures as part of a recce for a terrorist act. The girls were referred to the Public Prosecutor.”
(Link to the MOI statement: http://www.policemc.gov.bh/news_details.aspx?type=1&articleId=14173

The BCHR and the BYSHR believes that the decision to charge these women as terrorists under such outrageous charges is intended to send a clear message to other peaceful protesters that there will be severe consequences for speaking up for human rights. Their initial detention period will be for sixty days.

The BCHR has received reports that the women were forced to provide names of other individuals, and implicate them in illegal activities. The BCHR has documented a pattern of behavior by the authorities to use torture to extract false confession from human rights activists and pro-democracy protesters.

On the same day that the Bahraini authorities imprisoned these women on trumped-up charges, the U.N. Office of the Special Rapporteur on Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment announced that they would again delay their visit to Bahrain at the request of the Bahraini authorities. The Special Rapporteur, Professor Juan Mendez, was also denied access in March of 2012 when he was last scheduled to visit the country.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights demand that:

1. The immediate release of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi, and the dropping of all trumped-up charges against them.

2. The Special Rapportour on Torture be allowed to visit the country and speak with the dozens of prisoners and ordinary citizens who have reportedly been tortured by the authorities.

…source

U.N. Expert Says Bahrain Canceled Visit in Torture Inquiry
By NICK CUMMING-BRUCE – 24 April, 2013

GENEVA — A United Nations expert who was due to visit Bahrain next month to look into reports that the authorities there have abused and tortured protesters in detention said on Wednesday that the Bahraini government had effectively canceled the trip.

Bahrain’s decision “does not enhance transparency with regard to the situation in the country, nor demonstrate a commitment to redress impunity regarding any violations,” said the expert, Juan E. Mendez, in a statement released in Geneva. Mr. Mendez is based there as the United Nations’s special rapporteur on torture.

The cancellation follows a week of clashes between the police and opposition demonstrators in Bahrain, mostly in villages outside Manama, the capital. They were timed to coincide with a Formula One auto race in Manama, which attracts international media attention. The race took place on Sunday without incident, but the protests signaled a simmering challenge to the ruling Al Khalifa family.

Mr. Mendez had been scheduled to meet a number of key government ministers and officials during a visit that had been discussed since September 2011. An independent commission of inquiry reported late that year that some detainees in Bahrain had been tortured to death and others subjected to physical and psychological abuse to extract confessions or as punishment. The commission and the U.N. Human Rights Council recommended a number of reforms; Mr. Mendez said in a telephone interview that his visit would have given him an opportunity to see how much the Bahrain government had done to implement them.

He was originally scheduled to go to Bahrain in February 2012, but the Bahraini authorities canceled the visit on short notice, saying that there had not yet been enough progress on the reforms. Similarly, the letter delivered to Mr. Mendez this week canceling next month’s visit said that talks with the opposition in Bahrain had not progressed as fast as expected and that the visit could damage their chances of success. …more

Facing Tear Gas – Campaign to End the Global War on Democracy
War Resisters League

Since February 14th, 2011, Bahrain has been witness to a mass uprising. Inspired by the several neighboring uprisings in the Arab world, protesters have been demanding political and economic reform, and often the downfall of the regime. These demands include constitutional reformation, the formation of an elected, representative government, and an end to corruption, which is widespread in the kingdom.

Bahrain maintains a monarchical system ruled by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and and elite political class often closely tied to the al-Khalifa family. The monarchy has a history of silencing the dissident voices of the population through methods of torture, detention, and in the phrasing of a comprehensive Physicians for Human Rights report “weaponizing tear gas.” These actions have led to an increase in global attention, along with increased inquiry into Bahrain’s excessive use of force and human rights violations.

After the protest in the capital city of Manama and across Bahrain, King Hamad declared a State of Emergency for 3 months, effectively removing the protesters from their camp at the centre. The declaration was supported by the foreign military intervention of Saudi troops on March 14th. This crackdown however, did not crush the uprising, but rather decentralized it, breaking it up to myriad village-based movements, such as in Sitra and Durz. Once the State of Emergency was lifted, various political groupings, most prominently the Coalition of February 14th Youth, began to organize weekly protests of tens of thousands of opposition activists. The police response to these peaceful and unarmed protesters has been brutal. (In a campaign of intimidation ran by the police, there have been several house raids in Shi’a neighborhoods, beatings at checkpoints, denial of medical care, as well as detention and torture. Oppostion figures though, cross Bahrain’s geographical and sectarian communities, as the diversity of the movement has consistenly shown.)

A report released by a commission of inquiry established by King Hamad in June 2011 has confirmed the Bahraini government’s various violations of human rights and have silenced government claims that the protests were instigated by Shi’a Iran. Around the time of the report Bahrain sentenced several prominent movement figures to life in prison, including Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, there have been sporadic movements demanding economic, social, and political rights. Since 1783, Bahrain has been ruled by the Al Khalifas. Bahrain became an independent state apart from the British protectorate in 1971. The first parliamentary election took place in 1973. The constitution and the assembly were dissolved two years later. The year 1992 saw a popular uprising demanding the return of Parliament and constitution. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa muted the uprising in 2001 with reforms that were supported by an overwhelming majority of the Bahraini population. However, the following year, the government issued a new constitution appointing the majority of power to the upper half of Parliament as opposed to the popularly elected lower half. This led to the boycott of the 2002 parliamentary elections by many opposition parties, yet in 2006 Al Wefaq won a majority vote. This created a split in opposition associations, with organizations such as the Haq Movement seeking change outside of that brought about within Parliament. Since then, tensions and repression have increased dramatically, culminating in the ongoing mainly decentralized revolt. The Bahraini revolution continues . . . …source

US State Department 2012 Human Rights Report: Bahrain
19 April, 2013 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Bahrain is a monarchy. King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the head of state, appoints the cabinet consisting of 29 ministers; approximately half are members of the Sunni Al-Khalifa ruling family. The parliament consists of an appointed upper house, the Shura (Consultative) Council, and the elected Council of Representatives. Approximately 17 percent of eligible voters participated in parliamentary by-elections for 18 seats vacated in September 2011. Independent human rights organizations did not consider the elections free and fair. On May 19, the king ratified constitutional amendments broadening the powers of the elected chamber of parliament. Security forces reported to civilian authorities during the year.

The most serious human rights problems included citizens’ inability to change their government peacefully; arrest and detention of protesters on vague charges, in some cases leading to their torture in detention; and lack of due process in trials of political and human rights activists, medical personnel, teachers, and students, with some resulting in harsh sentences. Some protesters engaged in lethal acts of violence against security forces, including the use of improvised explosive devices, Molotov cocktails, and other improvised weapons.

Other significant human rights problems included arbitrary deprivation of life; arrest of individuals on charges relating to freedom of expression; reported violations of privacy; and restrictions on civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and some religious practices. The government sometimes imposed and enforced travel bans on political activists. Discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, nationality, and sect persisted, especially against the Shia population. There were reports of domestic violence against women and children. Trafficking in persons and restrictions on the rights of foreign workers continued to be significant problems.

Beginning in February 2011, the country experienced a sustained period of unrest including mass protests calling for political reform. In 2011, 52 persons died in incidents linked to the unrest, and hundreds more were injured or arrested. The government prosecuted some police personnel implicated in abuses committed during the year and in 2011. Courts convicted six individuals of crimes related to police abuse, resulting in prison sentences ranging from three months to seven years. It was unclear whether any of those convicted were in prison at year’s end. Many of the trials continued. In the pending cases, charges ranged from misdemeanor assault and battery to murder. The government took some steps to address the “culture of impunity,” which the 2011 Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report identified.

Human Rights in Bahrain- Report by State Department HERE

…source

Shame on Western deception!
24 April, 2013 – By Jim W. Dean – PressTV

Rank and file Brits can look east to Iran to see rank and file Iranians suffering also, but at the hands of the same Western elites. And when they see how Iran is reinventing itself the Brits might want to entertain some regime change themselves, the housecleaning kind, including all the Friends of Israel harlots.”

I read with astonishment in Press TV how the British government has debased itself in front of the whole world by refusing to allow Shell Oil Company to settle its USD 2 billion in accounts payable to Iran. The last I heard, Britain was not at war with Iran, nor has Iran attacked British interests anywhere.

The story continues on into the stratosphere of craziness when Shell tried to pay the debt in medical supplies which again, the British regime blocked. Shell then tried to arrange food shipments through Cargill, obviously intended to benefit the Iranian people who are not supposed to be under sanctions, and that too was blocked.

That a Western country would prevent medical and food supplies entering a country it is not at war with, as payment for an agreed account, I never imagined I would see the day. Shame on the British government, and all those involved in staining their national honor. I can hear Tony Blair saying now, ‘I told you I wasn’t so bad.’

The EU sanctions are going down in history as a perverse misuse of what was originally deemed to be targeted on anything that could be supportive of Iranian nuclear weapons development. This was done despite our joint intelligence report and the IAEA never finding evidence of any. We have Western countries with 10,000 nuclear weapons choosing to punish those who do not, on the grounds that they might have one… ‘Someday.’ That folks is a hustle.

What we have instead is sanctions fraud on steroids. Even Hillary Clinton said that goal was not to target the Iranian people, but she was lying through her teeth. Regime change has always been one of the key goals, the West’s thinking that hard times in Iran would spur its people to overthrow their government. That fantasy has gone down in flames. …more

Interview with Author of The Arab Awakening Unveiled: Understanding Transformations and Revolutions in the Middle East
by Esam Al-Amin – 11 April, 2013 – Interview by Jadaliyya

Jadaliyya (J): What made you write this book, and how would you describe it?

Esam Al-Amin (EA): The Arab Awakening Unveiled: Understanding Transformations and Revolutions in the Middle East is a collection of essays about the Arab uprisings and awakening movement, arguably the most important phenomenon that has taken place in the Middle East in the past century. I hope that the book provides thoughtful analysis and a keen understanding of this historical moment, as well as important aspects of US policy towards the Middle East and the Muslim World. For example, the book examines the main causes and effects of the Arab revolutions, especially in Egypt, and describes in details the role of each player in the political dynamics that has been taking place in the last two years across the Arab World, but particularly in Egypt. In addition, American foreign policy objectives and maneuvers vis-à-vis the changes brought about by the uprisings are also discussed and analyzed in many of these articles.

J: What particular topics does this work address?

EA: The first part (about three-quarter of the book) discusses the Arab revolutions, with a particular focus on Egypt. But it also covers other countries such as Tunisia, Syria, and Libya. The second part addresses other events in the Middle East, especially with regard to the Palestinian cause, as well as some aspects of American foreign and domestic policy. For example, several articles address Obama’s Cairo speech, Israel’s aggressive settlement policy, the failed peace process, and the futile Palestinian bid at the UN. This part of the book also covers issues from the Iranian elections and nuclear program to the impact of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the offensive YouTube clip on the Prophet Muhammad.

J: Who do you hope will read this book, and what sort of impact would you like it to have?

EA: The book is written for experts as well as non-experts. Hopefully, those who are interested in acquiring a deep understanding of the phenomenon of the Arab Spring, and why and how it came about, as well as what its future might entail, would find the book useful and illuminating. It is also addressed to those who are interested in, and focused on, American policy in the Middle East. It would be instructive if policy and opinion makers would also read the book and get a different view from the conventional wisdom in Washington.

J: How does your work contribute to and/or diverge from recent scholarship on revolutions in the region?

EA: I think what distinguishes The Arab Awakening Unveiled from others is that it combines critical facts about the discourse and trajectory of the revolutions as well as neutral and in depth analysis of the monumental events that took place in the last couple of years in the heart of the Arab world. Unfortunately, such multi-dimensional analysis is absent from most English language publications about the Arab Spring phenomena. For example, many articles in the book analyze the roots and consequences of the Islamic-secular divide and how this conflict has resulted in the unsettling current state of affairs in Egypt. Another article, for instance, provides sober analysis of the possible scenarios awaiting the popular revolution turned civil war in Syria.

J: In your view, what is the most important contribution of this book?

EA: Perhaps the most important contribution is the series of essays on the Egyptian revolution, which describe and explain in detail its complexity, the real forces behind it, and its historical developments, including the role of each player in the political dynamics in Egypt in the last two years since ousting Mubarak. Moreover, the book’s prologue attempts to place the Arab Spring phenomenon in its historical context since the dawn of Western imperialism in the Arab world, as well as the centrality of Palestine in the last century within the Arab awakening conscience and resistance movements. Furthermore, the most significant challenges facing these revolutions are laid out and discussed, and thus the ultimate outcome of their success or failure will be determined based on the response to these challenges by the various political movements and the people of the region.

J: What other projects are you working on now?

EA: I am currently working on multiple projects, including a book on the history of the Palestinian issue addressed to high school students, so that it can be used as textbook or supplementary material in social studies classes. Another book I’m writing is focused on the Chronicles of the Egyptian Revolution, to be published by the revolution’s third anniversary next year.
[Read more →]

Bahraini Human Rights Activist Nabeel Rajab Suffering Abuse in Prison
22 April, 2013 – World Movement for Democracy

The BBC News reports that leading Bahraini democracy and human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has been denied medical treatment at Jaw Prison, where he is currently serving a two-year prison sentence. According to his wife, Sumaya, Mr. Rajab suffers from a back injury he sustained in 2005 when he was beaten by police. The injury requires him to see a doctor regularly for treatment. Sumaya has asked the prison to provide him with a specialized doctor so he can receive treatment for pain that is “so severe that sometimes he cannot move,” but her requests have been repeatedly denied.

The World Movement for Democracy has written numerous alerts about Mr. Rajab, who serves as the director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) and the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). Mr. Rajab was originally sentenced to three months in prison for a tweet, and then to three years in prison for participating in and calling for a peaceful protest. That sentence was later reduced to two years.

According to a statement released on April 22 regarding Mr. Rajab’s ill-treatment and continued imprisonment, the GCHR “believes that these actions are directly related to his human rights work in Bahrain.” The World Movement for Democracy strongly urges the Bahraini Government to grant Nabeel Rajab immediate access to medical treatment, and joins the GCHR in calling for his immediate release and that of all of his fellow prisoners of conscience and activists. …more

Bahrain blocks visit of UN torture rapporteur
By Bill Law – BBC News – 23 April, 2013

The Bahraini government has postponed indefinitely a visit by Juan Mendez the UN special rapporteur on torture.

According to the country’s official news agency the trip has been called off “until further notice”.

This comes just days after the release of a US State Department report on human rights in Bahrain which spoke of “significant” violations including torture in detention.

The Gulf kingdom has been wracked by civil unrest for two years.

The violence has left at least 50 people dead.

An independent enquiry established by King Hamad al-Khalifa in 2011 found that there had been numerous abuses. The king accepted the report and promised accountability and reform.

But human rights organisations in Bahrain and outside the country say that the promised reforms are happening either too slowly or not at all. And they allege that human rights abuses are continuing.

The US State Department Bahrain 2012 Human Rights Report spoke of “serious human rights problems,” including “citizens’ inability to change their government peacefully; arrest and detention of protesters on vague charges, in some cases leading to their torture in detention; and lack of due process in trials of political and human rights activists”.

Mr Mendez had originally intended to visit Bahrain in 2012 but that too was called off. Pointing to this second postponement Brian Dooley of US based Human Rights First called the decision “a huge blow to the credibility of Bahrain’s reform process”.

“It seems like the Bahrain regime is frightened of what more international scrutiny might reveal. It’s very telling that they’ve shut Mendez out again,” said Mr Dooley.

A spokesperson in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) described the decision as “disappointing” and noted that Alistair Burt, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State had raised the issue with the Bahraini government “stressing the importance we and the international community place on the visit”.

The FCO said: “We hope that a new date for this visit can be found soon.” …more