Zawya
04 Jun 2011
Aid ship bound for Bahraini protesters halted by Maliki ‘at Manama’s request’

A boat carrying aid to protesters in Bahrain has been intercepted by the Iraqi coast guard and forced to return to Maaqal Port, Basra.

Organizers claim that the Bahraini Government sent a letter to the Iraqi Foreign Office threatening to attack the ship if it was allowed to enter the island state’s waters.

80 well-known Iraqi figures, including jounrnalists, doctors and activists were also on board the controversial vessel that was apparently halted on the order of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Such a demonstration of support for the protesters would be have been likely to flare the already strained relationship between the two gulf countries.

The Shia majority in Bahrain began protesting at the end of February demanding reform. They were met with violent repression from the Sunny authorities that has garnered international condemnation. When the Shia dominated Iraqi Government added its voice of criticism, relations with Manama hit an all time low.

‘Actions justified’

The Spokesperson for the head of the National Congress Ahmad Shalabi, the main organizer of the project, said that Baghdad’s bowing to pressure from Bahrain was unjustified.

“Our foreign policies should not be based on pressure from other governments, but rather on the needs of the people. We are waiting for a proper account of why it was stopped form the Office of the General Commander of the Armed Forces.”

The Foreign Relations Committee was full of praise for Maliki’s decision, saying that the ship was stopped because organizers it hadn’t obtained the legal permission to sail to Bahrain.

“Of course we have to act in our countries national interests,” said spokesperson, Hassan al-Shweired, “but we have do so within standards that do not intersect with the international covenants and cannot considered as intervention in the internal affairs of another country.” …source

Two new martyrs as Formula 1 advised to boycott Bahrain
Bahrain Freedom Movement – 03/06/2011 – 6:41 p | Hits: 446

Two Bahrainis were martyred today and yesterday as a result of the barbarity of the Al Khalifa. This morning the martyrdom of Salman Abu Idris, 63, was confirmed, two and a half months after he had been shot in the head with a live bullet. He has remained in critical condition ever since as the Al Khalifa and Saudi occupiers continued to unleash their terror on Bahrainis.

Yesterday a young Bahraini woman was martyred when she was hit with excessive amounts of tear gas. Zainab Al Tajir (Hajja Umm Saeed) was exposed to this lethal chemical weapon in Sanabis as the town was attacked by the Saudi-Al Khalifa forces in a futile attempt to stop the protest of Bahrainis against the occupation, repression and dictatorship. Today, her body was buried in a massive funeral attended by hundreds of people, outraged by the continuing suppression of public protest.

These two martyrs have been added to more than 30 others who had been killed by the joint Saudi-Al Khalifa forces. The people have only become more blunt in their defiance of this unholy alliance and are more determined to rid the country of this evil. Fear has now disappeared from the hearts and minds of the Bahrainis.

The 14th February Youth had called for a massive return to the protests on 1st June when the martial law was due to be lifted. Despite the Al Khalifa violence against Bahrainis, the people’s determination and zeal have never diminished. They responded positively to the call and demonstrations were held in many towns and villages. Manama has remained under siege to prevent the takeover of the Pearl Square which had been the birthplace of the largest ever revolution in Bahrain’s history.

This morning the funeral procession of the woman martyr was attacked by the regime’s Death Squads and scores of people were injured, some severely. The injured were taken to makeshift clinics organized by the people as the main Salmaniya hospital remains under the Saudi-Al Khalifa occupiers. The funeral procession was both massive and impressive with people chanting anti-regime slogans and calling for an end to the Al Khalifa rule. Following the attack on the funeral procession the people of Sitra went on a spontaneous demonstration in support of people of Sanabis who were attacked by the Thugs of the regime. Several demonstrations were held in the past two days in: Dair, Bani Jamra, Karzakkan, Sitra, Musalla and other places. More injuries were reported. …more

Bahrain: The Medical staff are facing 12 charges tomorrow before a military court
June 5th, 2011

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about trial at least 47 Medical staff before a military court (National Safety court)

Today ( 5 June, 2011 ), Medical Doctors court hearing is adjourned till tomorrow ( 6 June 2011 ) (Ref:http://byshr.org/?p=558)

The recently released doctors were asked to go to the office of Criminal Investigation tomorrow at 6:30 am and then transferred together- along with the medical staff, which are still in custody – to the military court.

Bahraini authorities announced: 24 Doctors and 23 Nurses will facing the charges.

On 3 May 2011 , Bahraini authorities announced charges against the medical staff:

1. The inexcusable refrain from aiding people.
2.The embezzlement of public funds.
3.physical assault on other.
4. Assault leading to death.
5.The possession of unlicensed weapons and ammunition.
6. Refraining from carrying out their employment duties, in aims of hindering medical work, consequently endangering people’s health and lives.
7. The attempt of forcefully occupying a public building.
8.Promotion to bring down and change the regime by illegal means.
9. Accused of inciting hatred against the governing regime.
10.Promoting sectarian hate.
11.Spreading false news and rumours that harm the public interest.
12.Participating in unlicensed protests and rallies.

Note: Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, had translation of the charges from Arabic into English.Terms may not be (legal terms)

An official document certified that the transfer of medical equipment from the Salmaniya Hospital was done legally ( Ref:http://byshr.org/?p=493)

Jun 6, 2011
Bahrain police clash with Shi’ite religious marchers

MANAMA – BAHRAINI police clashed with Shi’ite marchers in a religious festival late on Sunday, less than a week after the Gulf kingdom repealed an emergency law that quashed weeks of protests.

Residents and leading Shi’ite opposition group Wefaq said police used tear gas, rubber bullets, sound grenades and birdshot to break up marches in several Shi’ite villages around the capital Manama.

Some of the gatherings were purely religious, residents said, while others took on a political tone as marchers shouted’Down, down (King) Hamad’ and ‘The people want the fall of the regime.’ Residents said several people were wounded in the village of Sitra, and a house had been set ablaze as clashes there continued.

‘We condemn this attack, this kind of attack will make the situation even worse,’ said Mr Sayyed Hady, of Wefaq. ‘This event is so, so normal in Bahrain, we’ve been doing it for centuries … the authorities said they won’t attack religious events, but this is what they did.’ The unrest comes just two days after the tiny island kingdom’s Formula One Grand Prix was reinstated. Its original March date had been postponed due to widespread protests at the time.

In March, Bahrain’s Sunni rulers called in troops from neighbouring Sunni led Gulf Arab countries to quash weeks of protests led mostly by members of its majority Shi’ite population who were demanding democratic reforms. Hardliners had called for a republic.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has said the Saudi and Emirati forces would remain in the country indefinitely to help face a perceived threat from Shi’ite Muslim power Iran, across a short stretch of water from Bahrain. — REUTERS …source

Continuing Bahraini State Terror
June 5, 2011
by Stephen Lendman

For months, Bahraini and Saudi security forces targeted nonviolent protesters and activists wanting the repressive Al Khalifa monarchy replaced by constitutionally elected government, political freedom, and social justice, what Bahrainis never had and don’t now.

Still functioning despite authorities terrorizing people brutally, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) provides regular updates on the ground, expressing great concern about King Hamad’s ruthless:

“actions and arbitrary penalties against citizens who it believes participated or supported the peaceful protest movement in February and March, whereas, Bahraini authorities (unleashed) great violence (against them, resulting in) dozens of deaths, especially after” thuggish Saudi and Emirati forces also suppressed them.

[see full article here]

In April, BCHR President Nabeel Rajab said America’s media were told not to cover brutal Bahraini violence, saying:

“In the US, some news agencies and TV stations were asked not to report on Bahrain, and not to embarrass” Obama who fully supports it. At the same time, while terror bombing Libya, he falsely accuses Gaddafi of human rights violations for actions independent observers call self-defense against Western-backed insurgents, cutthroat killers targeting anyone suspected of pro-regime sympathies.

America’s media obliged, ignoring Bahraini state terror while vilifying Gaddafi for justifiable self-defense. In contrast, independent journalists can’t be bribed or intimidated.

Reporting on what’s really happening in both countries, they reveal Western-backed violence and brutality against anyone challenging entrenched pro-Western regimes and America’s interests, backed by bipartisan consensus under all US administrations, each new one worse than its predecessor. …more