POMED Wire: More Deaths in Bahrain
16 July 2011

Bahraini security forces have been increasing their use of tear gas against protesters, which have resulted in numerous deaths including the death of Zainab Hassan, 47 year old mother of two girls. In addition, riot police attacked people’s homes in Sitra on Friday and chased people out of the village.

An Irish group began a fact finding mission in Bahrain to determine the condition of detained medical workers and doctors that have been detained in Bahrain. The delegation arrived in unofficial capacity despite hesitation from Bahraini authorities to allow entry into the country. The group met with family members of detained medics and with some who have been released. Authorities did not allow the group to meet with detained medics. Currently, 47 medics have been arrested and detained, and the fact finding mission plans to remain in Bahrain till the conflict is resolved.

Human Rights First released it’s second fact-finding mission report that took place on July 6 to July 12 outlining the torture protesters and civilians have to endure from the security forces.

The National Journal met with Maryam Al-Khawaja, the 24-year-old director of foreign relations for the Bahrain Center for Human Rights on Capitol Hill to discuss reasons for her encouragement toward the U.S. to step up efforts to convince Bahrain to stop human rights violations. In response to Bahrain’s attempt of a national dialogue, Al-Khawaja, said that this is the government’s attempt to buy time and “get some positive media attention for what they are doing.” …source

Talks ‘only way to peace in Bahrain’

BAHRAIN’S sectarian divide can only be solved by talking through each problem with all members of the community, says a European political delegation.

Non-participation of groups in National Dialogue will only lead to further divisions, it added.

The statement was made during a meeting held by editor-in-chief of our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej, Anwar Abdulrahman, and deputy editor Sayed Zahra with British MP Mike Hancock and Polish MP Professor Tadeusz Iwinski.

The Council of Europe members are part of a delegation which has been meeting politicians, ministers, the youth and expatriates to gauge an understanding of what happened during February and March.

The one-week visit also aims to discuss what can be done to avoid further unrest.

“We are here to listen, learn and tell a story about Bahrain to the outside world which perhaps has not been told before,” said Mr Hancock.

“There is a huge degree of ignorance at how the situation has been portrayed in the international media.

“What happened here started out as an internal issue between the two sects but continued and gathered momentum as external influences played their part.

“The strongest influences were undoubtedly from Iran and the US, and Iran can win a number of wars without firing a shot due to its sheer level of influence within society.

“Now people have to know what will happen to this country if a solution is not reached and the only way of raising this awareness is by talking.”

The delegation assured Mr Zahra and Mr Abdulrahman that the purpose of their visit was not to defend the position of Bahrain, but to present a balanced and non-biased report of the country to their respective parliaments.

“I ask you not to come here to defend us or our position, but leave with a balanced and clear view of Bahrain,” said Mr Zahra.

“This country is suffering from a sectarian division and issues in society.

“However, there is widespread ignorance in Europe, not only within the media but also among officials and what people forget is that Bahrain was a pioneer of democracy in this region.”

The delegation advocated that the Dialogue talks should be extended beyond its allocated month timeframe. …more

Journalist harassed after press briefing in Bahrain
Posted on 2011/07/17

Following a press briefing organised by the Irish delegation of medical, political and human rights figures at the end of their visit to Bahrain on 14 July 2011 the journalist Ms Reem Khalifa was surrounded by pro-Government protesters and abused and harassed. The protesters then called the police and claimed one of their number had been struck on the jaw. Eye witnesses to the encounter have testified that no person was struck and that it was Ms Reem Khalifa who was the victim of harassment and that she then walked away from the confrontation in the hotel lobby.

The Irish delegation press briefing had been disrupted by a small group of women who shouted repeatedly. Delegation members were interviewed by a number of journalists including Reem Khalifa at the end of the briefing. When Reem Khalifa went to exit through the lobby of the Ramada Palace Hotel she was surrounded by a small group of women who shouted abuse at her, seemingly because she had been undertaking her legitimate journalistic activity and interviewing members of the delegation. …more