Sept 4. Bahraini Court Verdicts Could Be Transformative
31 August, 2012 – Human Rights First

Washington, DC – Human Rights First today said that expected Sept. 4 verdicts in three closely watched Bahraini court cases could make Tuesday a potentially transformative day for human rights in the Kingdom. Among those who will learn their fate on Tuesday are 13 leading dissidents, 28 medics and Zianab Al Khawaja, all prosecuted for exposing the truth behind the Bahrain regime’s false claims of reform.

“It’s hard to remember a day that could – if the right decisions are made – change the human rights picture so radically in Bahrain, “said Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley. “If the Bahrain regime has the vision and courage to release these people it could be a game changer.”

Appeal verdicts are expected in the cases of 13 of Bahrain’s most prominent dissidents who, after a show trial in military court, were originally sentenced in June 2011 to terms of between two years and life in prison. That group includes leading human rights activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, as well as Hassan Mshaima’, ‘Abdelwahab Hussain, Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, Mohammad Habib al-Miqdad, Abdel-Jalil al-Miqdad, Sa’eed Mirza al-Nuri, Mohammad Hassan Jawwad, Mohammad ‘Ali Ridha Isma’il, Abdullah al-Mahroos, ‘Abdul-Hadi ‘Abdullah Hassan al-Mukhodher, Ebrahim Sharif, Salah ‘Abdullah Hubail al-Khawaja.. The men were convicted of various charges, including “setting up terror groups to topple the royal regime and change the constitution.” In May 2011, Dooley was denied entry at the courtroom when he arrived to observe the 13 men’s military trial.

He was at an early court hearing for the 28 medics in March 2012. The 28 medical professionals awaiting verdicts on Tuesday include nurses, consultants, surgeons and ambulance drivers. The charge sheets against them include inciting hatred against the regime and taking part in an illegal gathering. The medics dispute the charges and have maintained that they were just doing their jobs as medics. One of the medics, Dr Nabeel Tammam, told Human Rights First, “They have no case against the medics, all confessions were taken under torture.”

In addition to treating those injured in the uprising, Dooley notes that the medics were likely targeted by the regime for telling the world what was happening in Bahrain or for being perceived as associated with the protests. Another 20 medics who were sentenced by the military court in September 2011 had their appeal verdicts announced on June 14.

On Tuesday, Zainab Al Khawaja will also hear the verdict against her for peaceful protesting against the regime. She is currently in detention awaiting the decision. …source

Ayatollah Khamenei to US: Change your Behavior
Ali Rizk – Moqawama Specials

The alarm expressed by “Israel” over UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s participation in the NAM summit in Tehran is not merely related to Ban’s engagement with high ranking Iranian officials. Rather “Israeli” premier Benjamin Netanyahu was so angry with Ban’s participation, describing it as “a big mistake”, because he knows that it means Western, and specifically US engagement with Tehran. According to certain Iranian media websites, Ban decided to head to Iran upon the insistence of former US assistant secretary of state Jeffrey Feltman, who was recently appointed as Ban’s undersecretary for political affairs, and who accompanied the UN chief on this trip. Ban’s meeting with the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei actually does fit in with the Obama style approach towards the Islamic Republic.

Since coming into office, Obama has sought to communicate directly with Ayatollah Khamenei having sent letters addressed directly to the leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The “traces of the American administration” were also evident in Ban’s statements. At a time where US officials worry about a possible “Israeli” suicide mission to strike Iran, which would prove catastrophic for US interests and for “Israel” itself, Ban called on the Islamic Republic to show cooperation regarding its peaceful nuclear program. MORE IMPORTANTLY the UN chief urged the Islamic Republic to tone down its anti-“Israeli” rhetoric saying:
“I strongly reject threats by any member state to destroy another or outrageous attempts to deny historical facts such as the Holocaust.”

At a time where there are elevated fears in Washington about Netanyahu going ahead with a possible military adventure, one of the ways in which the Obama administration could use leverage against Netanyahu would be to have Iran’s leadership reiterate that its nuclear program is indeed for peaceful purposes and at the same time tone down its anti-“Israeli” approach.

On the other hand Ban made reference to Iran’s significant weight as a regional player which could play a role in putting an end to the crisis in Syria. Here the US can be seen as showing its recognition of Iran as an indispensable regional player. But taking into account what was mentioned above regarding “Israel”, Washington appears to be saying that it has no problem with Iran playing a major regional role if Tehran makes some adjustments to its stances towards “Israel”. Put in another way : “change your behavior, only with regards to “Israel””.

Then came the response of the Iranian supreme leader. In a speech opening the NAM summit Ayatollah Khamenei once again underscored that his country was against weapons of mass destruction describing their use as “an unforgivable sin”. But with respect to “Israel” he made it clear that it was “Israel” that was the source of instability and the hostile party with its policies against the Palestinians and its ongoing threats to launch war on Iran, referring to “Israeli” leaders as “bloodthirsty wolves”. But what was most significant was what he said towards the end of his speech. In response to the calls to change behavior towards “Israel”, Ayatollah Khamenei told Washington to do just the same: change American behavior and policies towards “Israel”.

The Iranian supreme leader said that “Israel” was causing the US a headache and that the ongoing support for “Israel” was becoming too costly for the United States. He also said that American officials should “show courage and opt for the referendum solution” regarding Palestine and stop what he called the US “astronomical spending” on “Israel”.

These statements by Ayatollah Khamenei do indeed show signs of a new world order which the supreme leader also referred to in its speech. In fact this new world order and Iran’s role in it became evident ever since Obama, who belongs to the realist school of thought, came to the White House advocating a new approach towards Iran realizing that the US is no longer in a position to continue hostile policies towards certain countries.

The US president however, has bowed down to “Israeli” pressures so far and has set records in military assistance to the Israeli government. This “bowing down to “Israel”” will only cost the US more as the Islamic awakening in the region signals the beginning of a period where the people are the source of legitimacy. And the stance of the people towards “Israel” is no secret to anyone. …source

In a satirical poem titled “When,” posted on Arabic reformist websites including www.aafaq.org , reformist Saudi author and journalist Wajeha Al-Huwaider lamented what she regards as the conditions in the Arab world. In the introduction to this poem, she wrote: “‘When’ is an ode to the troubles of the Arab citizen. Both men and women participated in its [writing], and it is still open to additions. This ode will be hung on the walls of the palaces of the Arab rulers, [1] so feel free to add you contributions.”

Saudi Arabia: The Arab Woman; The Muslim Country
31 August – by from aafaq.com – Poetry by Wajeha Al-Huwaider

The following are excerpts from the poem “When”:

“When you cannot find a single garden in your city, but there is a mosque on every corner – you know that you are in an Arab country…

“When you see people living in the past with all the trappings of modernity – do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country.

“When religion has control over science – you can be sure that you are in an Arab country.

“When clerics are referred to as ‘scholars’ – don’t be astonished, you are in an Arab country.

“When you see the ruler transformed into a demigod who never dies or relinquishes his power, and whom nobody is permitted to criticize – do not be too upset, you are in an Arab country.

“When you find that the large majority of people oppose freedom and find joy in slavery – do not be too distressed, you are in an Arab country.

“When you hear the clerics saying that democracy is heresy, but [see them] seizing every opportunity provided by democracy to grab high positions [in the government] – do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country…

“When monarchies turn into theocracies, and republics into hybrids of monarchy and republic – do not be taken aback, you are in an Arab country.

“When you find that the members of parliament are nominated [by the ruler], or else that half of them are nominated and the other half have bought their seats through bribery… – you are in an Arab country…

“When you discover that a woman is worth half of what a man is worth, or less – do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country…

“When you see that the authorities chop off a man’s hand for stealing a loaf of bread or a penny, but praise and glorify those who steal billions – do not be too surprised, you are in an Arab country…

“When you are forced to worship the Creator in school and your teachers grade you for it – you can be sure that you are in an Arab country…

“When young women students are publicly flogged merely for exposing their eyes – you are in an Arab country…

“When a boy learns about menstruation and childbirth but not about his own [body] and [the changes] it undergoes in puberty – roll out your prayer mat and beseech Allah to help you deal with your crisis, for you are in an Arab country…

“When land is more important than human beings – you are in an Arab country…

“When covering the woman’s head is more important than financial and administrative corruption, embezzlement, and betrayal of the homeland – do not be astonished, you are in an Arab country…

“When minorities are persecuted and oppressed, and if they demand their rights, are accused of being a fifth column or a Trojan horse – be upset, you are in an Arab country…

“When women are [seen as] house ornaments which can be replaced at any time – bemoan your fate, you are in an Arab country.

“When birth control and family planning are perceived as a Western plot – place your trust in Allah, you are in an Arab country…

“When at any time, there can be a knock on your door and you will be dragged off and buried in a dark prison – you are in an Arab country…

“When fear constantly lives in the eyes of the people – you can be certain that you are in an Arab country.”

Endnotes: [1] This is an allusion to the Seven Mu’allaqat, famous sixth century odes which, according to Arab legend, were hung in pre-Islamic times on the walls of the Qa’ba in Mecca.

…source

Bahrain had signed the UN Children’s Rights Convention in 1992 in which every person under the age of 18 is considered a child. However, The Bahraini law states that those under the age of 15 are considered children.

Bahraini children victims of murder, arrest, torture, and harassment
31 August, 2012 – ABNA.com

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – Bahrain had signed the UN Children’s Rights Convention in 1992 in which every person under the age of 18 is considered a child. However, The Bahraini law states that those under the age of 15 are considered children.

Ali Al-Shleikh died at 14 years of age. Abdul Hussein died at 6 years of age due to suffocation from tear gas thrown into his home.

In Both cases the Bahraini government committed flagrant violations against children. A new statistic shows that the children under 18 who have been killed number 11.

This does not include the infants that have been killed due to the tear gas, and who number 30 infants. Sajida Faisal died at age 5 days, and Yahia Youssef Ahmad died at age one month.

The Bahraini Center for Human Rights concluded that there were at least 45 incidents of abortion that were caused by the tear gas as well, in addition to numerous cases of abnormalities among newborns which sheds light on the type of substances present in the tear gas.

Several professionals and activists have document and reported cases of child arrest, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, beatings, and torture after being charged with public rallying made up of five or more people with the intent of public unrest or committing crimes according to Article 179 of the Penal Code.

Children between 15 and 18 were especially subjected to torture and treated like adults in the police stations and investigation rooms.

This article has been condemned by the Basioni report for holding individuals accountable according to a perceived intent. The public prosecutor claimed, in a statement it issued in December 2011, that charges based on this article will be dropped since it coincides with the freedom of expression.

Some examples of such cases are: Abdul Karim Hasan, who was detained for 12 days and was beaten and verbally and physically abused. Ali Hasan Ali (Youngest detainee in the Bahraini prisons) who was detained for 25 days on charges of rallying and committing crimes. Ali Al-Sankis who was photographed naked and blackmailed with the produced photos. …source