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Messages from imprisoned and targeted human rights defenders in Bahrain
كتب : Mohamed Wadie – 17 October, 2013

In this photo taken on 12 August 2012, activist Said Yousif al-Muhafdah speaks to protesters in Bahrain, calling for freedom for jailed rights activists seen on the poster at right, Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, Nabeel Rajab and Zainab al-Khawaja

Acting Vice President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights Said Yousif AlMuhafdah spoke at the 7th Frontline Defenders Platform for Human Rights Defenders at Risk on 11 October 2013. This is a transcript of his speech:

My name is Said Yousif AlMuhafdah – Acting Vice President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, and a human rights defender from Bahrain. I got arrested several times for doing my work and for cooperating and reporting to the United Nations. Like other defenders in Bahrain, I have been beaten, defamed, threatened and harassed because of my work in human rights. Two days ago, after arriving in Dublin, my family informed me that I have received a summons for interrogation because I spoke about torture.

Human rights defender Naji Fateel, who had previously delivered a speech at Frontline, is now sentenced to 15 years in prison and was subjected to severe torture because of his work in the field of human rights.

Abduljalil AlSingace, another human rights defender, suffers from paralysis, but that did not stop the regime from severely torturing him and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

Today I would like to share with you letters from two imprisoned human rights defenders in Bahrain directed to the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and Assembly, Frontline, other international organizations and all international human rights defenders.

The first letter is from imprisoned rights defender Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights:

“Dear friends, colleagues and fellow human rights defenders at the 7th Frontline Defenders Platform for Human Rights Defenders,

I am addressing you from a cell in Bahrain, where I have been imprisoned since July 9th, 2012. The Bahraini regime decided to silence my voice from defending freedom of speech and from defending the rights of all Bahrainis for freedom, democracy and social justice. I ask you, my friends and colleagues, to help the long-suffering people of Bahrain to regain their rights from a tyrant regime. There was international condemnation of the widespread human rights violations which included extrajudicial killings, systematic torture, arbitrary arrests and the list is long; but the regime refuses to change.

Several human rights defenders, including myself, were put in prison just for speaking out. I ask you to stand in solidarity with the imprisoned human rights defenders in Bahrain.

Thank you so much for listening to the voice of Bahrainis and I look forward to your kind and heartfelt actions.”

The second letter I will share with you today is from imprisoned human rights defender Zainab Alkhawaja, whose father, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja worked at Frontline before he was imprisoned, tortured and sentenced to life in prison in Bahrain:

“In a nutshell, the idea is that by defending human rights activists you’re also defending their communities. Defend one activist and you’ll be protecting tens or even hundreds of other people. A few years back, my father described to me what Frontline does, and I could see the passion that he has for his work
But it’s more than just work for him, defending others is not what my father does, it’s who my father is.

Never was this more clear to me than when my father told me about his experience in military prison.

He calmly told me about two months in isolation, about not being allowed to speak, about never seeing a human face. He described the torture sessions and the masked torturers.

But the calm disappeared, and I saw pain in my father’s eyes when he told me: “The worst thing was never when I was being tortured. The worst thing was when I could hear the others being tortured and I couldn’t do anything.”

He tried. My father’s first hunger strike during this imprisonment was while he was in solitary confinement and being tortured routinely. His only demand was that they stop torturing the head of the teachers’ union Mahdi abu Dheeb in the cell next to him, and whose screams he could hear.

My father was tortured severely until he ended that strike.

My father and other defenders have dedicated their lives to defending victims, educating people about their rights, and exposing the regime’s crimes.

The regime in Bahrain fears international pressure more than they care about people’s rights. Their solution is to commit their crimes in darkness, far away from the eyes of the international community, the media, and human rights organizations.

The best way to achieve this is by silencing those who shed light on the human rights abuses being committed against the people of Bahrain.

In a nutshell, the Bahraini regime has realized that by arresting and silencing one human rights activist, you can more easily oppress tens and hundreds of other people.

The Bahraini regime is therefore shamelessly targeting human rights activists through arrests and torture, detention and beatings, threats and interrogations, and defamation campaigns. And as more activists are silenced simultaneously we see a rise in the human rights abuses, violations, and crimes towards the general Bahraini population.
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Bahrainis determined to get political change: Saeed Shehabi
16 October, 2013 – PressTV

Costs of Arab Spring Outweigh Benefits, Says Bank
18 October, 2013 – Robert Joyce – tunisialive

The economic costs of the Arab uprisings may outweigh their benefits to countries like Tunisia, according a recently-released report from a major bank.

Collectively, the political upheaval in the Arab world that began in 2011 will have cost Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Libya, Jordan, and Lebanon $800 billion between 2011-14, according to international bank HSBC.

The report, titled “A Bitter Legacy,” calculates the costs of the wave of uprisings which started in Tunisia in 2010.

GDP statistics for Tunisia from HSBC’s report October 2013

Using seven countries that the researchers, Elizabeth Martins and Simon Williams, argue were most affected by the upheaval, the report compares pre-2011 growth forecasts with post-2011 realities and predictions to put a dollar amount on what has been called the Arab Spring.

The report has a negative tone, suggesting that the economic costs of the post-2011 situation outweigh any positive gains in the region.

“Any gains also pale when set against the economic losses much of the region has suffered since the start of what is still called the Arab Spring,” the report, produced for the bank’s clients, states.

Dueling protests and ongoing talks have avoided the sort of violence seen in Egypt, but have made Tunisia appear unstable to investors and prevented post-revolution economic recovery from gaining momentum.

Gross domestic product growth has been unsteady since taking a dramatic hit during the 2011 revolution. Unemployment, a major complaint of Tunisians, has also increased.

Security failures, including the assassination of opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi and the attacks on military forces, exacerbate these concerns.

The report states that there is a low likelihood a coup will take place in Tunisia, but actually views this as weakening investor confidence in the country.

“In contrast to Egypt, the military and security services are less powerful and deep rooted, leaving no ready-made alternative to the post-revolutionary structures,” the report states.
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Appalling Human Rights Abuses in Bahrain
17 October, 2013 – By Stephen Lendman – Media with Conscience

Rights Abuses in BahrainSince February 2011, Bahrainis challenged state terror policies heroically. Brutal crackdowns followed. They continue.

They include mass arrests, imprisonments, torture, kangaroo court trials, and overall ruthlessness.

Bahrain’s ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is a close US ally. Washington provides material support. It’s one of the world’s most despotic regimes. Ruthlessness defines its policies.

According to the State Department’s 2012 human rights report, serious human rights abuses persist.

They include “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.”

“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.”

In more detail, the State Department cited:

– “Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life;”

– “Disappearance(s)”

– “Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;”

– Horrific prison and detention center conditions;

– “Arbitrary Arrest(s) (and) Detention(s);”

– Lawless arrest procedures and treatment;

– “Denial of Fair Public Trial(s);”

– Imprisonment for political reasons;

– Lawless civil judicial procedures and remedies;

– “Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence;”

– Speech, press and other civil liberties violations;

– Restricted Internet freedom;

– Restricted academic and cultural events freedom;

– Lack of freedom of assembly and association;

– Denial of free internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, repatriation and religion;

– Sham elections and other political irregularities;

– Corruption and lack of government transparency;

– Discrimination and other societal abuses;

– Violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and

– Greatly restricted labor rights.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) discusses ongoing human rights abuses regularly.

On September 29, it headlined “Bahrain Court Sentences 50 Defendants, Including Human Rights Defenders, Under Terrorism Law, and Reduces Sentence For Two Police Officers Convicted of Torturing Detainee to Death.”

They received a combined 430 years imprisonment. Their crime is wanting equity and justice. They want freedom from political persecution. They want what everyone deserves. They want what Bahrain denies.

At issue was the so-called “February 14 Coalition” case. Fifty Bahrainis were charged under the politically motivated terrorism law.

Trial proceedings excluded internationally recognized judicial standards. Fairness was entirely lacking.

Defendant testimonies revealed torture and other forms of abuse. The court ignored them.

On September 5, defense counsel requested a new judge. Conflict of interest was cited. It was denied.

The defense team withdrew from proceedings. It cited Bahrain’s Criminal Procedure Law, Article 211.

Defendants boycotted the trial. They cited a lack of judicial fairness.

Sham proceedings continued. On September 29, 16 defendants received 15 years imprisonment, four got 10 years, and 20 others got five years each.

BCHR’s Acting President Maryam Al-Khawaja responded as follows:

“There was no due process in the entirety of this case which is why the defendants and their lawyers decided to boycott.”

“From the time that the defendants were abducted, tortured and then sentences, nothing was done according to international standards of a fair trial.”

“If these fifty people were really guilty of a crime, why was the only evidence presented confessions extracted under torture?”

“This was a sham trial with a political verdict. They should be released immediately.”

On October 12, BCHR published messages from imprisoned and targeted human rights defenders. Said Yousif AlMuhafdah is Acting BCGR Vice President. He’s a wanted man.

He was arrested numerous times for doing the right thing. Bahrani justice calls right wrong. Said’s been “beaten, defamed, threatened and harassed” for his work.

He’s traveling abroad. Days earlier, his family said he received a summons for interrogation. It was for speaking openly about torture.

Human rights defender Naji Fateel is imprisoned. He’s serving 15 years for doing his job. He was severely tortured.

Human rights defender Abduljalil AlSingace is paralyzed. He was tortured anyway. He’s imprisoned for life.

Nabeel Rajab co-founded BCHR. He’s been arrested, brutally beaten, prosecuted and imprisoned for three years. It’s for defending human rights. He’s a political prisoner. He wrote supporters saying the following.
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US Concerned Over Unrest in Bahrain
17 October, 2013 – VOA

STATE DEPARTMENT — The United States is increasingly concerned about unrest in Bahrain ahead of the trial of a leading opposition activist later this month. There has been little progress in a national dialogue that was agreed to following violent demonstrations in 2011. Considering Bahrain is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, it’s a worrisome issue for Washington.

Violence following the funeral of a Bahraini opposition activist is the latest setback to a national dialogue that was to have settled differences between the government and its opponents.

“We are disappointed by recent events that have happened on the ground and eroded the prospects of dialogue in Bahrain,” said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The Obama administration is aware of the detention and death of 31-year-old dissident Yousif Ali al-Nashmi, Psaki said. He was arrested in August on charges of taking part in illegal protests, although the Bahrain Center for Human Rights disputes that.

He died several days after his release this month following what human rights groups say was abuse in detention.

Last month, President Obama compared sectarian tensions in Bahrain to the violence in Iraq and Syria.

Bahrain is a majority Shi’ite country but is ruled by a Sunni royal family.

However, the government of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa claims there is no comparing Bahrain with Syria and Iraq, where sectarian tensions have fueled violence.

A foreign ministry statement said “terrorist extremist groups” are targeting security forces and that Bahrain is responding “within the rule of law.”

The opposition is demanding more jobs, more democracy, and the release of all political prisoners.

Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute feels Washington has missed an opportunity with Bahrain’s Shi’ites, who make up 70 percent of the population but are not proportionately represented in politics.

“The U.S. has done very little on behalf of Shia in Bahrain, where the majority are struggling for some greater say in their government,” said Bandow.

Psaki said the Obama administration is urging Bahrain’s government to uphold freedoms of assembly and expression and for all parties to reaffirm their commitment to nonviolence.

“There’s more that all parties can do to move things forward. So I don’t know if there’s a specific obstacle as much as there’s more that needs to be done,” said Psaki.

Former U.S. Ambassador Adam Ereli claims Washington’s “middle-ground” is not working.

“Nobody knows what the U.S. position is. In Bahrain they say, ‘Look, we support a democratic process. Don’t use violence.’ But we don’t condemn the opposition. We don’t declare support for the regime. Nobody knows what side we’re on,” explained Ereli.

Opposition groups suspended their participation in the national dialogue over last month’s detention of activist Khalil Marzouq, who is charged with using his leadership position in a legal political organization to incite violence. Amnesty International calls him a prisoner of conscience. His trial is set to begin October 24.
…source

Kerry wants chemical arms shipped out of Syria
17 October, 2013 – The Daily Star

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that he hopes the Syrian government’s chemical weapons will be rapidly consolidated into one location, put on a ship and removed from the region.

Kerry said in an interview with National Public Radio that the locations of the weapons have been declared and are being secured.

On Tuesday, Kerry will meet in London with ministers of 10 other nations who back the opposition in Syria and are trying to hold an international conference in Geneva to set up a transition government and end the bloody civil war in Syria, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

He also will be meeting in London with opposition leaders. The main alliance of political opposition groups has said it will only negotiate if it is agreed from the start that Syrian President Bashar Assad will leave power at the end of a transition period.

On Monday, Kerry will be in Paris to meet with representatives of the Arab League and update them on peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and see Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal.

After London, Kerry will travel to Rome to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

…source

Surveillance critic barred from US
By Milana Knezevic – 18 October, 2013

Ilija_trojanow_by_thomas_dorn_232_KBOn 30 September, Bulgarian-German author Ilija Trojanow was travelling from Brazil to the US for a conference on German literature. That was his plan, anyway. At the airport in Salvador da Bahia, he was told his entry to the US had been denied. No explanation was provided then, and none has been provided since.

Trojanow is one of the main forces behind a 74,000 strong and growing petition against mass surveillance. Initiated and signed by some Germany’s biggest writers, the petition argues the government is bound by the constitution to protect its citizens against foreign spying.

His experience in Brazil exploded in the German media, but Trojanow seems more bemused than anything else.

“It wasn’t bad enough that governments are spying on everybody!” he says with a laugh. “What this shows is that general attacks on everybody and not individual victims, are too abstract. An individual case, even if it’s a minor one, can get more attention.”

While the incident did create more discussion around mass surveillance and caused a spike in the number of signatures, there is no doubt the petition already had widespread support. The issue of mass surveillance seems to have struck a particular chord in Germany. Trojanow believes this is due to their history.

“East Germany more than any other country in the former Soviet block has discussed its secret service files. It has been a dominant issue in the media. The archives are easy to access. Germans know how horrendous it is when the secret service is not under real control.”

He also thinks the famous German efficiency shines through even in this case. Many felt that something needed to be done about the mass surveillance, and when Germans set out to do something, they do it properly.

“It is quite ironic,” he adds: “Germans had democracy beaten into them. They were educated in democracy by the US and the UK. It seems they were good students!”

Trojanov himself has long been interested in the issue of state surveillance, with his 2009 book “Freedom Under Attack”, for instance, becoming a bestseller in Germany. For him, the issue carries a more personal dimension. Growing up in a Bulgaria, parts of his family were engaged in the struggle against the communist authorities.

“I am in the situation now where I am able to read transcripts of what adults in my family were saying, as our apartment was bugged.”

“What you realise is that when you have the attention of the secret service pointed at you, whatever you do is in some way proof of guilt. Even completely innocent things become potentially implicating.”

The petition was formally presented to the German government on 18 September, back when when it had 63,000 signatures. A month and ten thousand additional names later, they have still have yet to receive any sort of official reply. Still open, Trojanow and his compatriots now plan to take it global. As he says, mass surveillance is a worldwide challenge and cannot be tackled simply by and within one nation.

“I don’t understand why we wait until situation is completely unbearable. You start safeguarding your freedoms when they are attacked on the edges.” ….source