Women in Bahrain

Women in Bahrain
Anonymous Contribution – 6 November, 2013

– Women in Bahrain can’t vote, assemble in public, hold up a banner, speak about the political situation or demand change, freedom and democracy.

– Women like the men can be picked up in the middle of the night from their homes by violent police, detained without their family knowing their whereabouts, abused, sexually assaulted and tortured.

– Women have gone through show trials, with no prosecution apart from confessions under torture, no defence, (Judge Dhahrini walks out whilst the defence lawyers speak) and unfair long sentences.

– At least thirteen women have died since 14th February 2011 and no-one has been held accountable.

– Women have been tortured, and no-one has been held accountable. (Noura Al Khalifa was brought to trial for torturing Dr Fatima Haji, but she was cleared.)

– Hundreds of women were sacked for participating in the pro- democracy demonstrations and those who were re-instated had to give up their trade union membership and employment rights.

A few cases.

Rula Al Safir, President of the Nurses Union, 6 months jail, tortured, 35 day hunger strike, retrial after foreign pressure, found innocent. Sacked and unable to return to work. Offence – treating the injured at demonstrations.

Jalila al Salman, Vice President of Teachers Union, detained for 6 months, tortured, smeared by pro- government media. 3 years sentence, reduced to 6 months. Fired, not allowed to work. International pressure helped.Offence- leading a teachers’ march.

Rayhanna Al Mousawi. Young mother and activist. Wore a political Tshirt at 2013 F.I. Tortured, made to stand stripped in a doorway, sexually abused, ill with cancer, treatment refused. Picked up for “planning to bomb” FI and membership of 14th February Coalition. 5 years sentence, plus a further trial. Her appeal, (although not allowed to consult her lawyer in person is on 18th November 2013.

And finally Nadia Saleh, heavily pregnant, jailed with no charge, because she objected to her husband Abd Yousef Saleh being picked up at a checkpoint when they were leaving their village. She was released on October 2nd, has given birth, but was still due in court on 31st October.

Attacks on women in Bahrain must be viewed in the context of the even worse treatment of the men who have died under torture and been sentenced to 15 years and life for demanding freedom and democracy. The main opposition party Al Wafaq, support a constitutional monarchy but as their Speaker, Mr Marfooq was detained and was back in court on 24th October, their position will harden.

The British Government should rise above its obsession for “oil security” and supporting the Khalifas and support the democratic forces in the Gulf. That is the future for stability in the Gulf.