Open letter to President Barack Obama from the Office of the Chairman of Bahrain Amal Society

Please listen to us Mr. President
June 29th, 2011
Dear Mr. Obama,

Amal Society would like to express gratitude to all the efforts the U.S. is trying to push the process of a serious dialogue in Bahrain. Amal has always been one of the first to call for dialogues with the Bahraini government for the last ten years, and we have been calling for constant reforms that help maintain national security and stability in Bahrain. We want to help and encourage a serious national dialogue for a better Bahrain for all Bahrainis, where the constitution and the law are above all. The American constitution is one of our most important resources that we rely on in our dialogue, and we opt to create a great Bill of Rights which guarantees dignity and freedom for all Bahrain, regardless to ethnicity, sex, religion, and race.

However, more than 50 members, including the Chairman, of Amal have been arrested after several night raids to their families’ houses. Amal would like to express deep concern over the health and safety of the members, especially the Chairman, Sheikh Mohammed Ali Almahfoodh. Almahfoodh has been put in a private cell for 46 days, and he has been severely tortured. Therefore, his safety and health are a huge responsibility for the U.S. since the U.S. is spreading peace and democracy in the Middle East.

Amal members and the Chairman are facing false charges because Bahrain’s constitution believes in the freedom of speech and opinion. However they are facing charges that might lead to life sentence or 15 years in prison. These charges are purely political flavored like most charges other politicians faced.

Amal is the second Shiite society in Bahrain, and it is one of the most important parties in the national dialogue taking place recently. How can we participate in such a dialogue if our Chairman and more than half of our Chairman’s office and executive committee are behind the bars? We wonder how this stand could be understood in relation to your speech, Mr. President, on May 19th. What Amal understands, is that throughout the last ten years, we have been peaceful in all our moves. Amal is registered officially under the law of societies in Bahrain, and hence it represents a party of the legitimate opposition mentioned in the famous speech. Amal society was an important player in the meetings concerning the dialogue led by the Crown Prince, and we had our own vision about it. We still support a serious meaningful dialogue that achieves stability and security in the country; and our opinions and stands did not change, but how can we participate without our chairman and decision makers of the society?

Dear Mr. President,

Amal Society writes this letter and we are full of confidence that your administration encourages the participation of all the legitimate opposition and societies, and our society is not an exception. We are full of hope that your administration cannot be passive or silent when a whole society is tortured and put on military trials for no just reason. We are looking forward to participate on one table to save the country and help pass it on to a safe environment, full of love, peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,
Office of Amal Society Chairman
Bahrain