Solidarity

Bahraini opposition supporters in UK express concern for jailed political leader
Sat Oct 22, 2011 – Steve McCaul, Press TV, London

Anti-regime Protesters in London Stand in Solidarity for imprisoned and gravely ill Haq leader Hassan Mushaima

Blindfolded, beaten and injected with an unknown substance. This is what Bahraini opposition leader Hassan Mushaima has reportedly been subjected to in jail.

He was arrested in March this year, after returning to Bahrain with the promise that he wouldn’t be taken by the authorities. He had been treated for cancer, an illness which is said to be attacking him once again. According to his family, the lack of appropriate treatment, along with his harsh prison conditions, is slowly killing him.

His life sentence has just been upheld by a Bahraini special court. Hassan was a vocal campaigner for the opposition Haq movement for many years in London. He was also treated for his illness at a hospital here. But the British government are accused of staying silent over human rights abuses in Bahrain. That’s why protesters are in front of the home of the Prime Minister

In a recent report by Amnesty International, Britain was listed as a “major arms supplier” to Bahrain, along with France, Germany and the US. The Government has licensed around eight million pounds of guns, ammo and vehicle sales to Bahrain since two thousand and six. A Downing Street spokesperson said that they’re reviewing their arms exports in light of the Arab uprisings.

The Bahraini government meanwhile denies that Hassan has been mistreated in any way.

Just metres away is the home of Prime Minister David Cameron. What protesters here want to get across is that his silence on human rights in Bahrain is costing lives. The government has promised to look again at arms sales to the country, but for these people here, it’s not enough. …source