20th November 2012
BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP
U.S. concerned about Bahrain violence, weak follow-up on reforms
U.S. ofcials voiced concern on Tuesday that Bahrain's failure to implement key reforms outlined in an independent 2011 report is making political dialogue more difcult and widening ssures in society in ways that would benet Iran. Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based, has been under Western pressure to implement recommendations for police, judicial, media and education reforms made by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), an independent commission of international legal experts. "We are worried that this society is moving apart rather than coming together in a way that would ensure both human rights and stability," said a senior U.S. ofcial, speaking to reporters on condition he not be identied by name. Read More rights lawyer Cherif Bassiouni, stood before them and listed the uncomfortable truth about what had happened. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report conrmed what Human Rights First and other international NGOs had been saying for months before -- that thousands of people had been arrested in the government crackdown against protests for reform, there had been a pattern of torture in custody and dozens of people had been killed in the streets. Read More The Sunni Muslimdominated, U.S.-allied Bahrain government has been struggling since early last year to suppress prodemocracy unrest led mainly by the Gulf Arab kingdom's majority Shi'ite Muslims. Read More
U.S. still concerned over violence in Bahrain
Continued violence by protesters and security forces and a deeply divided population remain concerns of the United States a year after an independent commission offered a scathing report into Bahrain's crackdown on antigovernment protests. Two Obama administration ofcials briefed reporters in
Washington about concerns the U.S. had over the tiny Persian Gulf nation, considered to be a longtime ally in the Middle East and home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. "There needs to be created an environment for the possibility of genuine dialogue and negotiation that leads to a prosperous and rightsrespecting Bahrain," according to a senior Obama administration ofcial. Read More
One Year Later, Bahrain Reform Remains Shallow Promise
This time last year I was in Bahrain, invited by the government to witness the publication of the report commissioned by the King of Bahrain into human rights violations earlier in 2011. There we sat, hundreds of us in an enormous room in a royal palace. The King was on his throne, anked by his crown prince son and his prime minister uncle. The report's chief author, human
Bahrain activists demand action over rights abuses
Leading Bahraini human rights activists have demanded "accountability" over government pledges to address abuses outlined in a report a year ago. Meeting in the Netherlands, they said the government had
failed to act on the recommendations of the report into the handling of antigovernment protests. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's government denies it has been stalling. At least 60 people, including several police ofcers, have died in the civil strife that began on 14 February 2011. Read More
by the Gulf Arab kingdom's majority Shi'ite Muslims.
Bahrain says arrests cell behind fake bomb attacks
Bahrain said on Tuesday it has arrested a cell suspected of planting mock bombs across the capital Manama, including on the main highways. The Sunni Muslim-dominated, U.S.-allied Bahrain government has been struggling since early last year to suppress prodemocracy unrest led mainly
The Information Affairs Authority said the cell members were suspected of placing "fake bombs in several crowded areas throughout Bahrain". "This included placing the objects on vital roads, which caused trafc delays and spread fear among the public," it said in a statement in English. Read More
Bahrain says arrests cell behind fake bomb attacks
Bahrain said on Tuesday it has arrested a cell suspected of planting mock bombs across the capital Manama, including on the main highways.
Bahrains Spring: Activism and Society in Revolt
Maryam Al-Khawaja is Acting President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and head of the Gulf Center for Human Rights international ofce (GCHR). Based in Copenhagen, she comes from one of the most prominent dissident Bahraini families .She loves reading, travelling and speaking frankly. Speaking at a Festival on international journalism organized by the weekly magazine Internazionale in Ferrara, Italy, she openly criticized Western support for
the Bahraini regime. The last time I cried was when I read the report about my father torture said Maryam. But my family is just one of a long list. At the end of September, 13 doctors and nurses who treated anti-government protesters during demonstrations in Bahrain earlier this year were jailed for 15 years for crimes against the state. Seven other medical professionals were given sentences of between 5 and 10 years by a special tribunal set up during the emergency rule imposed following the protests. What is the situation in Bahrain now? Read More "It's the responsibility of a country and the future of its people," His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa said as he received the Foreign Correspondents' Club board led by chairman Sami Kamal. While afrming Bahrain's commitment to protecting individual liberties, he also defended the government's right to act - whenever freedom is hijacked to wreak havoc on society through terror and sabotage. Read More
Bahrain: the abuse of Shiites
Just a year ago, protests of the majority Shiite population was crushed by the minority Sunni that rules the Kingdom of Bahrain. The monarchy applied martial law and received help from its neighboring Gulf countries to succeed into doing so. But in doing so, some police ofcers used this opportunity to abuse the fundamental rights of
prisoners as humans. They mistreated them in such a way that very heavy charges were made after them, and were sentenced for many years. A week ago, a spiritual Shiite leader called thousands of his beliefs followers to join him in prayer. The police interpreted this gathering as a disrespect of the ban on rallies that was decided to be applied not a very long time ago. Read More
Premier defends right to protect security
Bahrain yesterday defended its right to protect its security and stability and confront terror and sabotage. "No-one expects the government to play the role of a spectator while its national security is at stake - in the name of freedom," the Premier said.
Bahraini Security Forces Arrest Shia Preachers During Mourning for Imam Hussain (A)
Bahraini security forces arrested yesterday a number of Shia orators/preachers as they were addressing Bahrainis on the occasion of the day of Ashura... Read More
The Bahraini opposition denounces the regime's refusal to receive notice of proGaza march
The national opposition forces in Bahrain denounced the regime's refusal to receive notice to organize a pro-Gaza march, titled "Save Gaza", in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza who are under the Zionist strikes. Read More
