Bahrainis and Saudis lick their wounds as they mark Human Rights Day
Today marks the Human Rights Day. It is the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the UN in 1948 and is a reminder of the global pledge to uphold dignity, freedom and equality for all. People of Bahrain are marking it in their own ways, given the regime’s crackdown against the citizens and human rights activists. Families of the political prisoners, many of whom have spent 14 years behind bars since they were detained in 2011 have appealed for the release of all political prisoners, bringing their torturers to justice and forcing the khalifi regime to observe the most basic of human rights. On this day victims of abuse are crying in silence for the world to listen to their wounds.
Regime’s prosecutors have ordered the detention of four natives for two more weeks. Ahmed Al Karzakkani (from Karzakkan town), Hassan Matar, Hadi Abdul Zahra (both from Aali town) and Ali Abdulla (from Buri town) were detained for taking part in a peaceful activity. The detention came at a critical time for the boys who were preparing for exams at the end of the first semester. The interior ministry of the khalifi regime has ordered the detention of photo-journalist, Sayed Baqir Al Kamil and journalist Hassan Al Fash. This is in response to a piece that was published as a commercial advert for car tyres.
People have continued offering their prayers at the sites of the mosques destroyed by regime forces. The site of the Alawiyyat mosque which was demolished 14 years ago is being attended by worshippers in defiance of the regime’s policy of targeting Shia Muslim mosques. The khalifis had demolished 38 mosques but most of them were subsequently rebuilt by the people. Eleven mosques remain demolished despite the recommendation by an independent commission set up by the regime to rebuilt them.
The fate of two political detainees remains unknown, ten days after their incarceration. Sadiq Hbail (from Sitra) and Sayed Jaffar Mahfood (from Saar town) were detained last month. They were held at the Dry Dock prison before being moved to isolation by a cruel officer known as Fahad Al Kawhaji. This officer is a notorious torturer who seriously abuse under-aged prisoners and deny them basic rights. Khalifi courts have upheld a prison sentence of three months imposed on Sayed Jaffar Yousuf Mahfood. His total sentence is now nine months. He was detained on 21st May when his home was raided.
On Wednesday 3rd December the regime’s prosecutors extended the detention of two native political prisoners for two more weeks. Hussain Abd Ali and Ali Ghazi Al Maseeh (from Samaheej town) were detained on 10th November after heavily armed regime’s militia stormed their homes causing serious mayhem and fear.
On Tuesday 2nd December Mohammed Al Zaaki, son of prominent scholar Sheikh Fadel Al Zaaki (from Abu Saiba town) was detained. He had been summoned to appear at the CID torture centre for interrogation. He was remanded in custody for one week.
The suffering of political prisoner, Ali Abdul Hussain Al Wazir has continued despite his charge and sentence. He has a total of 50 years prison sentences over his head after being subjected to horrific treatment. He was abused by three Yemeni officers: Ridwan, Aabid and Ali Ahmed Saleh. Until now he has been denied medical treatment. The prison management has cancelled his appointments.
To mark the International Day of Human Rights, Saudi human rights activists have called on the regime to open up and allow the people to express their views and opinions on social media. A survey of countries which repress this freedom gave Saudi Arabia a low ranking. A new Never NEOM investigation exposes the truth the Saudi regime can’t hide anymore. While Bernard Haykel openly confirms that MBS sees repression as “necessary,” the state continues mass arrests—journalists, lawyers, creators—detained simply for expressing an opinion the regime dislikes. This isn’t law. This isn’t stability. This is a system that rules through fear, silences its citizens, and admits—through its own closest intellectual voices—that repression is the core of its politics, not an exception. Bernard Haykel is professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University
A French national has been detained in Saudi Arabia for over a year and a half, the last four months held incommunicado. He faces trial for visa issues arising from a common scam and charges related to freedom of expression.
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