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Bahrain Solidarity Campaign
About the campaign
The Bahrain Solidarity Campaign's formation through RAPAR was triggered when a number of Bahraini students studying in Manchester were threatened by the Bahraini government after participating in pro-democracy protests in Manchester. They had all funding and support removed, and the personal safety of they and their families was explicitly threatened. They and many other Bahrainis in the Greater Manchester area expressed the desire to launch a campaign to highlight and counteract this persecution along with innumerable other human rights abuses and atrocities perpetrated by the Al-Khalifa regime. Such a campaign is all the more necessary while the UK government continues to tacitly support this regime.
The campaign, which is ongoing, has so far been involved in securing alternative funding and support for some of the affected students, has delivered groundbreaking conferences on the subject, and has contributed to the general raising of awareness of, and critical opposition to, the actions of the Al-Khalifa regime. Manchester Metropolitan University Student Union (MMUnion) has been instrumental in all of this. Articles/Videos
-David Rovics in Socialist Worker online: A specialist in brutality goes to Bahrain -Alaa Shehabi in Jadaliyya e-zine: Bahrain's Independent Commission of Inquiry: A Path to Justice or a Political Shield? -Jamie Doward and Philippa Stewart in the Guardian: UK training Saudi forces used to crush Arab spring - Robert Fisk in the Independent: Why no outcry over these torturing tyrants? - Patrick Cockburn in the Independent: Bahrain is trying to drown the protests in Shia blood - BBC North West Tonight report on the Manchester Bahraini students who have had their lives threatened and all their funding removed by the Bahraini government after participating in protests against it in Manchester. - Guardian Editorial - Bahrain: We must speak out about brutality in the Gulf - Amnesty International - Bahrain urged to halt execution of protesters - The pledge that Bahraini students have to sign in order to continue their studies - Modern Slavery in Bahrain - Civil Rights and the Political Crisis in Bahrain: Old solutions to recurrent problems - REPORT ON BAR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE HEARING OBSERVATION: BAHRAIN - The Rule of Law in Bahrain: A crisis Sub-campaigns
Links
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News09/01/12 - Bahrain Revolution Conference Report
Held in Manchester on 17th December 2011, organised by the Bahrain Solidarity Campaign and the Human Rights Organistaion RAPAR 'Those of us who are free to speak, we must raise our voices.' We need to 'show solidarity with the people of Bahrain', said Tony Lloyd, MP, opening the Bahrain Revolution Conference, held in Manchester, in December 2011. Tony is chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party in the British parliament. 'It is one year on since the flame of revolution was ignited' by the actions of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia. 'The Arab Spring has changed everything,' explained , Dr Saeed Al Shehabi, opposition leader of the Bahrain Freedom Movement. 'We ask for no more support than what is asked by the Egyptian people,' in their revolution, said Roof Al Shayeb, an official spokesperson for the 14th February Coalition, formed from the day the revolution started in Bahrain. Tony Lloyd gave support to the protesters who 'have shown amazing courage standing up in the face of repression from the government and from Suadi Troops.' http://youtu.be/qjf6jGpd7P4 Tony agreed to speak to the British Foreign Secretary Alister Birt and urge him 'to say directly to the King' of Bahrain 'and those around him' that the recent report shows abuse and torture did happen, 'it is very clear and he should back the process of reform.' Tony also called for the release of the imprisoned medics as well as 'all political prisoners.' The vice president of the Bahraini Teachers Association is one of many such political prisoners. In a special video message screened at the conference Jaleela Al Salaman told of how "on 28th March fifty men raided my home, all armed, they pointed a gun to my head and said 'don't worry I am police.' They broke my home, they scared my kids. They took me away and I was kept for ten days in solitary confinement." She told of how she was beaten and had to endure 13 hour interrogation sessions. 'The Bahraini Teachers Association has done nothing wrong. Teachers are being punished for exercising their rights. Teachers are arrested inside school. Students are made to beat their teachers in public. Over 4,000 have been taken for interrogation. Many have been suspended.' http://youtu.be/Z7pJ3ytltR0 Abdul Shameed Al Markhi was a specialist nurse working at the Salmaniya Medical Complex when it was attacked by government soldiers in March. He witnessed many atrocities. 'They target the us because we saw what happened. They want to silence us.' Abdul is now living in Britain after winning his claim for asylum. The President of the Bahrain Nursing Society, Mrs Al Saffar, speaking via video from Bahrain confirmed that the imprisonment and repression against health workers still continues. She said that medics in Bahrain were 'delighted' of the support from those like the health section of the British Trades Union UNISON who have pledged support for the imprisoned medics through the MENA Solidarity Network. http://youtu.be/Fn1Qlh9WSYI Dr. Zahra Al Sammak , also recorded a speech for the Conference in Support Of the Bahrain Revolution http://youtu.be/pksuZuHUj3w In early December, on the very day that top level diplomats from the US and the UK visited Bahrain, 'tear gas and chemical gas were used,' against innocent people, explained Saeed. 'A six day old baby was killed' because of the gas. 'Why is the British government quiet?' he asked. 'The Bahraini people face the regime - and they face the Gulf Co-operation Council,' who sent in their troops to help repress the people, explained Hussein Abdulla, Director of Human Rights Bahrain. 'The US has just agreed another £53 million arms deal to Bahrain.' The US Navy's Fifth Fleet is stationed in Bahrain. 'We have one demand for the revolution in Bahrain. Get rid and overthrow this government. No one has ever seen a despot become a democrat. We have no other choices,' said Raoof. Mark Krantz, an activist with the MENA Solidarity Network said, 'the future of the region will not be one in which Kings and despots rule. The future is now being shaped by the continuing revolutionary movements, from Egypt to Bahrain and beyond. We must continue to support those movements for revolutionary change.' Key demands of the conference were expressed by A Al Shayeb, Opposition leader and Official spokesperson of 14 February 2011
26/11/11 - BAHRAIN UPDATE Bahrain's most prominent Human Rights Activist is beaten by police. The Ministry of interior release a statement saying 'they found him on the ground and took him to hospital'. US State Department expresses concern: BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16456109 BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16452260 New York Times: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/bahrain-rights-activist-says-he-was-beaten-after-attack-on-protest/?src=tp Statment by Navi Pillay, UN Commissioner for Human Rights. Pillay: Bahrain Government must take immediate confidence-building measures, release political prisoners http://ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true New York times reporter is gased with civilians in a coffee shop (video): http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/12/28/world/middleeast/100000001248905/toxic-coffee-in-bahrain.html?src=tp Washington Post: Arab Spring yields different outcomes in Bahrain, Egypt and Libya http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/arab-spring-yields-different-outcomes-in-bahrain-egypt-and-libya/2011/12/15/gIQAY6h57O_story.html Bahrain Police throwing petrol bombs at protestors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C444qzKQn7Y&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI7OPixtq3E&feature=youtu.be 21/11/11 - Videos from Manchester Conference in Solidarity with the Bahrain Revolution Tony Lloyd MP (Chair of the Labour Party) speech at Conference in Support Of the Bahrain Revolution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjf6jGpd7P4&feature=youtu.be Dr. Zahra Al Sammak , speech in Conference in Support Of the Bahrain Revolution 17-12-2-2011 -In Manchester http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pksuZuHUj3w Dr. Rula Al Saffar , speech in Conference in Support Of the Bahrain Revolution 17-12-2-2011 -In Manchester http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn1Qlh9WSYI Fahad Desmukh, speech in Conference in Support Of the Bahrain Revolution 17-12-2-2011 -In Manchester http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zdX5saktqU Vice President of Bahrain Teachers Association in Manchester Conference in Solidarity with Bahrain on 17 December 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7pJ3ytltR0 19/12/11- Bahrain Update Nick Kristof (New York Times): 14 Year Old boy is killed http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/12/17/opinion/100000001232700/the-death-of-a-boy-in-bahrain.html Protestor being treated in a house as unable to present to a hopital: http://s1-04.twitpicproxy.com/photos/large/473841666.jpg Picutes showing police assualting a woman: https://yfrog.com/ocepceij Police supressing a funeral procession: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71kTAV_rNO8 Police Beating a protestor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WufHlKuTxBE&feature=youtu.be 5 min Documentary by Lamees Daif about Zainab Al-Khawaja and the Bahrain Revolution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NHi3uIEdNc Blog - Police Brutality from 5 different angles: http://www.marcowenjones.byethost2.com/?p=446 Massacres in Bahrain whilst UN visit (Short video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4XKp6ByTf4 18/12/11 - from Justice for Bahrain About the arrest, physical violence and ill-treatment practiced against human rights defender Zainab AlKhawaj... We are deeply concerned about her safety after seeing the violence that she was subject to during arrest. Zainab Al-Khawaja is a 28-years-old member of Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, famous human rights blogger as @angryarabia and a mother of 2-years-old girl from Bahrain. On 15 December 2011, Zainab was arrested by Bahraini security forces from a roundabout on Budaiya highway, west of capital city Manama where she was taking part in a peaceful-sit-in-protest. The security forces responded with firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protest, while Zainab continued the sit-in before the police moved in to rough her up. She was arrested, handcuffed, assaulted and punched in her back by the police officer as she was forcibly dragged off into custody. She, as well as another woman Masooma Al-Sayed were then taken to the police station. Zainab is a mother of a two-year-old child, whose husband Wafi Al-Majed is in prison along with her father, Bahrain’s most prominent political activist and human rights defender, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja who was imprisoned for life in June by special military court. Zainab faces grave danger and is at risk of being tortured, as the regime has systematically attacked human rights defenders, health workers and professionals who are speaking up against the repression and human rights abuses. We condemn ill-treatment of Zainab Al-Khawaja in public in the strongest possible terms, and arbitrary detention and demand the authorities to release her and Masooma Al-Sayed immediately and unconditionally. We ask all concerned people to take immediate and urgent action in support of Zainab Al-Khawaja and Masooma Al-Sayed. Zainab Al-Khawaja and Masooma AlSayed are to be detained for seven days. According to lawyer: Masooma Alsayed was kicked in her leg and is now limping, was not seen by doctor Zainab when arrested had something sprayed in her eyes and was unable to see for approx an hour Zainab in police station was beaten on head, arms and legs, as she was unable to see Zainab recognized the voice of the policewoman who beat her, prosecutor refused to write it down Lawyer attempted to show prosecutor video of the arrest, he refused to see it Policewoman came in with bandaged arm claiming Masooma and Zainab hit her Zainab refused to sign statement unless policewoman's name was taken who hit her Prosecutor got angry and made everyone leave the room, awaiting decision The moment Zainab was arrested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Zdk98x9TM More about Zainab AlKhawaja http://yfrog.com/hsqjywej Zainab has been very active on twitter during the Feb-March protests under the name of @angryarabiya as she was posting news and reporters directly from the ground to her twitter page. After the crackdown on protesters last March, multiple members of her family were arrested, including her husband, uncle, brother-in-law and her Father Abdulhadi Alkhawaja on 9 April , who is a prominent Human Right defender in Bahrain, a former Regional Protection coordinator for the Middle East with Front Line and former President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). Zainab, as a witness on the brutal arrest of her family members has exposed to international media how her father was aggressively beaten: DemocracyNow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naUBnvmDju8 BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13023428 CNN http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-09/world/bahrain.activist.missing_1_human-rights-detention-center-torture-and-ill-treatment?_s=PM:WORLD She has also sent an open letter to Obama and started a hunger Strike that lasted for 10 days and gained international awareness and was the first of a long chin of hunger strikes in support to the Bahraini people. In other news: Bahraini police use tear gas, stun grenades to disperse protesters on highway outside capital Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Expression continue to be targeted by Bahraini regime during UN commission visit. Occupy Budaiya street is an initiative by protesters in Bahrain, have been announced and organized for through social media (twitter and facebook), to stage a sit-in on sidewalks of one of Bahrain’s street. Organizers and participants emphasized on the peacefulness of the event. (#occupybudaiyaST) Like all peaceful protests in Bahrain, hundreds of peacful protesters were violently attacked by riot police. Teargas, rubber bullets and sound grenade were used to suppress the protesters . Many injuries have been reported, majority of cases are due to suffocation by excessive use of teargas. Teargas thrown at protesters Photo1 Photo2 Injuries in chest and head reported. Cases of suffocation and fainting of customers (not-protesters) inside the shopping mall close to the area were reported due to throwing tear gas canisters very close to the open coffee shop area as well as inside the mall parking . Arrests There are many reports of arrests among protesters. including Human Rights Activists Zainab Al Khawaja, and Masooma AlSayed. According to an eyewitness, Masooma was beaten at time of arrest. Another 17 years old girl Maryam Alsarraj was detained for few hours then released from the police station. She said the officer "slapped me so bad and he kicked me from back which made me to to hit the floor with my face and chest" https://twitter.com/#!/MariamAlSarraj/status/147428630778220544 A tweep was arrested for taking videos of the protest. he was detained for two hours , had his phones confsicated then released after signing a pledge to go the next day. https://twitter.com/#!/alhojairy/status/147408697562382336 Another protestor in Noaim was detained for few hours, beaten severely, then released https://twitter.com/#!/SAIDYOUSIF/status/147433872949379073/photo/1 Three boys were arrested and beaten - video http://t.co/5Zo85FOy A case of death was reported of Ali Ahmed Al Qassab (21 years old), who was chased by police, leading him to run into the road and was hit with a car. His friend who was with him was arrested. Photo https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/381331_10150534173233072_203200448071_10567136_1774055970_n.jpg Attacks on Journalists Reporters at the scene Mazen Mahdi (EPA/DPA) and Hamad Moahmed (Reuters) were attacked and their cars were damaged : http://t.co/MAMcEZEG http://t.co/hcwHkRcO http://t.co/DaYtQJfw both were clearly identified as press. Adam Ellick and Lauren Bohn (NY Times) were directly shot at with teargas outside of Country Mall. Another 15 customers of the coffee shop at the mall were also teargassed Reuters: Bahrain protesters confront police outside capital Washington Post: Bahraini activist ‘Angry Arabiya’ arrested Justice for Bahrain: http://justiceforbahrain.com/?p=700 Mohammed Sadiq - Director: Justice for Bahrain. 0044 7766500524 17/12/11 - THE BAHRAIN REVOLUTION CONFERENCE HAS BEGUN IN MANCHESTER ..... KEY DEMANDS OF THE CONFERENCE AS EXPRESSED BY A Al Shayeb, Opposition leader and Official spokesperson of 14 February 2011
15/12/11 - Bahraini police use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters on highway outside capital 12/12/11 - AGENDA ANNOUNCED for Sat 17th Dec conference. Click here to see the full agenda online (not a download). 07/12/11 - David Rovics in Socialist Worker online - A specialist in brutality goes to Bahrain
29/11/11 - Upcoming conference on Bahrain to be opened by Chair of the Labour Party - MP Tony Lloyd will open the conference in support of the Bahraini revolution - see flyer below
23/11/11 - Bahrain's Independent Commission of Inquiry submitting its report today - see this article from Alaa Shehabi in the Jadaliyya e-zine: Bahrain's Independent Commission of Inquiry: A Path to Justice or a Political Shield?
22/11/11 - Upcoming conference - Sat 17th Dec, 10am-5pm - see details in 12/12/11 post.
21/11/11 - Bahrain's Freedom Poet honoured at 'Freedom To Create' international awards - Ayat Al-Gormezi, the 20-year-old poet who has become a central figure in Bahrain's opposition movement in the fight against the brutal Al-Khalifa regime, has been recognized in the Freedom To Create awards 2011.
"First runner-up of the Main Prize was Ayat Al-Gormezi, a 20 year old poet and student at the Faculty of Teachers in Bahrain, who was put on trial for merely expressing her opinion peacefully and openly. Her bravery and willingness to take a risk in the struggle for justice and equal rights for all, has raised awareness of the numerous women imprisoned in Bahrain." See Ayat's blog here. 09/11/11 - Jaffer Al Alawi arrested - Journalist and blogger Jaffer Al Alawi was arrested yesterday, as the intimidation of Bahraini media professionals continues. We have just learned that Mr Al Alawi has been released, after over 24 hours of detention, and is currently waiting to hear details of charges he may be facing. See Bahrain Press Association press release here (English translation here) and an update here. 13/10/11 - Manchester protest and Bahraini poet nominated for international award - A protest, jointly organised by RAPAR's Bahrain Solidarity Campaign and the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) Solidarity Network, took place today at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. The protest called on members of Manchester's Chamber of Commerce, who were meeting with Bahraini royal Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa al-Khalifa and other Bahraini businessmen, to refrain from supporting a bloody regime which - as is common knowledge - brutally represses its own people's calls for political and social justice. See video of the protest below, photos here, listen to BBC Radio coverage here, see MENA Solidarity Network's website here, and read the write-up in the Socialist Worker Online here.
Serving as a reminder of what is at stake, Ayat al-Gormezi, a 20-year-old Bahraini poet and student, has been nominated for an international arts award highlighting creative work which promotes social justice and inspires change, the Freedom to Create prize. After reciting a now-famous poem of hers, criticizing the regime, in Pearl Square, Manama in February 2011, Ayat was arrested, put on trial, sentenced and imprisoned, being subjected to harassment, defamation, intimidation and threats of rape and murder while in prison. Since this time she has come to be a symbol and inspiration for the fight against the regime. See Ayat's blog here. The winners of the prize will be revealed at the awards festival in Cape Town in November 2011.
Bahrain & The Arab Spring conference - Sat June 18th 2011
This event, organised through RAPAR in partnership with MMUnion and Manchester Trades Union Congress, was the first conference in Europe discussing the relationship between the current situation in Bahrain and the 'Arab Spring'. It featured a number of high profile speakers and a series of workshops. See poster below and press release here.  |
