SAVE AHMED

Celebrate Mother's Day with Ahmed

2005-03-20T19:33:00.000+03:00

Tomorrow's Mother's Day in Bahrain.

Please celebrate Mother's Day with Ahmed. Ahmed has been in his cell between four walls awaiting trial for the last 10 months.

I hope Judge Abdulrahman Al Sayed who has not yet looked into Ahmed's case has a mum to celebrate the occasion with her. When he looks into her eyes, I hope he lingers for a few seconds on the thought of having deprived Ahmed's mum of her only son by denying him access to a fair and just trial at a time when he has released people arrested with 350kg of Hashish in their possession.

Bahrain..the Kingdom of Hashish!

2005-03-06T08:48:00.000+03:00

According to Bahrain Tribune, Bahrain is the the #1 Kingdom of Hashish in the world. Here's the news:

Over 100 times rise in hashish haul registered

Over a hundred times rise in hashish haul in the Kingdom has been registered, writes Mohannad Suleiman.
Authorities last year seized a record of 800kg of hashish compared with only seven kilogrammes in 2003. They also seized 3,784,740 pills of amphetamine, up from a mere 134 in 2003.
The surge in the figures seems to co-relate with the increase in the number of drug offence cases processed in 2004, which reached 748, more than double of the 331 cases in 2003.
According to the head of Narcotics, Major Tariq Nasser, 55 people died from illegal drugs, while a total of 837 people (826 men and 11 women) were involved in related cases.
“Our division seized 800 kilos of hashish, 9,581 grammes of heroin, 21 grammes of marijuana, 26 grammes of qat, 53 grammes of opium and 5 grammes of cocaine,” Maj. Tariq said. According to the Ministry of Interior officer, 233 drug cases were discovered inside Bahrain, while 468 were at the King Fahad Causeway, 45 at Bahrain Airport and two at the sea.
He said that 325 Bahraini nationals were involved in the cases, compared with 454 from the other five GCC states, 12 from Arab states and 46 from other countries.

Photo: Major Tariq

Last update on: 5-3-2005

Letter to Ahmed

2005-03-03T18:36:00.000+03:00

Dear Ahmed,

The whole world has left you alone to rot in your cell.

Nobody cares for you anymore. Everyone is fed up. Your case is a lost cause: it doesn't involve politics. No one wants to get involved in it because it is just an ordinary drug case.

Your family and friends tackled it the wrong way: they should have shut up and stopped questioning whether it was right or wrong to kidnap you, frame you for a crime you wittingly or unwittingly got yourself involved in and then deny you access to justice. They should have known their place in society and not confronted the authorities when you went without access to a fair and just trial. They should not have had all those confrontations with your captors.

You too have played a role in this by holding your head up high and behaving like a man. You should have not stood up with pride and demanded justice. Your family and friends were wrong to even suggest that the criminals at the CID and the Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Justice were corrupt. That was just hot air. They were maintaining law and order in a country where not everyone is treated equally and where everyone shouldn't really be treated equally.

Ahmed, you and everyone who sympathised with your case, are so naive to believe for a split second that there is light at the end of this tunnel. Ahmed, in the 10 months you were locked in that cell and humilated, you have lost your job and livelihood. You have also lost your reputation, which cannot be salvaged now because people are whispering: if you really haven't committed a hideous crime, why are you still held in custody behind without access to a fair and just trial?

Yes. Like a silly little boy with no sense of responsibility, all you did was smoke hash. I realise that everyone does it. This doesn't mean that you had the right to do it. You knew it was against the law. You should also have realised that you yourself are not above the law. That the law will not treat you with justice because you are a Shia boy. You are from the wrong ethnic background. You are from the wrong sect. You cannot bribe the correct people. Your sisters cannot please the right people. Your family has pride. They cannot stoop so low.

I realise how confused you are as to why it has taken so long for you to be put on trial for a criminal offence which carries a six month suspended prison sentence. You shouldn't be confused though that no one should dare question the law keepers because that is against the law.

I am sorry to tell you that I have no answer for any of your questions. I am equally sorry to tell you that the questions we have raised have angered the authorities. That we should never have linked your case with justice and human rights - stupid values which don't exist here.

Ahmed, I deeply apologise to you and your wife and children, to your mothers and sisters, for all the damage we have caused you. I realise now how wrong we all were to demand justice. We should have kissed hands and feet and opened our legs for the right people to get you out.

I am really sorry someone like ***** is keeping a close eye on you and continuing to humiliate you everyday. I know he is doing this because I personally complained about him to all the Shaikhs and influencial people I know as well as common men on the street.

Ahmed, next time you see this bastard, please kiss his feet and ask for forgiveness. Holding your head up high and withstanding all the horror you have gone through is not the trait of Bahrainis. Bahrainis, or rather Bahranis like you, should be humiliated and trodden upon all the time. This is where we belong - under the feet of our masters.

Ahmed, please realise that we are slaves. That we cannot think freely and shouldn't aspire to do so. Remember our place in the great scheme of things. We are second or perhaps third class citizens. We have no rights. But this isn't all, please remember that we have no right to ask for any rights. It is a futile exercise and we may end up as cell mates.

We should thank God for being allowed to live in this great land of paradoxes. I realise that we have no other place to go and that it is the land of our ancestors. Always remember that there is a God who doesn't leave anyone alone. However, Ahmed, I beg you not to show them that you praying to Allah to release you from your prison. They might take this as an act of defiance on your side and they may punish you in different ways you may not have seen before. Remember how that bastard ordered his men to make you stand in the sun that day for three hours? Remember how he has now ordered no human contact with you? Remember how you are in solitary confinement now, in a cell with three Sri Lankans you cannot even communicate with? Do you see how he has ordered his men to treat your visitors? How the girls from your family are paraded through the CID headquaters before being allowed to see you for 10 minutes and then thrown out like dogs? Do you realise that this is nothing compared to what he could really do to you?

Ahmed, please allow those people to break your spirit. This is what they want. I beg you to stoop down to them. There is no way out. No hope.

Remember that you have no one backing you. Remember that you have no cause. You are not a political prisoner. You are just a junkie. Remember you are NOBODY. You are only a normal Bahraini citizen who is not above the law.

Human rights practices in Bahrain

2005-03-02T14:07:00.000+03:00

How timely. The US Department of State released the 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices two days ago. Click here to read the Bahrain report. But here's an exceprt from the summary:

Problems remained in the Government's respect for human rights. Citizens did not have the right to change their government. The Government prohibits political parties, and none exist. Impunity of government officials remained a problem, as did the lack of independence of the judiciary and discrimination against the Shi'a population, women, and foreign nationals. The press reported that some judges were corrupt. The Parliament investigated an instance of government corruption involving the government pension funds. The Government continued to infringe to some extent on citizens' privacy rights, and it restricted the freedoms of speech, the press, assembly, and association. Journalists routinely practiced self-censorship. The Government also imposed some limits on freedom of religion and freedom of movement. Violence against women and discrimination based on sex, religion, and ethnicity remained a problem. There was reported discrimination in the job market. In May, the Council of Representatives rejected a law making discrimination a crime punishable under the country's 1976 Penal Code. Abuse of foreign workers occurred, including numerous instances of forced labor and some instances of trafficking.

The Government took initial steps to improve the judiciary process with the transparent recruitment of new judges, training of judges and prosecutors, establishment of an office of mediation, and steps to speed up [hah!] the court process that automates case management. Five judges were dismissed for corruption. The Government also provided increased human rights training to law enforcement officers. (Continued)

2005-03-01T14:41:00.000+03:00

What are the Police busy with? Who killed Shakhouri and why did he go unpunished?

2005-03-01T11:07:00.000+03:00

The following appeared in today's Gulf Daily News:

"BD35,000 payout
MANAMA: The Interior Ministry was yesterday ordered to pay BD35,000 compensation to the family of a Bahraini who died near the American Embassy during an anti-US rally.
A post-mortem and witnesses confirmed that rubber bullets randomly fired by security forces were the direct cause of Mohammed Jumaa Shakhoori's death, the Higher Civil Court of Appeal heard.
The decision upheld a previous First Degree Court verdict, thus turning down the Interior Ministry's appeal.
Shakhoori's family will each be paid BD5,000, in addition to an extra five pc covering legal expenses."

I have no further comments to add at this stage. It is a fulite exercise anyway.

DISCLAIMER

2005-02-28T14:07:00.000+03:00

In calling for justice, Ahmed & Co by no means pointed fingers at the leadership or blamed them for any of the wrong doings in Bahrain.

We are all grown ups and realise that parents do their best to bring up their children, but there are wayward children everywhere and across all ages.

SBG would also like to stress that she is not responsible for any of her rash reactions, which were ALL posted under the influence of alcohol.

LONG LIVES BAHRAIN !

Freedom of Opinion Respected in Bahrain

2005-02-28T09:06:00.000+03:00

Here's a snippet from today's GDN to brighten your day.

Please remain assured that you are not free to open your trap and let the frogs leap out when and should you choose.

Please remember that you are governed by draconian rules which make it impossible to reason things out...even when all that you have done is poured out your frustration to a PC.

You are kindly reminded to shut up as anything you say or write will end your life, career and tarnish your reputation forever.

This is yet another proof of our respect for the constitution (the NEW one), the UN Human Rights Charter (which should have an Arab version) and the Free Speech Act (huh?).

Here's the offending article:

'Hate website' man held
MANAMA: A suspect accused of inciting resentment against the government is being held in custody for 15 days pending investigation, the General Prosecution said last night.
He was arrested following a tip-off from the Information Ministry that a website, Bahrain Online, run by him was broadcasting news, pictures and information inciting hatred.
The suspect has admitted the charges as well as using a phone line registered in his sister's name.

Justice in Bahrain...so/so

2005-02-27T09:31:00.000+03:00

So Mr Kawari has been acquitted.

First he is humiliated, imprisoned and abused... then he is aquitted.

Hurray to justice in the magical kingdom of Bahrain. Way to go my country.

Here's what appeared in today's GDN about the case:

" Worker acquitted
MANAMA: A former government employee, accused of being in possession of official documents without authorisation, was acquitted by the High Criminal Court yesterday for lack of evidence. Mohammed Kawari, a former General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs employee, claimed he was handed some documents which he assumed were for him, which was why he kept them in his possession. He also denied they were confidential documents. "

Shouldn't this man be fully interviewed to get his side of the story, how many days he spent in prison, how he was treated and how he feels about the system and justice ?

The report fails to mention when he was arrested and on what grounds and the passports and naturalisation furour in parliament at the time.

Is Mr Kawari proud to be Bahraini ? Can he hold his head up high and tell his children to respect the system which abused him, dehumanised him, broke his spirit and tarnished his reputation forever ?

This isn't whining...This is lamenting a country which had all the ingredients to continue to be an oasis in the middle of an arid desert...but has instead become a burial ground for its own people.

What are Bahrain's police busy with exactly? Part 2

2005-02-26T14:08:00.000+03:00

Here's another disturbing report from today's GDN on the behaviour of SOME of Bahrain's police:
You will need to read between the lines to understand how they abuse their positions and terrorise people.

Policeman denies harassing Filipina
By MOHAMMED ASLAM
A JORDANIAN policeman has denied harassing a Filipina and violating her right to freedom of movement.
He has also denied impersonating a traffic policeman by stopping her from driving off in her car.
The Filipina shop worker, 36, has in turn denied making an obscene gesture to the policeman.
The Public Security policeman, 24, filed a complaint that the woman made the obscene gesture to him and tried to ram his car, outside a cold store in Gudaibiya.
He claimed that she worked with his fiancee and had threatened him through her and had repeatedly made trouble for him.
The allegations stem from an incident in February last year, when the Filipina was detained by traffic police, then handed over to Public Security, after a complaint filed by the other defendant.
The next day the Filipina also filed a complaint with police, saying that the defendant had repeatedly harassed her.
She said she went to a restaurant in Gudaibiya with a girlfriend and as she parked her car, she saw the defendant sitting in a black Mercedes with two other men.
The woman said she had had problems with him before and was worried about her car, so she went back to move it.
"I was worried about my car after seeing the Jordanian security man, who always harassed me wherever he saw me," she told police.
"I contacted a traffic policeman I knew and informed him about the situation and about that security man.
"He told me to remove my car and park it somewhere else near the restaurant.
"I went back to my car to move it, but the Jordanian security man and the two other men with him were blocking my car.
"When I wanted to enter my car he stopped me and said don't move the car from this place because the traffic police are coming for you now.
"I said I did not do anything and then the police arrived and a policeman in the patrol asked me to accompany them to the police station.
"I asked him why should I go to the police station without any reason.
"The policeman got down from the police patrol and brought his face near me to smell and check if I am drunk.
"The Jordanian security man had reported to them that I was drunk."
The male defendant told police that he had parked his car to buy cigarettes from a cold store and the Filipina tried to ram him and made an obscene gesture with her fingers.
"My fiancée is also working in the same company where this Filipina is working and she is not in good terms with her and when she sees me she uses vulgar language against me," he said.
"This woman has threatened me through my fiancée and through a traffic police officer and he is the one who is provoking her against me."
The case was adjourned until March 19, because the Filipina did not show up at court.

Verbal Permission Indeed !

2005-02-22T09:10:00.000+03:00

A story appeared in today's GDN claiming that human rights activists got a "verbal" permission to visit prisons and speak to prisoners about their conditions.

Don't know what to make of it: Should I laugh or cry ?
Verbal permission indeed.
What are they trying to cover up ? What are they hiding ?
Why do they continue to pose a direct threat to the citizens of Bahrain ?
What is the end of this charade ?
How long do people keep quiet knowing and seeing such atrocities being committed and human rights broken every day ?
Will they check the infamous Guantanamo Bay branch in Adliya ?
Will they be able to really speak to prisoners held for about a year without access to a fair and just trial ?
Will the prisoners really speak to them, knowing that they will not get away with it ?
Come on. Who are we kidding ?

Anyway, here is what appeared in the Gulf Daily News:

"Rights group may be allowed to visit jails
By ROBERT SMITH
A HUMAN rights group says it has been granted verbal permission to become the country's first independent organisation to inspect Bahrain's prisons.
However, it has still not been given the go-ahead in writing and is now waiting for a meeting with senior Interior Ministry officials to find out when the inspections can take place.
It is the first time authorities have said yes to the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS), which had similar requests turned down in 2003 and last year.
The organisation submitted its latest application to inspect the country's prisons over a month ago and is hoping to receive official confirmation this week.
"We got a verbal response just before Muharram, which is about two weeks ago," said BHRS member Dr Abdulla Alderazi.
"There was a telephone call from the human rights committee at the Interior Ministry and they gave us a positive response.
"But they said that the Minister or the Under-Secretary wants to meet us beforehand to talk about things.
"We hope that will happen in the next few days so we can actually go into the prisons."
The BHRS submitted its request to the Interior Ministry after its members were not allowed to visit hunger-striking prisoners being held at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), in Adliya, last December.
It wants to see how conditions compare with international criteria set out by the United Nations and its findings will be included in its annual human rights report for this year.
However, the purpose of the visits is not only to inspect conditions of the prisoners.
The BHRS also wants to meet prison staff to discuss ways of avoiding unrest inside Bahrain's jails and improving relations with inmates.
"We know there have been improvements in the jails, but we want to go in and meet the prisoners themselves," said Dr Alderazi.
"I am talking about all of Bahrain's prisons.
"We have the official government side but if we go in and see for ourselves, there is more credibility.
"We have waited years for this opportunity."
Meanwhile, a group of MPs is still waiting for permission to visit Jaw prison to investigate claims that inmates have been mistreated.
Parliament's Islamic Bloc submitted a request to parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who forwarded it to Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa over a month ago.
However, their request has since been passed to the Public Prosecution and they are now hoping to get a reply this week.
"We are still waiting for them to agree," said Islamic Bloc president MP Ali Al Samahiji, who is also vice-chairman of parliament's legislative and legal affairs committee.
"They still have not given us any feedback, but maybe we will go this week or next week."
In August 2003, Jaw prison was the scene of a stand-off between police and prisoners, who barricaded themselves inside Block Four for over a week and threatened to torch it because of alleged bad treatment and poor facilities."

Threats...Blackmail and More Humiliation

2005-02-21T18:19:00.000+03:00

Yes.. Read and re-read the heading.

That is all the muzzled me can say about this nightmare.

Also, the authorities claim we are escalating the situation. That it is "NORMAL" for people to rot in jail for almost a year with no access to a fair and just trial.

Hence, Ahmed and all those fighting for justice in this magical kingdom should bloody shut up and go and dig themselves a big hole in Sakhir and light a huge bonfire to mark their mass burial ceremony.

Depending on the breeze, the palace dwellers may get a whiff of smoke. They can then sit back and ask themselves: "Is it BBQ season?"

Sure am proud to be a Bahraini.

Bahraini Police...What Exactly Are They Busy With?

2005-02-16T08:55:00.000+03:00

Here is a shining example of the way Bahrain's police force behaves.
I am so disgusted ... excuse me... I need to run to the bathroom.

"Policeman guilty of sex with minor
By MOHAMMED ASLAM
A BAHRAINI policeman has been convicted of having sex with his under-age sister-in-law.
He denied the charge, but was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail, to be suspended if he pays a BD200 fine.
The 17-year-old Iraqi girl alleged that he raped her twice after she invited him into her home while she was alone, the Lower Criminal Court heard.
She said she did not complain to police because he promised to marry her.
The girl also claimed that the defendant kicked her and beat her mother, when they went to his family home to complain, after he broke his promise of marriage.
They had already been been seeing each other and continued a relationship after the incident, said the girl.
A medical examination confirmed that she was a virgin before the alleged incident, the court heard.
"We used to meet several times at public places and go shopping together in the malls," said the girl.
"Mother went abroad to Iraq and I was alone in the house. One day the defendant came to my house to visit me and I opened the door and asked him to come in."
She said she went to her bedroom to change her clothes and the defendant came in and twice forced her into having sex.
"I tried to push him away but I could not do that. I also yelled for help, but there was no one to come to my aid," the girl told police.
She said the defendant left the house and again visited her the next day.
"Initially the defendant had sex with me by force without my consent. I told my sister about this incident later on," she said.
The girl said they continued to see each other and their relationship grew and when her mother returned, she told her what had happened. "Later on I told him that my mother knew and she agreed with the idea of our getting married," she said.
"When he heard this then he started to stay away from me and started to avoid me.
"He accused me of going out with other men and told me not to call him and to forget the idea of getting married to him.
"When my mother heard about his behaviour she was angry and took me to his house in Safra and my sister and aunt also accompanied us.
"When I went there he kicked me in the stomach and chest and I collapsed and fainted. He also beat my mother and then we called the police and filed a complaint against him. His father expelled us from the house."
The defendant denied all the allegations, saying he was asleep with he heard loud voices in his house.
"When I came out of my bedroom I saw the girl with her mother and another woman and my parents," he said.
"I asked what the matter was and they told me that the girl's mother was accusing me of having sex with the girl by force. After this the police patrol arrived and I went to the police station with them.
"The girl is the sister of the wife of my brother and I simply speak to her over the telephone and there are no sentimental relations between us.
"The girl actually wants to marry me therefore she is playing this game."

Protect Bahrainis from Brutal Police

2005-02-15T08:58:00.000+03:00

This is another "funny" article in today's GDN:
The comments in bold are mine.

"Germany boosts security links
By SOMAN BABY
MANAMA

GERMANY is to strengthen its security co-operation with Bahrain , especially in the area of police training and civil protection, German Interior Minister Otto Schily said yesterday.
A delegation from the Bahrain Interior Ministry will visit Germany shortly to work out details, he said yesterday.
Members of the delegation would attend a few meetings, which they would understand nothing much of and spend the rest of their time drinking the much sought after German beer and chasing skirts.
Mr Schily described Bahrain as one of Germany's most reliable partners in the Gulf region.
"Bahrain is a very stable country in a region where many countries are not able to claim stability," he noted.
Unknown to Mr Schily, it is the civilians who need protection from the corrupt police and judiciary in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Mr Schily was speaking at a lunch reception hosted in his honour by German Ambassador Roland Herrmann, at his Saar residence.
The location is quite close to the Budaiya Road, which houses a large number of Bahrain's disgruntled citizens who are cocooned in poor villages, with no proper housing and services in what is sold to the rest of the world as a welfare state and a tax haven.
"I was honoured to meet Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa," he noted.
Among the issues discussed was the political significance of the forthcoming visit of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to Bahrain, on March 2.
There is no doubt Chancellor Schroeder will be so thrilled when he visits Bahrain and is taken around the palaces and the well-lit and manicured roads leading all the way to the Royal Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa.
Chancellor Schroeder will not know anything about the atrocities being committed against the people of Bahrain and the corruption in the judiciary and police forces.
Chancellor Schroeder will not be shown the appalling conditions Bahrainis are living in and the terror administered by the regime against the people.
Chancellor Schroeder will arrive in Bahrain and leave even more deceived and confused than when he first arrived.
Mr Schily also discussed with his Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa issues of security co-operation between our two friendly countries.
Poor Mr Schily will meet the very Shaikh Rashid who has been appointed to clean up the rat-infested Ministry of Interior but is being kept in the dark about the atrocities being committed by his men in uniform against the civilians every day.
While Shaikh Rashid is busy shaking hands with people and smiling, his men in uniform continue to break human rights conventions and abuse people by denying them their rights.
Mr Schily said the use of modern technology in fighting crimes, strengthening civil protection and training of police including the coastguards had all come under discussion.
Civil Protection ? What civil protection: aha...I get it now. Protection of Civilians from the police, he means.
He should know... like Mr Schily cannot be that shallow.
"A special liaison office has been set up in my ministry to deal exclusively with Gulf security issues," he added.
"Former director of the European Police Authority (Europol) Jurgen Storpeck has been appointed as my special envoy for the Gulf region.
"Mr Storpeck, who headed Europol for more than 10 years, will now visit Bahrain and other Gulf countries on a regular basis to strengthen security co-operation."
Mr Schily said Germany had tightened up its security law recently and had invested heavily on the most modern equipment for the police in a bid to fight terrorism.
This doesn't sound too good..Mr Schily may be doing and saying all this with good intent but does he realise that anything any of those regimes do is directed against their very own people whom they have ZERO trust in.
When SBG visited the Pentagon, a highly senior officer told her in confidence that he was concerned about why countries in this part of the world concentrated on buying equipment and ammunition which could be used in "city wars" or in other words, weapons which could be pointed at their own people at times of civil unrest.
I am not wondering about that at all...and even if I am alarmed, there isn't anything I can do about it...can I?
"Security is the backbone of any economy. We are ready to share our expertise with friendly countries like Bahrain," he added.
Great. Security is truely the backbone of any economy and so is stability and democracy and respecting human rights...stupid words which are alien to the authorities.
Mr Schily said German experts were providing training for Iraqi policemen in the UAE. "We may undertake such training programmes in Qatar and Bahrain in future," he added.
Mr Schily, who is also in charge of sports, met General Organisation for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.
"I discussed with him the preparations made by Germany for hosting the international football championship next year," he noted.
"We hope to receive the Prime Minister and Shaikh Fawaz during the championship or for the league match in Germany later this year.
"Bahrain has a very good football team and we hope they will qualify for the finals."
No comment..He really knows how to rub it in. Football my foot!

Cry My Beloved Country III

2005-02-15T08:47:00.000+03:00

This appeared in today's Gulf Daily News:

Please take a minute to consider the situation carefully: those morons are wasting the nation's money by thanking everyone and thanking each other instead of working on solving issues of concern to the people.

And I had thought that the Shura batch was better than the other troupe of clowns.

Here's the offending article:

"Speech sparks Shura row
A ROW erupted as the Shura Council celebrated the anniversary of the referendum on the National Action Charter yesterday.
The nation went to the polls on February 14, 2001 to vote overwhelmingly in favour of the charter, which heralded sweeping reforms.
Shura Council chairman Dr Faisal Al Mousawi gave a speech congratulating the leadership on the anniversary.
As soon as he finished, second vice-chairman Mansoor Bin Rajab wanted to thank the leadership on behalf of members, but member Khalid Al Maskati thought it was unnecessary and cut him short.
A verbal row then started between both members, who were backed by others in the council, on whether they needed the statement or not.
The row ended when Dr Al Mousawi decided that the speech could be used as a part of a communiqué congratulating the leadership, which would be issued immediately after the session.
The communiqué hopes that Bahrain's reforms will continue smoothly, with people united under one goal and that's the rise and development of the nation."

Cry My Beloved Country - Part II

2005-02-14T16:16:00.000+03:00

This appeared in today's GDN..

"Bank robbery suspect freed
MANAMA: A man suspected of breaking into Shamil Bank's Riffa branch has been released for lack of evidence. He had been in police custody since his arrest last April.
New police investigations have shown the real suspect may still be on the run, the High Criminal Court heard yesterday.
"The suspect who shot his way into Shamil Bank is also the one who attempted to storm Riffa's Standard Chartered Bank last October, disguised as a woman," investigation directorate director Brigadier General Faroul Al Maawada said.
He also revealed that weapons and bullets used in both cases were of the same calibre.
The masked suspect fled with more than BD10,200 and 1,530 Saudi riyals from Shamil Bank."

Now those morons held this man in a prison cell since last April only to free him now due to lack of evidence ?

To add insult to injury, those morons are claiming that the real culprit is still at large.

Great... can those morons explain to us why this innocent man was in jail since April ?

Can he sue them for ruining his reputation and his life ?

I am really speechless.

Help !!

I desperately need to make heads out of tails of this corrupt system.

Always on the beat

2005-02-09T14:37:00.000+03:00

In her last post, SBG asked "where are Bahrain's crime police?". The front page of today's GDN reveals the answer:

Teenage girls fined
MANAMA: Two teenage girls were fined BD100 by the Lower Criminal Court for singing loudly in a street after attending a hotel party in Manama late at night. They were caught by a police patrol.

They're always on the beat.

Bahraini Criminal Police

2005-02-06T13:34:00.000+03:00

Here is another hilarious piece, this time from the Gulf Daily New's letter's page.

The reader is asking about what the police is doing, if not enhancing security and protecting people's safety.

The reader's questions are as follows:

"Crime clamp urged

WHERE are Bahrain's crime police?

Stabbed, beaten and tortured, armed raiders flee with coins, car wrecked in vandalism.

Are the Bahraini police just good at getting you for traffic offences? Who is getting the criminals?

I only see a lot of traffic police. How about increasing some more police in khaki or CID to fight crime in Bahrain? N Dias"

My answer is simple:

Bahrain's police are busy terrorising people and running their own businesses.

The Blind Leading the Blind !

2005-02-06T13:17:00.000+03:00

This is another hilarious news item in today's Gulf Daily News:
With all my respect for Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid, whom I have not met but heard "good" things about, I find his comments hilarious, to say the least.
Let me tell Shaikh Rashid a few words of wisdom:

Dear Shaikh Rashid,
How can the man whose ministry is administering terrorism against the people of Bahrain call for eradicating terrorism ?
The fight against terror should start at the Ministry of Interior's own backyard.
It is the very officers at the ministry who pose a threat to national security and are abusing the rights of law-abiding citizens.They are the ones who are a threat to stability and the security of people.

Dear Shaikh Rashid,
I know you have inherited a cess pit but it is your responsibility now to "clean" it up. You have sworn allegience to Bahrain and to fulfilling your responsibilities towards serving the people.
So far, we have not heard you address these issues. Your men in uniform continue to break all human rights and directly threaten people, their future and their livelihoods. They continue to ignore human rights and terrorise civilians.

Dear Shaikh Rashid,
The people of Bahrain no longer feel safe in Bahrain. The reign of terror continues. I realise that terrorism is a threat but there are different forms of terror : like that administered by your ministry against your own people.

Regards,
A very disgruntled citizen whose rights have been stripped by the very authorities which should uphold it

Here is the offensive article:

TIME TO ACT

KUWAIT CITY: Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa called yesterday for joint Gulf action to eradicate terrorism, which he said poses a threat to regional security.

He arrived here to express "solidarity with Kuwait", which was rocked by a series of gunfights with militants last month.

His visit would also "discuss boosting security co-operation in the fight against terror".

"We must all work to eradicate this danger before it spreads and grows in a way that harms the people and poses a threat to Gulf national security," said Shaikh Rashid.

He declared Bahrain's support for all measures to "eradicate these criminal actions and to confront jointly and firmly any attempt to undermine security and stability in our peaceful region".

He said Bahrain would propose at a counter-terrorism conference which opened in Riyadh yesterday the establishment of specialised national centres to confront terrorism in the GCC states.

Free the Judiciary !!

2005-02-06T13:11:00.000+03:00

This appeared in today's Gulf Daily News:
The protest called for dismissing the General Prosecutor (!!!!) and for cleaning up the judiciary (!!!!)
It was a general call by women being treated with injustice by the very mechanisms available in any democratic and facist country to uphold and protect the rights of civilians.
If this is the general condition in Bahrain, how can an individual like Ahmed get any justice?

Protest against 'discrimination'

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

A CALL to dismiss the General Prosecutor went out from a women's organisation yesterday.

Women's Petition Committee members and supporters gathered outside the Justice Ministry in what they called a show of solidarity against discrimination.

They were supported by members from the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and the National Committee for The Support of Martyrs of Victims of Torture.

Women's Petition Committee president Ghada Jamsheer said that their main demand was the removal of the General Prosecutor.

"We also want judges who have passed the retirement age to be relieved from their duties and those who belong to extremist Islamic groups removed from their post," she said.

"We want the immediate removal of two Sharia judges in particular who took controversial decisions against women.

"We want a clean judiciary system where the right decision is taken without women's rights being neglected.

"It is time that the Personal Law (Family Law) was implemented, easing the suffering of many divorced women and their children and ensuring that judges follow the law, rather than taking random decisions."

Ms Jamsheer also called for a halt to Sharia judges issuing official marriage certificates at people's homes.

She said there should instead be a special office at the ministry, open 24-hours-a-day.

Human rights activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja said that the General Prosecution has been established during the time of the reforms.

"It should represent the people not the government, but what is happening is that it speaks for the government," he said.

Women at the gathering collected signatures for a petition with a list of wishes women hope to be granted. A communiqué supported with a number of controversial court cases was also distributed.

Women in protest for equality

2005-02-05T13:32:00.000+03:00

This appeared in today's Gulf Daily News :

Bahraini women, not MEN, are calling for their rights, for an end of injustice and abuse.
Read on....

"Women in protest for equality

WOMEN will gather outside the Justice Ministry today in a show of solidarity against discrimination.

They will also call for the dismissal of the General Prosecutor.

The demonstration is being organised by the Women Petition Committee in co-ordination with human rights and civil society groups. It starts at 10am

Committee president Ghada Jamsheer said that women were often discriminated against when their cases were dealt with by either the General Prosecution or Sharia courts.

"There are many women who have been affected because of this and many are living miserably because of these biased decisions," she said.

"We will also call for the removal of a Sharia judge, whose decisions have been always against women and has a long history in controversial decisions, which were in favour of men, rather than being fair."

Ms Jamsheer said that a petition would be signed and sent to His Majesty King Hamad with a list of wishes women hope to be granted.

They include the urgent establishment of the Personal Law (family law) and stop Sharia judges from issuing official marriage certificates at home.

They say these should be issued by a special office at the ministry, open 24-hours-a-day.

A communiqué will also be distributed at the event."

Quiz Down

2005-02-05T13:11:00.000+03:00

Dear Supporters,

You may have noticed that the quiz has come an abrupt end. I can continue with it indefinitely but I know I will sound like a broken record. I am sorry I have been repetitive in certain instances but I hope you realise how frustrating it is to maintain a straight head and try and think logically, knowing that you are being abused and ignored every step of the way.

What worries me is that the more I press on Ahmed's case as being a human rights issue, the more he is victimised by his captors who continue to challenge human rights, dignity and decency - things which are born with people and cannot be attained by mercenaries !

The main question is: Why is Ahmed being denied justice?

You may have realised by now that Ahmed is not alone, so : Why are the people of Bahrain burying their heads in the sand and accepting all the atrocities being committed against them?

You may also have come to the conclusion that the post is being compiled by one or two people, that the number of hits is slowing down and there are virtually no comments at all.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE AFRAID OF WHEN WE ARE BEING BUTT-F**ED ? ARE WE REALLY ENJOYING IT SO MUCH WE ARE WORRIED THE FUN WOULD END IF WE VOICE ANY OBJECTIONS ?

The trials and turbulations of "other" Bahraini prisoners

2005-02-05T11:53:00.000+03:00

This appeared in today's GDN:

Rights activist on New York mission

By ABDULRAHMAN FAKHRI

MANAMA

A BAHRAINI human rights activist is travelling to New York to meet with lawyers campaigning to free all detainees, held in Guantanamo Bay, including six Bahrainis.

The move follows a ruling by a US federal judge in a Washington court, giving detainees the right to challenge their imprisonment in court, with defence lawyers.

However, lawyers acting on behalf of the Bahraini detainees said there was still little chance of any detainees being freed soon by the courts.

The judge on Monday rejected a system of internal administrative hearings established last year by the Pentagon to review the cases of the 558 detainees, some of whom have been held for over three years.

US District Judge Joyce Hens Green said the detainees were entitled to greater protection under the US Constitution and the Geneva Convention.

She criticised the US government's definition of "enemy combatant" and found that the military's tribunal system did not meet the Constitution's standard for protecting the rights of the accused.

Nabil Rajab, who is member of the committee that acts on behalf of detainees from the Gulf and former president of the now dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, will be meeting lawyers on February 13.

"The meeting will discuss what will be the next step for the lawyers to take following the court's ruling," Mr Rajab told the GDN.

Meanwhile, lawyers of the Bahraini detainees said that they expected that the US government would attempt to appeal against Judge Green's order.

"However, if allowed to do so, it will regurgitate the same arguments that it has been making for over two years," attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan told the GDN.

He is among a group of lawyers from the New-York-based firm Dorsey and Whitney who are acting on behalf of the six Bahrainis, free of charge.

"The appeals process will be lengthy and these cases could end up in front of the Supreme Court all over again," he said.

"Because of this, there is still very little chance that any detainee will be ordered to be released by a court at any point in the foreseeable future."

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Bahraini detainees have maintained that the allegations do not justify holding them without charge.

They are disputing their classification as "enemy combatants" and say no evidence has been put forward to support the allegations.

"It is crucial for the Government of Bahrain to do everything it can to secure the release of its citizens, regardless of what goes on in this litigation," said Mr Colangelo-Bryan.

"The Bahraini Interior Ministry has already concluded that there is no evidence that any of our clients were engaged in terrorist activity."

He said that there was no reason why Bahrain should not undertake all possible efforts to bring its citizens home.

Mr Colangelo-Bryan said he was pleased in Judge Green's decision.

"As a legal matter, her conclusion that valid claims can be asserted by Guantanamo Bay detainees adheres closely to the decisions that were issued by the Supreme Court last summer, which opened US courts to the detainees," he said.

"As a moral and ethical matter, we believe it was hugely important for an American court to rule that our clients have rights as human beings, even if they are not US citizens and that detainees cannot be detained arbitrarily and indefinitely in horrific conditions."

The Supreme Court last year granted federal courts jurisdiction to hear detainees' cases.

The six Bahraini detainees held at the camp as "enemy com-

batants" are Juma Mohammed Al Dossary, Essa Al Murbati, Salah Abdul Rasool Al Blooshi, Adel Kamel Hajee, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Abdulla Majid Al Naimi.

The lawyers have been acting on their behalf as part of a global effort to provide free legal support to all Camp Delta prisoners.

They were allowed into Guantanamo Bay last October to meet their clients and have since been given access to classified information detailing the alleged reasons for their detention.

The Foreign Ministry also appointed a lawyer earlier last year to act for the six prisoners.

Cry the Beloved Country

2005-02-02T11:16:00.000+03:00

This article appeared in the Gulf Daily News of Bahrain on February 1, 2005:
I will leave you to read it and carefully consider the situation: especially that which criticises the judiciary as being so independent ;)

This leaves a lot of hope for Ahmed.

Rights group's plea dismissed

AN appeal against the closure of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) was dismissed yesterday by the High Civil Court. However, the reasons for rejecting the appeal were not given and will not be announced for another week, sources told the GDN.

The BCHR now has one-and-a-half months to take its case to the Appeal Court.

"What happened was sad, but it only supports our claims that the Bahraini courts are yet to be independent," said BCHR board member Nabeel Rajab.

"The executive authority still controls the judicial authority.

"Nevertheless, we might try to appeal once the board meets to discuss the reasons of the rejection."

The BCHR was closed by the then Labour and Social Affairs Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi last September over allegations that it breached the 1989 Societies Law.

Twelve lawyers came to the defence of the group and lodged an appeal against the closure, which followed a seminar on poverty organised by the BCHR at Al Oruba Club, in Juffair.

Mr Rajab, fellow board member Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, government lawyer Ma'sooma Abdul Rasool and BCHR lawyer Ahmed Abdulrahim Al Dakhir were all in court for yesterday's verdict.

Quix Time 40

2005-01-27T09:54:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

What does the regime gain by having Ahmed locked up for so long without access to a fair and just trial ?

What good does it serve to break and f**k up the life of a young Bahraini for no reason ?

Who benefits from this the most ?

Why are there double standards in Bahrain's legal system ?

Why was Talal who was caught with drugs on him released on bail after given access to an unjust trial just because his father is a police officer and Ahmed who was not caught with drugs on him detained and denied access to a fair and just trial just because none of his extended family would stoop so low and become mercenaries ?

Quiz Time 39

2005-01-26T13:25:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

Will the Bahrain Human Rights Society be able to access prisons and speak to prisoners who have not been given access to a fair and just trial about the injustice they are suffering at the hands of mercenaries and outlaws ?

Will the Bahrain Human Rights Society press hard to know why exactly Bahrain cannot be just to its sons and daughters and treat them all fairly and equally ?

Will the Bahrain Human Rights Society, whose very own members have been imprisoned and torchered by the authorities over the years for dreaming of justice and equality, stand for the rights of a bunch of prisoners who have been awaiting trial forever at Bahrain's very own Guantanamo prison, Adliya branch ?

Will the Bahrain Human Rights Society give Ahmed back the dignity and humanity usurped by the very authorities which are supposed to protect and uphold them ?

Human Rights group calls for inspecting jails

2005-01-25T13:52:00.000+03:00

This appeared in yesterday's Gulf Daily News, published in Bahrain:

Rights group in appeal to inspect jails
By ROBERT SMITH

MANAMA: A HUMAN rights group has requested permission to conduct independent inspections of all prisons in the country. The Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) is now waiting for a response from authorities, which have refused similar approaches in the past.
It submitted the request to the Interior Ministry after its members were not allowed to visit hunger-striking prisoners being held at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), in Adliya, last month.
If the society gets the go-ahead its findings will be included in its annual human rights report.
"We were not granted permission in 2003 or last year, but it is normal around the world for an independent body to inspect jails," said BHRS member Abdulla Alderazi.
"It also reflects well on the reputation of the country."
The BHRS wants to go inside the walls of Bahrain's prisons to see how conditions compare with international criteria set out by the United Nations.
Its request has now been passed from the Interior Ministry to the Public Prosecution.
Mr Alderazi said the failure to allow BHRS members to visit hunger-striking prisoners last month was a factor in the latest request.
The inmates were protesting because some had been held for up to nine months without being dealt with by the courts.
"What happened in Adliya is part of the reason," said Mr Alderazi.
"They ended their strike, but we wanted to see them. Just because their strike finished does not mean we don't want to go.
"I think they may let us go - especially because international human rights reports on Bahrain were not excellent last year compared to those in 2003, 2002 and 2001.
"If there is nothing to hide, they should let us go in."
However, Mr Alderazi said the purpose of jail visits was not only to inspect conditions of the prisoners.
The BHRS also wants to meet prison staff to discuss ways of avoiding unrest inside Bahrain's jails.
"We want to avoid demonstrations inside jails," said Mr Alderazi.
"We want to speak to people responsible for prisons and work with them so they better understand the psychology of inmates.
"Although they have committed crimes these prisoners are still human."
Meanwhile, a group of MPs is still waiting for permission to visit Jaw prison to investigate claims that inmates are being mistreated.
Parliament's Islamic Bloc submitted a request to parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who forwarded it to Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.
Bloc president MP Ali Al Samahiji says it could be the first of a series of visits to meet prisoners and discuss the conditions in which they are being held.
"We have still not been given permission," said Mr Al Samahiji, who is also vice-chairman of parliament's legislative and legal affairs committee.
"They have not said no, but we are still waiting to go and see what the problems are.
"Relatives of prisoners at Jaw have told us they are being mistreated, but we don't know the details.
"We want to meet the head of the prison."
Jaw prison was the scene of a major stand-off between inmates and police in August 2003 that lasted for over a week.
Hunger-striking prisoners barricaded themselves inside Block Four and threatened to torch it after complaining of bad treatment by jail authorities and poor facilities.

Quiz Time 38

2005-01-25T13:41:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

Rumours say that a Ministry of Interior officer's son by the name of Talal was caught red-handed with drugs on him and was held in custody and then released on a BD500 bail over-night.

How come he wasn't subjected to the same inhumane treatment Ahmed (who wasn't caught with drugs on him) was subjected to ?

Why Talal is free and Ahmed is still in prison ?

How did Talal's father manage to get him out of there while Ahmed is still rotting in custody - more than eight months after his arrest ?

Why Talal was given access to a fair and just trial in a matter of a few days and Ahmed is still waiting to stand trial ?

What is the difference between Ahmed and Talal ?

Why is Talal and Talal's father and the whole of Talal's clan above the law ?

Can the Ministries of Torture and Injustice explain themselves or it is too much to ask ?

Quiz Time 37

2005-01-24T14:49:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

Why is the government petrified of giving Ahmed a fair trial?

Is the Regime trying to cover up something more sinister?

Is Ahmed's imprisonment a smokescreen for the real culprits to make an easy escape?

Quiz Time 36

2005-01-23T11:43:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

Where do you think Ahmed stands to get a better chance of a fair trial than in Bahrain?

Rwanda
China
USA
KSA
Cuba

Has the Media (print/electronic) in Bahrain done enough to strengthen Democracy and a fair justice system?

If Ahmed's family feels helpless in Bahrain, how long is it going to take before each one of you (Bahraini) is going to be put through the same ordeal?

Quiz Time 35

2005-01-22T11:27:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

How did Ahmed celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did his family celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did his wife and children celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did his captors celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did the new Minister of Justice celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did the judges at Bahrain's courts celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did the Rulers of the Kingdom of Bahrain celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did the Minister of Interior celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did the Public Prosector celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did the human rights activists in Bahrain celebrate Eid Al Adha?
How did people with any decency at all celebrate Eid Al Adha?
Is Ahmed the ultimate sacrificial lamb in this fiasco?

Quiz Time 34

2005-01-21T23:40:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

How could the regime turn a blind eye towards the many innocent Ahmeds languishing in prison and still call themselves Muslims?
How are we going to teach our children about what is right and wrong in life - when a Kingdom refuses freedom and justice to its subjects?
How could the vast majority remain mute to the gross injustice going on in Bahrain - and still be making that pilgrimage to Mecca?

Quiz Time 33

2005-01-20T23:18:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

Why are people afraid in Bahrain?
Why are Bahrainis afraid to speak out and speak up for justice?
How many more Ahmeds do have to sacrifice their lives for realising 'justice for all' in Bahrain?

Quiz Time 32

2005-01-19T11:31:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

Define democracy ?

Define equality ?

Define justice ?

What do those elements mean in a regime which represses its own people and dicriminates against them ?

Quiz Time 31

2005-01-18T11:31:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

What do we need to do to get Ahmed's case to be seen in front of a just court in the Kingdom of Bahrain?

Has everyone in this Kingdom gone deaf and dumb and blind to the plight of a 28-year-old man who was kidnapped by the authorities and not given access to a fair and just trial?

Why didn't his captors take him to court on January 15 - the day he was scheduled to appear in front of a judge?

Why was the case adjourned - yet again - to February 27 for no reason and without having the jailed prisoner in court to witness the savagery being committed against him?

Why is his lawyer not doing anything and is just content repeating "this is the court system in Bahrain" ?

Is there really light at the end of this abyss?

Quiz Time 30

2005-01-17T13:37:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

What are Ahmed's lawyers doing about pushing forward Ahmed's case for a fair and just trial at the unjust and corrupt Bahraini court system?
As far as I am aware, Ahmed has had three different lawyers since his arrest in May, 2004. Each of them was paid the agreed upon down payment and when the family lost hope and fate in their concern for the case, after repeatedly hearing that "this is how the court in Bahrain functions" from them, the case was moved to another lawyer.
Why are Bahraini lawyers so timid and afraid to question the justice of the justice authorities ?
Why are they (the lawyers I mean) such crooks ? Why do they lose interest in cases after they gobble up people's hard-earned money ? Why aren't they concerned about general justice and the conduct of the court ?
Why are they keeping quiet when they are fully aware about the atrocities being committed by the Ministries of Injustice and Torture and Humiliation Against the Aborignies - against the Bahraini people?
Why are they accepting people's money when the have sworn an oath to protect the rights of people and fight for their just causes and when they know that the battle cannot be won in such a corrupt place ?

Quiz Time 29

2005-01-16T10:01:00.000+03:00

Today's question is:

New Minister of Justice Dr Mohammed Al Sitri took the ministerial oath yesterday to bla bla bla.

What does this (the oath) signify?

Will he keep his words?

Will this mean there will be a drastic shake-up in the Ministry of Injustice?

Will this mean that people like Ahmed, who have been rotting in prison for months, be given access to a fair trial?

Will the former Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture be able to use the skills he has accumulated in charge of muncipalities to "clean up" the rat-infested ministry he has now inherited?

Will he be able to use his green fingers to cultivate and nurture some trust in the judiciary which has proved again and again that it is not with righteousness and justice but with power, influence and besmearing Bahrain's reputation over and over again?

BD30,000 human rights award

2005-01-15T16:49:00.000+03:00

From today's GDN:

BD30,000 rights award proposed

By ABDULRAHMAN FAKHRI

A CALL has gone out to establish the His Majesty King Hamad International Human Rights Award.

The award is being proposed by Shura Council member and human rights activist Faisal Fulad, who hopes to make the recommendation to the council to institute the award, which would carry a BD30,000 prize.

He said the award, once given the go-ahead, will be presented by the government to local, regional and international human rights activists and organisations for their outstanding achievements.

Mr Fulad said the significance of the award is that it would also recognise His Majesty's efforts in promoting human rights at the local, regional and international levels. (Continued)

Hmmm... nice idea. But I think there is a more pressing need for a BD30,000 fine to be imposed on the individual/organization that has done the most to violate human rights in Bahrain. Since there are so many perfect candidates for this, maybe we could give out several such awards several times a year, until all those who deserve the recognition for their hard work (yes, torture isn't an easy job) get recognized. Maybe throw in a bunch of prison sentences for the outstanding candidates.

Time to get back to reality...

Quiz Time 28

2005-01-15T14:17:00.000+03:00

Today's question is:

How do judges in Bahrain feel today about themselves after ensuring that justice is being met in Bahrain's court systems as we are all seeing in Ahmed's case?

Are they happier men now that Ahmed has been behind bars for eight months while some of them are busy sipping Chivas Regal on the rocks and putting their grubby hands up little girls' skirts?

Are they achieveing justice in their double standards and by denying young Bahrainis the chance to stand a just and fair trial just because they don't belong to certain families and are not in the "in group"?

Update on Ahmed's Case

2005-01-15T13:55:00.000+03:00

Ahmed's situation is a case study for how corrupt Bahrain's court system is.

Ahmed was due to appear in court today.

Ahmed, who has been held in custody since he was kidnapped from outside his Muharraq house by the Ministry of Interior on May 7, 2004, was not taken by his captors to court.

Again Ahmed was denied what little justice the court system offers in Bahrain.

Again the honourable judge adjourned the case until February 27, 2005.

Again Ahmed's life is on hold and is at the mercy of corrupt officials in a corrupt country.

Again, no reason has been given as to why such atrocities are being committed against a young Bahraini man who has not been put on trial yet.

I wonder what rotating useless ministers in a dysfunctional cabinet in a corrupt kingdom could do to ensure that people are treated with justice in the Magical Kingdom of Bahrain.

Quiz Time 27

2005-01-14T16:30:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

What has happened to the Bahrain Human Rights Society's probe into the Adliya Prison dilemma?

Why have they not announced anything yet?

What has made them go all quiet?

Why are they in business at all?

Whose human rights are they fighting for exactly if they don't have the stomach to stand up against the corrupt Ministry of Interior and the more corrupt Ministry of INJUSTICE?

bhrs@bhrs.org

Quiz Time 26

2005-01-13T09:20:00.000+03:00

Today's question is:

What are the "irregularities" the Honorable MPs were planning to question Minister of Justice Jawad Al Arrayedh about?

What happens when the Respectable Jawad Al Arrayedh is no longer Minister of Justice after the Honorable MPs little vacation in February?

What did our lame newspapers do to question the issue and push for answers? Or is the role of a newspaper limited to .... (hehehe) ?!

Why do people with influence get away with murder in a country which claims it upholds justice and then leaves the matter in the hands of a few mercenaries, without any checks or system of accountability?

(cross-reference Quiz Time 21)

Quiz Time 25

2005-01-12T18:59:00.000+03:00

Today's question is:

Do the Bahraini authorities have any shame at all? Are they really Bahrainis? Are they proud of their long list of achievements - which include punishing, torturing and tormenting endless numbers of Bahrainis for a single reason - that they are Bahraini and won't stoop to their low and demeaning levels?

Don't they get embarrassed when they meet foreign dignitaries and all that they have to flex their muscles for is the fact that they have denied their citizens justice and left them to rot in jail just because they don't have the right "connections" ?

How many members of the elite are in jail today for smoking dope in Bahrain ? Even the ones doing HEROIN are out, enjoying freedom and luring other unwitting youngsters into their webs and making the circle wider. Why aren't they punished too?

Quiz Time 24

2005-01-11T10:50:00.000+03:00

Today's questions are:

If the speculations are correct, what can a former Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture do if and when he is appointed as Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs?

Will he be able to name and shame those involved in the malpractises seen and experienced in the unjust Ministry of Justice of his predecesors?

Will he have the power to stamp out all the corruption?

Will he have the Political Will to set things right in his Ministry?

Quiz Time 23

2005-01-10T10:01:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Rumours circulating in Bahrain say there is an imminent cabinet reshuffle. Among the changes will be merging the ministries of Justice and Islamic Affairs together - AGAIN!

How will this serve an already corrupt and backward justice system?

How will it serve the likes of Ahmed, who have been rotting in cells - sometimes in solitary confinement - for months with no access to a just and fair trial and under arbitrary conditions, which are sometimes parallel to those the Afghan fighters are being held in the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison?

Quiz Time 22

2005-01-09T15:42:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Given the current political situation, will those people standing up for justice be persecuted by the corrupt officials in power? Will those who cover up for the corrupt officials' atrocities and crimes be rewarded in return? You see, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I have just realised the pun in this formula today.

Quiz Time 21

2005-01-08T09:13:00.000+03:00

Boy! Oh Boy!

Just as I was almost about to run out of questions a Bahraini newspaper slaps me with this on the face on its front page today.

I am so excited I can't even sit back and flip through the other papers while I have my coffee.

The snippet in today's Gulf Daily News is:

"MPs may quiz minister

MANAMA: Justice Minister Jawad Al Arrayed may face questioning in parliament over allegations of mismanagement, sources said yesterday.

The Al Menbar Al Watani bloc of MPs have compiled a list of irregularities which they plan to submit to parliament after its February vacation, they said.

The National Audit Court has already found several financial and administration irregularities in the ministry's departments, they added."

Bingo!

Today's question is : What can a useless helpless parliament do to revamp the corrupt rat infested justice system in Bahrain? Why hasn't parliament considered for once to discuss the atrocities being committed by the system against people (citizens and especially foreigners who are bundled up and sent back to their countries), before they are even put on a just and fair trial? What have our honourable MPs got to lose if they stand up like men - for just once in their lives - and call a spade a spade? Why can't they stand up against corrupt authorities?

Quiz Time 20

2005-01-07T18:57:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Will Ahmed know his way around Bahrain or be able to pick up the shreds if ever he leaves his dungeon? Eight months behind bars with no charges and access to a fair and just trial? Would the powers that have held him for so long with no human rights like to taste the same medicine?

Vote of Thanks!

2005-01-06T18:56:00.000+03:00

Thank you Mahmood, Chanad, Sume, Hawk Eyes and last but not least Destiny for your support to Ahmed's plight.

Your prayers and good will means a lot to all those concerned. They mean the world to Ahmed and his suffering family.

For those who don't know what I am talking about, here is what those "freedom fighters" have posted on their blogs regarding Ahmed's condition.

Mahmood, on www.mahmood.tv, wrote:

"Winds of Change Tue, 04 Jan 2005 11:52:32

A few things I have noticed recently in the local papers, particularly Al-Wasat, which is filling me with anticipation and hope that the reforms train is not stopping and has now gathered enough public momentum that it can't even be derailed without dire consequences:

1. There are open cries to bring corruptors to book, naming and shaming those who have been exposed as is the case of the former head of the Housing Bank.

2. There is open encouragement to participate in the 2006 elections, rather than boycott. An interview with a leading Shi'ite cleric in Lebanon who has immense following in Bahrain stopped short of issuing a Fatwa for Bahrainis to participate and vote in the forthcoming elections, warning them that all they have achieved by boycotting the parliamentary elections is just being sidelined by the establishment.

This was followed today by Dhiya' Al-Mousawi's direct plea to participate in the forthcoming elections as well as Mansour Al-Jamri's editorial piece urging the same and warning of the ineffectiveness of "hot air" by the boycotters.Unfortunately, both Al-Mousawi and Al-Jamri seem to have fallen from grace with the populace, most of whom are Wefaq members or sympathisers who have mounted immense besmirching campaigns against the two journalists.

3. Another reporter is encouraging people to just start writing letters of objection directly to any particular minister if they have an issue with his ministry, even the prime minister. He (Abbas Busafwan) was furtive in his suggestion however.. you can almost visualise him ducking as he's ending his column!

These are excellent and healthy signs. We have not seen this before, at least not encouraging citizens to write their complaints on an individual level, rather than collective petitions which have proven to be too sensitive and bitter for the government to swallow. Objecting as an individual is more personal and I bet will have much more force.

We can start sharpening our pencils immediately by demanding that justice be served in the various aspects of Bahrain.

a) We can demand that the case against the former head of the Housing Bank proceeds through the courts and if convicted should be stripped of his wealth and imprisoned. We can write to the Minister of Works and Housing for this issue.

b) We can write to the president of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee MP Ahmed Behzad to demand that justice to be served by immediately releasing all non-violent prisoners from the Adliya prison on bail, and they be presented to a speedy trial. Further, put in place mechanism that ensures quick and just trials are the norm, rather than the exception. I see no reason why not write to the Minister of the Interior as well on the same issue. "

Bahraini Chanad, on http://www.chanadbahraini.blogspot.com, wrote on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 the following:

"Free Ahmed (and fix the judiciary)

If you haven't checked it out already, please visit the Free Ahmed Blog. Ahmed was arrested in May of this year on drug related charges. It has been seven months since his arrest, but he still has not faced a trial or been released on bail.

On the 12th of December, Ahmed and 63 other prisoners in similar situations commenced a hunger strike demanding either an immediate trial for their cases, or that they be released on bail until then. (To read news reports, click here).

In the new democratic era of Bahrain, the judiciary is the institution that is most in need of an overhaul. No one has any faith in our judges, if one is luck enough to get a trial that is.

Like the 64 prisoners on hunger strike, there are also hundreds of other maids and expat labourers who have been abused, but get no justice because it takes so long to get a trial that no one bothers (read this).

Ask Mahmood, and he will tell you about how it is a waste of time going to the courts for a fair verdict about a business related conflict, so instead most people will take a loss and settle out of court.

I'm not sure exactly what we should be doing to fix the problem, but it's important that we continue discussing the issue. Hopefully this will pave the way towards formulating a plan to bring about change."

And last but not least, Sume whose sharp and witty observations can be found on http://www.ethnicallyincorrect.blogspot.com/, wrote on Monday, January 03, 2005:

"Ahmad who?

The story of Ahmad was brought to my attention by some commenters on a couple of my posts.

Out of curiosity, I went googling to find out more about who this person was and his situation. Of course, first, I followed the link to the Free Ahmad Blog and found more information on the situation. I found a post on Chan'ad's blog also, but I wanted to know more. I spent an hour googling, but came up pretty much empty after searching for "free ahmad". I found lots of Ahmads. There was The Free Ahmad Batebi Petition in Iran, Free Ahmad Saadat of Palestine, Free Ahmad Nelson in the U.S. but no Free Ahmad of Bahrain.

Who is this Ahmad?

An open letter on the blog says: In May 2004, Ahmed (born September 20, 1976) was arrested in drug-related charges.Ahmed was literally "kidnapped" by the authorities from the doorsteps of his Muharraq home at 10pm, on Friday, May 7.He was "snatched" by the Bahraini CID forces as he returned from shopping with his heavily-pregnant wife, and his four-year-old son. He was whisked off in a police car and another CID official took his car. His wife did not know what had happened to him. His family only knew he was in custody after THREE days from his arrest. He was not given access to a lawyer or the right to make a phone call. I don't know if those things happen in television only or whether they apply to real life.He was taken to the CID headquarters in Adliya, Manama, after his arrest and remains there until today.He was taken to court a few weeks after his arrest. The Public Prosecutor says that the case is still under investigation and the court adjourns every hearing for another 45 days.Today (December 11), his family again went through the agonizing wait for justice. Ahmed was due to appear in court. Again the hearing was adjourned until January 15. This time, no reason was given.

Justice delayed is indeed justice denied.

I cannot help but shed a little bit of light on Ahmed:
He had a stable job for the last 10 years (10 years - with the same company day in and day out) And now he doesn't have this job anymore.
He has not been involved in any criminal cases.His police file was clean.
He was about to embark on his master's degree programme.
He is a loving father, and he has still not seen his newborn daughter.
He has nothing left now.

I don't know much else other than the little information I was able to find on the blog and in a few newspaper articles which are also posted on the blog.

I'm just an outsider in a country halfway around the globe, but what brings this story home for me are the hundreds of people swept up after 9/11.

People just started disappearing and we still don't know what happened to many of them. Lives were destroyed, families were devastated, there was no due process and no one even knew who many of these people were.

Many people lost trust in our justice system and our government as civil rights were whittled away.

This is about justice and human rights. They should be universal for every person. Everyone should have the right to due process and decent treatment while they're in custody. Innocent until proven guilty, remember?

What I find even more sad is that I can't even get a google hit on this Ahmad. Imagine being in a situation like this and very few people knowing about it. Imagine being in a situation like this in a country that not many people know about, at least in this area of the globe.

This is changing as Bahrain gets more international attention which is a good thing for many reasons.

Personally, I look forward to the day when people stop telling me not to go to Bahrain, because the Saudis treat their women like crap.Yes, I know Bahrain is a country all by itself and not in Saudi Arabia, but there are people who don't. I hadn't even heard of it a few months ago. Since that time, I've done as much research as my brain would allow.

Bahrain seems to be having growing some growing pains. I wouldn't expect it to go from a monarchy to a democracy overnight. There's so many kinks to work out.

What I find encouraging is that we've heard about Ahmad at all.

That might not have been the case not too long ago. Bahrainis have a voice and they're using it.

I hope everyone is listening.Please check out the Free Ahmad Blog and let them know their voices are being heard."

Bless you all.

Quiz Time 19

2005-01-06T14:21:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Since there seems to be a "breakthrough" in the situation of Bahrain's SIX detainees at Guantanamo Bay, will the authorities look with compassion at the detainees being held without access to a fair and just trial on its own soil? Afterall, those in glasshouses should never throw others with stones.

What do people with any sense of decency and respect to human rights have to say about the appalling conditions in which Ahmed has been held in since May 7?

Will there be a breakthrough in his situation as well? Will human rights societies rally for his cause as well?

Will the Ministry of Interior which is sending a team to Guantanamo look at itself long and deep in the mirror to see how they are treating their own citizens and why they are denying them justice?

Can the authorities there stand up and ask themselves: Mirror Mirror on the Wall, who's the cruelest of them all?

Quiz Time 18

2005-01-05T15:15:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: In two days, Ahmed will celebrate eight months behind bars without access to a fair and just trial, if there is anything as such in the magical Kingdom of Bahrain. How is Ahmed and his family taking this ordeal? Do they have any faith left in the system? How will they celebrate? How will they mark this milestone? What do we tell Ahmed's eight-month-old daughter who doesn't smile? What do we tell his son, who sings the national anthem off by heart? That his nation and its topsy turvy system, which discriminates against his father, has no respect for human rights?

Light a candle

2005-01-04T17:43:00.000+03:00

Let all justice/god loving & respecting people in Bahrain - light a candle and place at their gate/door in till Ahmed and other innocent victims of the tyranny are free.

This battle can be won.

Quiz Time 17

2005-01-04T13:28:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: With the Minister of Interior and many many top ministry officials away today to attend some sort of meeting in Tunisia, will Bahrain be a case of: when the cat's away, the mice will play? Just wondering!

Quiz Time 16

2005-01-03T11:35:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: How successful would petitioning the MPs be to ensure that the Adliya prisoners who are being held indefinitely without trial are given access to a fair and just trial? Will the MPs take up the matter and stand against injustice? What can the MPs really do? Will they have the power to summon the Public Prosecutor, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Interior and demand answers from them?

Quiz Time 15

2005-01-02T13:36:00.000+03:00

Today's question is simple: How many criminals are there outside prison in Bahrain? What are the authorities doing to ensure that justice is being met and that they are punished? What is being done to the officers and authourities covering up for them? Will they ever see justice? Or is "justice" just reserved to people of a particular class and background?

Quiz Time 14

2005-01-01T14:52:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Why are the authorities holding Ahmed ransom? What do they want from him? Why has he been imprisoned with no access to a fair trial for so long? What do his captors achieve by ruining his life and future in one go? Why are others let off the hook so freely? Why do the authorities turn a blind eye to all the crimes being committed in Bahrain by people with influence and power? What does it take for one to be above the law?

Petition to Nuwab and Shura

2005-01-01T10:52:00.000+03:00

Click On these buttons to Email your petition

Quiz Time 13

2004-12-31T11:00:00.000+03:00

Today's question is a long long one:
How will Ahmed celebrate New Year's Eve? Where will he be? Sitting on his bunker bed in a roomful of heroin addicts or pacing up and down a trench-like corridor in his insect-infected smelly dirty cell? How will he reflect on his achievements over the year, eight months of which have been wasted in a cell waiting for access to a fair and just trial? What will his New Year's resolutions be? He was afterall framed for a crime he had nothing to do with. What will he feel towards a nation which has condemned him before allowing him to defend himself or say the truth? What has his two-week hunger-strike achieved? What difference does it make in a country where people stand up for human rights and justice just to promote themselves and score brownie points with or against the government? Why has Ahmed, who has had no previous offences, been singled out? What has he done to his captors?
Let's flip the coin now: Where will the drug cartels of Bahrain be? How will they celebrate their New Year? Will they sum up their achievements in terms of all the fallen men and women they have destroyed or will they sit back and count their money and spoils? Won't they be sitting face to face with the authorities protecting them popping bottles of bubbly, enjoying all that a corrupt system allows them to bask in? Will they be laughing at the misery of Ahmed and his family and the fact that they have tarnished the reputation of Bahrain, even in the eyes of its very loyal subjects? Those loyal idiots who should have known the truth from the beginning. Those stupid people who should have taken the law into their hands and shown some pussy power and got the rotting bastard out of his cell before it was too late.
What is a little indignity compared to Ahmed's plight since May 7, 2004?

Is the King listening?

2004-12-31T08:22:00.000+03:00

2004 is almost gone, 2005 is almost here
Do we all hear the chimes of Freedom?
Why blame it all on the passing year
Or hope on the year which is almost here
When nations and people suffer
Under systems, regimes and rulers
Who are driven by greed for profits and Power
When the right hand chops off the left
And when the innocent seek justice in this life
How meaningful is a heavenly justice?
Heaven and Hell can wait forever
There has to be justice in here
In my country, in yours and in theirs
In this land we live, share and care...
When her kids are hungry and crying
Does a mother wait for any divine intervention?
There are people who are responsible for other lives
We all are responsible to one another - in many ways
Ahmed and many other prisoners seek justice
The King is responsible cause he can see
He is the father of the nation cause he can feel
There should be tears in his eyes, heaviness in his heart
When many of his sons are suffering in his own jails
Is the King listening to the heartbeat of his children?

When a citizen says that the country in which he lives in has no justice, decency or shame... it is an indictment on the state of affairs of the government/state/regime - and importantly of the hegemony a system holds over a people.

A people is only ready for responsible democracy when they start practising democratic values it in their personal lives.

Isn't Bahrain a nation torn between the extremes? For that matter most of the middle east is, ain't that so?

Justice is not something the government can give you on a silver platter. It is something that belongs to you - and one you must hold on to - and fight for - always.

A question: Is JUSTICE being done to girls and women in the present Bahraini society? Do they have equal rights - as it ought to be in a democracy? When mothers and sisters are denied justice in their own families... how to expect a nation to be Just?

The feudal state of mind of the Arabs have to change; only then, justice and decency is possible.

One thing I have noticed is - there are many Bahraini men who marry blue-eyed blondes.

Anonymous, Justine, SillyBahrainiGirl and others, here is a question to you:

Do Bahraini women have the freedom (like what men have) to marry a foreigner of their choice and faith and all that?

Charity doth begin at home, so does culture, decency and democracy.

It is not a Happy New Year for anyone.

History is going to judge the King - not for his riches or for filling up the sea - history will be kind to him - if he is kind towards his subjects.

The King/ruler has to be the protector - not the destroyer.

Is the King listening?

Justice

2004-12-30T14:12:00.000+03:00

"Let me tell you what justice is. Justice is the law. And the law is man's feeble attempt to lay down the principles of decency. "
--- Judge Leonard White (The Bonfire of the Vanities)

For whom the bell tolls...

2004-12-30T11:56:00.000+03:00

GDN reports on 29th Dec 2004

Police officer jailed

MANAMA: A former police officer was yesterday sentenced to 14 years and seven months in jail for issuing dud cheques worth more than BD2 million. The First Lower Criminal Court indicted him on 14 counts of dud cheques issued to separate individuals. It then issued verdicts ranging between six months, one year and two years in prison.

Back in October 2004, this was reported by GDN

A senior ex-police officer appeared in court accused of cheating investors of nearly BD100,000 in a gold scam. He fled abroad and was eventually arrested by Interpol and brought back to Bahrain.

Quiz Time 12

2004-12-30T11:51:00.000+03:00

Today's question is:
What do the authorities do to police officers and CID officers who break the law? Are they also punished? Or are their crimes covered up? Are they protected by the law perhaps? Or is it OK for the authorities to allow such forces to be part of the system and play a role in it to keep the population in check? You can't offer the same playing field to the oppressor and oppressed, can you?

Ahmed's Greetings!

2004-12-30T10:43:00.000+03:00

Ahmed is clueless.

Ahmed doesn't know what has happened outside the cage he has been locked in since May 7, 2004, awaiting the Day of Judgement.

Ahmed doesn't know what has happened and how nature rebelled against the injustice of mankind in a spate of anger on Sunday, December 26, 2004.

Ahmed doesn't know what happened when a wall of water crushed the hopes and aspirations and dreams of millions of people from Thailand to Chennai.

And Ahmed truely is disorientated. We thought it was best if Ahmed did not remember the date. We thought it was better if Ahmed was hit hard on the head, hard enough to make him suffer from amnesia.

But Ahmed remembered. Ahmed remembered it was New Year's and sent a message through family who were allowed to visit him in his cage wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

What New Year?

How can anyone, any Bahraini, any human being, hold his head up high and usher in a New Year knowing that there is someone loved and dear to all is languishing in prison because of a failed and corrupt system?

My heart goes out to you. My tears will not dry until you are out and all those responsible for the ordeal you have been through are locked up like animals in cages. This is a personal crusade and all those who want to be on the side of right and justice can join the band wagon. Otherwise, I will fight this war alone.

This is all I want for New Year and for 2005 and beyond.

I want justice. I want blood. Like Hind, I want to hold Hamza's liver with my very own hands and eat it. And I don't want to hear anything from you animal lovers, because seriously...just seriously... I don't give a toss anymore.

Anyway, I don't want to get carried on.. I have a message, the message of the caged Ahmed, who wishes you all a Happy New Year.

MPs on fact-finding mission to Jaw prison

2004-12-29T11:55:00.000+03:00

This appeared in Bahrain's Gulf Daily News today.

MPs seeking to visit Jaw prison
By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

A GROUP of MPs is seeking permission to visit Jaw prison, to investigate claims of mistreatment of prisoners. The Islamic Bloc has submitted the request to parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who will contact Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.

Bloc president Ali Al Samahiji said that the visit, if approved, would be the first of a series to meet with prisoners and talk with them about the way they are being treated.

"We only want to check on them and ask about their conditions and if they needed anything," he told the GDN yesterday.

"In the end, they are human beings with needs and requirements as anyone else, whether they were in prison or not," he said.

Mr Al Samahiji, who is also parliament's legislative and legal affairs committee vice-chairman, said that there were many complaints about the way prisoners were being treated.

"We are not accusing anyone and all what we want to know is whether these complaints are right or wrong," he said.

"It would be something good if the Interior Ministry accepts our request, because our visit will clarify many things to us and the public and help improve prisons, because we will be preparing a report and submitting it to the ministry later after the visit."

Quiz Time 11

2004-12-29T10:42:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: The MPs are pressing the Ministry of Interior for a visit to Jaw prison as reported in Bahrain's daily newspapers today. What do they think they will uncover there? Why do they think there is abuse being committed in our great correction facilities? Are they ready to stand up for "criminals" who have been crying for justice and decrying the injust and corrupt law enforcement authorities? Or will they also be bribed and muzzled, in keeping with the true Bahraini tradition of sticking your head in the sand when the going gets tough?

Quiz Time 10

2004-12-28T10:38:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Why are some prisoners treated better than others? Why are some prisoners more equal than others? Why is everything (including a phone call) banned on some prisoners and others are given free access to using the telephone?
Did you know that there are some prisoners in Bahrain who enjoy better status that the legendary Carlos the Jackal had?
I am specifically speaking about one prisoner in Bahrain's Adliya Guantanamo facility who was caught with ONE KILO of hash in his car after a police chase in May. This particular prisoner gets food deliveries in prison, visitation rights and his visitors park right inside the CID headquarters. During Ramadan his cell door was left open, he had access to television and had Iftar with his mother!!!
The prison authorities, the former head of the CID Mohammed Al Nuaimi, the top CID official Farooq Al Maawda and Shaikh Daij bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, all know about the trespasses at the Adliya prison but have done nothing to stop it.
I wonder why...

Quiz Time 9

2004-12-27T09:56:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Why are Bahrainis so timid and weak? Why can't they stand up for their civil rights? Why can't they be united and agree on what is best for them and the future of their children - considering of course that they want to continue living in the ancient land of Dilmun? Why can't they even voice their opinions freely - considering this is a democracy? What are they afraid of exactly? What is making them lose their nerve and their sleep? Just wondering...

Quiz Time 8

2004-12-26T13:19:00.000+03:00

Today's question is:

What credentials do those people employed at the CID, the Pubic Prosector and the Courts of Justice have?
The fact that this is a short question doesn't mean it is a trick question. It is just for you to read it and re-read it and re-read it again.

Candle in the Wind!

2004-12-26T01:39:00.000+03:00

It is raining outside.

It is a cold night.

I really can't go to sleep tonight.

I don't know whether it is the sound of the rain and the wind outside... or are there other sinister forces out there. I don't seem to know anything anymore. It all seems to look, taste and feel the same.

One second sweetie. Let me peep outside. Do I see a police car full of mercenaries? Are they watching me? Is the internet line tapped? Can they see what I am doing now? Can they see me scratching my nose? Now, you retards, can u see me showing you the middle finger?

As I press my face against the window pane, I can feel the chill going up my spine.

Is Ahmed feeling the cold too? Is it damp in his dirty infested cell? Is the worn out towel warm enough for him?

When Ahmed was arrested by the authorities, it was summer. May 7, was a warm and balmy night. It was an annoying night I remember too well.

He was kidnapped from outside his Muharraq flat. He had come back shopping with his wife and son. They were waiting for him outside.They circled him and like a criminal took him away. It was a silent and quick "sting" operation.

His wife didn't even know what had happened. She waited and waited and called and called and called.

Ahmed had disappeared.

She looked downstairs to see where he had gone. Her car, the car they came in from shopping, was there. His car wasn't. Where would he be at this time of the night, the heavily pregnant wife asked herself.

Silence.

There was no answer. She was too worried. Too scared. Too naive. Too Bahraini to think in a rational way and raise the alarm bell.

She waited for three days before telling anyone that Ahmed had been kidnapped. Three days!

Ahmed has been in his cage eversince.

His son asks about him every day. At school, they are now teaching his son the letters in Arabic and English.

A is not for Apple. A is for Ahmed, he tells his teachers and his classmate.

What do we teach this little boy who has to sing the national anthem in the morning assembly every morning?

That his country has no respect for human rights and cares not for you and your longing and your mother and her pain and your grandmother and her misery?

I think the rain has stopped..but I can hear some footsteps outside. Lemme check it out. Hang on there. I will be back.

Lying Scheming Highwaymen !!

2004-12-25T13:44:00.000+03:00

Just as Silly Bahraini Girl had speculated all along.

The hunger-strike prisoners were abused at at hands of their captors and denied access to everything - even medical treatment in some cases.

Now that the hunger-strike is off, they have been allowed access to their families.

The liars at the CID even went as far as to claim that some of those being held without trial at the Adliya prison were not there when their families went to visit them over the past 10 days!!

Where would they have been I would like to challenge the authorities and ask?

Did they take them out for a round of tequilla shots at one of the Mexican restaurants down the road.

In addition to the solitary confinment and the mental torment they got, by knowing that they have no access to the outside world and that their families knew nothing about their conditions and whereabouts, they were put on constant pressure to end the strike as "it would not achieve anything."

True, it did not achieve much. All it did was show the world how shameless those government bodies are.

Many of the inmates needed urgent medical treatment and it was only the intervention of a certain Mr Al Khayat at the Manama Fortress that made the prisoners call off the strike on Wednesday.

It is said that he had promised them the sun and the moon and told them that their cases will be heard in a court of justice in Bahrain (hehehehe!!) soon.

This isn't hearsay. This is the truth. What the CID officials are sending out through their propoganda and their lying and scheming officials is that the "criminals" being held at Bahrain's Guantanamo Bay in Adliya are lying and making all this up!

"How can you trust and believe criminals and not us - men of the law," they lie.

Well those highwaymen better wake up and smell the macboos because everyone can see through their masks. Everyone knows who they are and their impeccable track of human rights abuse smacks you right in the face.

Does His Majesty King Hamad know that all the reforms he has initiated mean nothing in a kingdom still ruled by terror and fear and threats and blackmail and lack of justice and human rights?

Quiz Time 7

2004-12-25T10:08:00.000+03:00

Merry Xmas everyone !

Today's question is: Why does it have to take a show down for the government to take heed of the demands of people? Why do people have to resort to mass demonstrations, loud noise and clamour and violence for the government to understand that the people of Bahrain have had it with double-standards and injustice? Why has the government ignored the plight of the inmates at Bahrain's Guantanamo Bay prison in Adliya, who have been held for months without trial and who are being abused at the hands of their captors? Why did their two-week hunger-strike not raise any eyebrows or questions from the powers that be? Did you know that the Ministry of Interior has lied all along and denied there was a hunger-strike? What are they covering up? Why don't they want to see justice being met? Who are they protecting? A lot of questions for one day?

Defending Criminals?

2004-12-25T01:32:00.000+03:00

It is strange that so-called intellectuals in Bahrain are asking why should anyone defend criminals in speaking about the now former hunger-strike prisoners at Bahrain's Guantanamo Prison facility in Adliya.

I want to make it clear here that we are not defending criminals. We are only defending the right of those people to have access to a fast and just trial in a court of law. Why is it taking forever for those people to be charged and stand trial? What is wrong with our court system?

Also, those people are not only being denied justice. To add insult to injury, they are being subjected to untold horror at the hands of the authorities - the very same people who broke into people's homes in the villages of Bahrain and dragged out their sons and daughters in the mid-1990s putting them in jail just because they belong to a particular sect.

I don't want to make it an ethnic issue here, even though it is to a very large extent. For instance, if Ahmed was from a different sect and a very different ethnic background, then he would have spent a week in custody and then released on bail until he stands on trial. Because it was a first offence and he will promise the judge that he will never touch a joint again in his life, the judge would not only forgive him but perhaps even apologise to him for subjecting him to the indignity of being put in custody with the criminals from the other sect for a week.

This is a human rights issue. This is a case of justice denied. This is the way the judiciary and the police are working to terrorise people and keep the whole country under their thumb.

Wake up people. Who are you to judge whether people are criminals or not and based on who's words. That bunch of convicts at the the CID headquarters who should be put on trial for human rights violations throughout a reign of terror which we stupidly thought was over and behind our backs forever?

Who is the criminal now? A man denied justice or security officials who break human rights and terrorise and threaten people in custody and their families? Why can't our intellectuals confront this fact? Why can't they name and shame those people?

Why does the system continue to support and protect corrupt officials? Why are those officials patted on the back and thanked for their services to Bahrain when all they have done is smeared its reputation and caused horror and misery to its people?

Hunger Strike off

2004-12-24T23:55:00.000+03:00

Hurray to justice in a kingdom which claims it is a democracy and maintains it upholds human rights!

The prisoners who have been held in custody for months awaiting trial have called off their hunger strike. They have bowed to pressure and none of their demands have been met.

They have just realised that there's no point crying for justice in a country which has gone deaf and dumb to human misery. They have just understood that making themselves sick will not bring them justice. They have just got the message that they cannot confront their captors and ask for justice because justice has no place in this country.

They have just woken up to the fact that this is a nation with no conscience and a country with no pride.

Bahrain, its authorities and its people are not ashamed that justice is a long long dream away.

I really do hope I am wrong. I really do wish I will have to bite my words and eat my humble pie. I am really hurt that the country I had so much pride and and much more hope in is being dragged down by a handful of shameless officials, who are the wrong people in the wrong place.

I wouldn't have dreamt in my worst nightmares that I would every dare say something like this about my country and the country of my parents and their parents and their grandparents in my life.

But when things exceed a certain limit and a person's dignity is stripped, then very little else matters.

Good night. Sweet dreams.

Patience...

2004-12-24T21:11:00.000+03:00

Waiting is the most difficult thing a person can suffer: especially when you don't know what injustice and misery will be awaiting you at the other end.

In a country where respect for human life is measured by which social and ethnic background the person waiting comes from, this person has no right to be impatient and ask the legitimate question of: when will I see justice.

Ahmed's family has not be allowed access to its one and only son since December 15. His captors have threatened him and the other inmates that if they continue with their strike, they will be cut off the world.

In another act of terrorism, the CID officials have stopped all visits and banned them from access to the telephone, which some inmates are allowed to and others are not.

The powers that be know about the atrocities being committed and are quiet. I wonder why?

Quiz Time 6

2004-12-24T21:03:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: Why have Bahrain's human rights societies, political societies, MPs, Shura Council members, journalists and people with any conscience and respect for human life shyed away from the plight of the hunger strike prisoners? Why did the intellectuals and law makers of a country which claims it is a democracy not take a closer look at the atrocities being committed by the courts, public prosecution and the CID? What are they afraid of? What are they worried about? Why don't they get all the dead bodies out of the closet? what is wrong with calling a spade a spade? What is wrong with standing up for the basic right of any one arrested on any charges: a fair and swift trial? Are we asking for the impossible?

Quiz 4 & Quiz 5: Bonus Night

2004-12-23T18:51:00.000+03:00

Sorry for the glitch last night. Being a bonus night, you lucky people get two questions tonight!

Quiz four:
In 300 words, describe the role the Press plays in upholding the principals of democracy in Bahrain!!! (Can't help it! Have to use exclamation marks!!)Isn't the Press the legal protector of any democracy? List, with the use of examples, how the Press has helped promote issues of justice and equality since the National Action Charter was given the vote of confidence by the people of Bahrain.

Quiz five:
Why do Bahrainis have no respect for people in uniform: policemen, security guards, officers and even traffic police? Why do Bahrainis have no trust in those people? Why is there no confidence in this important backbone to any society - those very people whose aim is to enhance public order and ensure the security and safety of citizens?

Lies, damn lies and statistics

2004-12-23T11:37:00.000+03:00

In an astonishing report in today’s (23 December 2004), Gulf Daily News (the Bahraini Tabloid which masquerades as a responsible Newspaper) by Abdulrahman Fakhri – “Rights progress in Bahrain is praised”

I quote from the news-report:

“BAHRAIN has been praised in a global report on people's political and civil rights.

It has been praised for elections that meet international standards of ballot secrecy and vote counting, as well as for giving "satisfactory political space and media access for opposition movements".

The praise comes in a global report by the US-based Freedom House, an organisation which tracks political and civil rights around the world.”

After reading through the report – two questions started to haunt me. First, if this journalist Abdulrahman Fakhri really living in Bahrain? To write about the ‘Political and Civil Rights’ in Bahrain – he need not have read through the reports by FreedomHouse. All this gentleman had to do was to see with his own eyes, and hear with his own ears – of what is going around him in Bahrain.

When there is a grave situation in Bahrain – where close to 70 prisoners have gone on a hunger-strike requesting justice – how could a journalist who is worth his salt write a shameful news report based on a report by FreedomHouse.

The second question to cross my mind was, ‘who the heck is this freedomhouse’?

OK, they do have a website – www.freedomhouse.org

I am sure this is the chap who has compiled the report on Bahrain: Gary C. Gambill is the Editor of the Middle East Intelligence Bulletin and a Research Associate at the Middle East Forum. He has written extensively on Lebanese and Syrian politics, authoritarianism in the Arab World, and American foreign policy in the region. He serves as a Middle East analyst for Freedom in the World.

Here is the report on Bahrain:

http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/bahrain.htm

The opening paragraph says

“After taking significant steps to reform its political system in 2001 and 2002, Bahrain pursued the reform process more slowly during 2003, effecting few significant developments on political rights and civil liberties.”

Now, Abdulrahman, that is not any praise at all.

This is the same FreedomHouse who has given USA top billing for guaranteeing democratic, civil and human rights to the inhabitants of that vast patch of land between Canada and Mexico.

The US government is definitely by the people, for the people and of the people. US government waged an illegal war in Iraq – without the approval of the Security Council or the General Assembly (UN). This is the same government, which bugged Hans Blix’s office!

Upholding democracy: The presidential election was a clear example of how corrupt the process of secret ballots and counting is all about in USA.

Civil Rights: Take another read of the Patriot Act

Human Rights: How about the continued violation of basic human rights of the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Gharib prisons…

FreedomHouse gives USA the top price. FreedomHouse’s credibility is ridiculous. From some further reading of their website – this definitely looks like one of those right-wing – neo-con controlled organisation, cause their main activity seems to be checking on religious freedom – which roughly translates as the freedom and access the American Missionaries (fondling fathers to Coke) has in a certain country.

Coke goes well with American Christian values than with a double-shot of Rum. This is X’mas season, and it is good to remember that the Santa Claus we all have come to know of – was designed and created for a Coke campaign in the year 1932!!

Let us get back to Bahrain.

The freedomhouse report on Bahrain says

“Since taking office in 2002, the new government and National Assembly have not pressed forward with any significant steps to reform Bahrain's political system.”

In the 2004 Survey, which Abdulrahman has quoted in his report, I failed to see any mention of Bahrain.

Perhaps GDN has a different access to the freedomhouse reports.

This is the report what I see.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/media/pressrel/122004.htm

Stirrings of Change in the Middle East?

"The 2004 survey data reveal positive, albeit modest, trends in the Middle East and North Africa. While no countries in the region changed status, small gains were registered in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Qatar. Egypt's civil liberties score improved because of greater civic activism, particularly by women's advocacy groups. Jordan's civil liberties score improved due to improvements in women's rights and press freedom. Morocco's civil liberties score increased after the country passed one of the most liberal family codes in the Arab world. And Qatar's score improved as a result of gains in academic freedom. Notably, there were no gains in political rights registered in the Middle East and North Africa."

Not a SINGLE mention about BAHRAIN.

Qatar seems to be scoring more brownie points. Even Jordan wins a few votes of approval. None for Bahrain, I repeat – NONE.

Abdulrahman didn’t even hear about the Al-Khawaja affair, which tarnished Bahrain’s reputation at home and abroad. So much so for a journalist! I wonder what the Editor-in-chief of GDN was up to.

It is when Human Rights are violated that journalists have to stand up and be counted. They have a moral obligation of enlightening the people – of what is going on in their state.

The kind of trash that is hurled at the people through such lies, damn lies and statistics – as produced by Abdulrahman does more harm to the nation than the autocratic regime itself.

Freedom is worth everything to fight for. The likes of Abulrahman and the Editors of English language papers in Bahrain should read a lot more – perhaps read simple words spoken by Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

Here is a question to all Bahrainis and Arabs… Name one Arab who has made a contribution towards Global Peace, Freedom and Democracy in the last 100 years.

This is your chance to be one.

In the meanwhile, I urge you all the readers to send emails to FreedomHouse – alerting them of the real Human/Civil rights situation in Bahrain.

fh@freedomhouse.org
rights@freedomhouse.org

Why the Caged Bird Can't Sing!

2004-12-23T08:53:00.000+03:00

I'm sorry I couldn't post the letter because my Internet connection was down at home last night.

I don't want to say that the authorities had something to do with it, because this would be pushing it a bit. Will post it once my system is up and kicking.

Ahmed has been cut off from the outside world for a week now. Actually, this is Day eight that he has no contact whatsoever with the outside world.

When his family and lawyer went to see him yesterday, they were told they couldn't see him because he wasn't there!! Perhaps his captors took him out for a stroll. Maybe to even do some Christmas shopping? Don't know... but everything is possible with an arbitrary regime which has different measuring sticks for different people of different ethnic backgrounds. Maybe they developed an overnight compassion for a handsome Shia boy, who has a fair complexion, sun-kissed with a little bit of freckles, tall (compared to average Bahraini people), broad-shouldered with golden brown hair which turns golden golden when it grows longer.

Anyway, Ahmed's looks are not the issue here. Let me tell you a little about the cell Ahmed has been in for the last seven months and two weeks - the last could be described as being in solitary confinement.

The cell is small and dirty. Each cell cages four inmates. And the inmates.. Oh! The inmates! Well, hard core junkies, heroin addicts, the works. Some infected with the deadly disease Aids. All share the same cell. There are bunker beds there. Two on either side. A small alley divides them. At the end of the cell, there is a dirty bathroom. Saloon style bathroom, with swinging doors, which can't be closed behind you. So you have no privacy. Not even when you are emptying your tank. This is about the size of the cell.

All in all, there are 16 cells in a row. All full. All with four people awaiting justice in each.

To add insult to injury, the hunger strike prisoners have been locked up in their cells for the past TWO weeks. They haven't been allowed to sit in the sun and cold in an asphalted courtyard, which doesn't even have a shaded area.

Have Amnesty International ever visited this great custody and correction centre which should be listed as Bahrain's new Guantanamo Bay Prison on all tourist maps?

I wonder.

Caged like an Animal!

2004-12-22T15:00:00.000+03:00

Ahmed, whose family has been denied access to him for a week now, has smuggled a letter to his loved ones.

The letter was given to his sisters a few hours ago through the family of another prisoner, who were allowed to see their son today.

The letter, scribbled on the sides of a piece of paper from a magazine, sums up Ahmed's plight.

He says they are being treated in an inhumane way, being denied visits (which we figured out anyway) and being denied making phone calls to their families (which they were allowed on an arbitrary basis before).

Ahmed also says that there is discrimination in the treatment of prisoners... that some prisoners are more equal than other prisoners.

In it he writes: "If we are being held for investigation, the investigation is over. There is no investigation going on .. only human beings caged like animals.
"Who else is listening to our plight other than Allah?"

I just wish this letter doesn't get to his mother. I just wish his wife doesn't get to see it. I am glad his two children are too young to read, too young to see injustice and feel the pain their father is going through at the hands of the authorities who have appointed themselves judge and jury for a man who was too naive and took things at face value.

I will try to scan it, post it and translate it tonight. It really is a shame.

Where are the human rights groups?

Where are all the hypocrites and liars of Bahrain?

Where are the men at this time of grief and need?

I think I should follow Ahmed's advise, and pray to God only. He is the saviour at this hour of need.

Who Are We Kidding?

2004-12-22T10:09:00.000+03:00

Hats off to the Interior Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Department for seizing 350 kilograms of hashish in November.

According to newspaper reports, a gang of six was arrested in the police undercover operation.

What now? Those six will rot in jail and Bahrain’s drug problem will be solved overnight.

Are people stupid enough to believe that there are six people only behind smuggling 350kg of hashish into Bahrain?

Well as far as I know, police don’t need to go undercover in Bahrain to find out where drug dens are, who deals with them and where they come from.

Drug addicts, dealers and peddlers are everywhere.

It was only this year that after three decades of existence that I, yes me, realised that smuggling hashish was punishable by death in Bahrain.

It is so common to hear of people using it and smoking it here that the naïve me thought it was actually sanctioned by the law.

Considering the high number of high-class people I saw smoking the banned narcotic, I would have even been stupid enough to have thought that, perhaps, it was even encouraged by the law.

Who is the Interior Ministry kidding when it claims that it is stepping up the war on drug abuse?

What it really is doing is catching the small fish and leaving the Hamoors unbothered, enjoying lavish lives extracted from the blood of young men and women who have been sacrificed by the system to show that a law is being implemented in some form.

If the Interior Ministry is serious about arresting and punishing drug peddlers and smugglers, then they should catch the drug cartels, those who have made millions by destroying the lives and futures of promising Bahraini men and women.

If the Interior Ministry really wanted to fight drug abuse, then it could start by rehabilitating people who have fallen prey to this habit and treating them for the disease they have contracted because of a handful of mercenaries, who don’t fear God or the authorities and continue to trade in drugs.

If the Interior Ministry doesn’t know where the drug dealers are, then they can give me a call, and I will take them around Bahrain’s neighbourhoods, towns and villages.

They should come around my neighbourhood in Isa Town, for example, and there I can show them the addicts, one by one.

You see them staggering back home and sitting on the pavements, right next to the road, waiting for their next fix.

Why is youth wasted in such a manner and who is responsible for this?

Correct me if I am wrong to say that Bahrain, thanks to its small size, has one of the top security systems in the world.

How did 350kg of drugs enter Bahrain? Who is behind such operations? Why are youth being targeted and who reaps the fruit of all the lost life and suffering those people and their families go through?

I strongly feel that the Interior Ministry is not doing its job properly in fighting crime.

350kg of hashish is no joke.

If a few grammes can land people in jail and destroy their future, you want to tell me that whoever challenged the authorities and smuggled in 350kg was not supported and did not know he would get away with it?

Week

2004-12-21T22:47:00.000+03:00

A week is not a long period of time.
It is only seven days.
It is precisely 168 hours or a total of 10,080 minutes.
Idle minutes.
Petty minutes compared to the heartache families have gone through not knowing what type of terror their children are facing.
A prison is a correction centre.
People are imprisoned as a punishment for breaking the law.
Without law and order, there is chaos and anarchy.
We fully understand and appreciate this role.
But the law enforcement forces should win the trust and respect of the people.
Bahrain's forces have a very very long way to go.

Quiz Time 3

2004-12-21T19:22:00.000+03:00

Today's question is: How many prisoners are really on hunger strike at the CID headquarters in Adliya? Are they still on hunger strike? Why are those boys trying to achieve? What plight are they trying to highlight? Why is the CID and the Public Prosecutor keeping a tight lid on the situation? If those boys are being held in custody awaiting trial and they are just kept at the Adliya prison for "safe-keeping" until their trial dates, why are their captors keeping their families in the dark about their conditions?

Another Wasted Day

2004-12-21T14:31:00.000+03:00

Yes. Today is Day Six for no news whatsoever on the condition of the hunger strike prisoners.

Officials were not reachable.

They are all apparantly busy with the GCC Summit being held in Bahrain to celebrate the triumph and might and unity of the Gulf Co-operation Council. Hurray!

Were Human Rights issues anywhere on their agenda?

Did our leaders sit back and reflect how many of their subjects are being wronged everyday in their countries and kingdoms and federations and states?

Did they spend six sleepless nights worried about the fate of their subjects who are being treated much worse than the animals at Al Areen Wildlife Reserve for endangered Arab species?

The weather has changed. With temperatures dropping to below 10 degrees Celsius, I wonder how those hungry poor souls are faring.

Did I mention before that all they have to cover themselves with at night is worn out towels? Did I say that they are not allowed blankets in their five-star accommodation at Bahrain's Guantanamo Bay prison?

Did I say they are better off having their hunger strike than eating the fodder they feed them on?

Did you know what they do to the food relatives take for them: they empty it all into one big bag (like a trash bag) and give it to them.

When I was younger, we had a farm and there, I could say that our animals were treated in a better way where food was concerned.

They had the alfalfa separately and the other food separately, in different food containers.

We never mixed the dry food with the mushy stuff with the veggies.

Where is French cuisine from the Guantanamo authorities?

When new Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa took over in May, he paid a visit to the Central Prison in Jaw or wherever that other great correction centre is located.

Guess what he announced there? All the local papers had his photograph touring the prison and speaking about upholding human rights!!

Does he have any idea what is happening at the CID Headquarters in Adliya?

I wonder if he would be able to sleep at night, knowing that some mercenaries are undoing all that he has promised the people.

I wonder if he knows what's going on.

Considering that those hunger-strike prisoners haven't even been sentenced yet adds a new proportion to the horror they must be facing.

Hunger Strike Continues

2004-12-21T10:38:00.000+03:00

THE hunger strike continues at Bahrain's Guantanamo Bay at the CID Headquarters in Adliya.

Prisoners who insist on continuing with their hunger strike until they get access to a fair trial, are being left in their cells when they collapse and fall from hunger, thirst and fatigue.

They are then herded like cattle to the medical clinic at the Police Fort in Manama -that House of Horror - which acts like an eye soar in the the middle of town.

What happens there is a complete loss to us, as we have no access to the fortress. It seems that they are treated there and then returned to their cells in Adliya.

The Adliya Prison is closed to all visitors. Family members have had no contact with their imprisoned sons since National Day. The captors refuse to allow visits. No reason is given.

They say visits will resume on Saturday.

Can you tell me what the regime is hiding? What are they covering up? What has happened inside during the four-day holiday? Did they go back to the pre-democracy era tactics and beat them all black and blue?
Are they waiting for the bruises to heal before allowing family to visit?

Or is the situation a lot worse? Has any of them died?

There is no one available to answer those questions. You don't have to take my emotionally charged words to be the truth.

Call the CID headquarters on +973 17718888 and ask them what is going on.

Quiz Time 2

2004-12-21T00:37:00.000+03:00

Yes.. It's Quiz Time again on the Free Ahmed Blog.
Today's question is: Why has the Public Prosecutor denied the families of the hunger strike prisoners visit permits? Also, why have family members with valid permits been denied access to Bahrain's Guantanamo Bay Prison, located at the CID Headquarters in Adliya? What are the Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Interior covering up exactly?

An Open Letter Seeking Justice

2004-12-20T20:48:00.000+03:00

Dear Sir/Madame,

Dignity is the grace of God blessed on each one of us. When people are humiliated and their dignity stripped off by powers that be – it becomes a direct challenge to the will of God.

In the past, a few lucky Bahrainis avoided the violation of their human rights, humiliation and discrimination, by moving from one country to another. Thanks to the new world order, people are no longer free to pack up and leave to where they could live with dignity. Only capital and goods are allowed to move freely, and that is what the Free Trade Agreement with USA delivers to Bahrain.

Deprived of their fundamental human rights and justice, a vast majority of Bahrainis have been forced to live as refugees in their own land.

Back in 2002, The Kingdom of Bahrain decided to change overnight - from a police state to a democracy. To this day, the power structure remains the same; the so-called changes are merely cosmetic in nature to give a face-lift to a decadent power structure.

The people of Bahrain who would have otherwise been empowered in a real democratic state – are even now forced to live in a state of terror and fear. The days of tyranny are not over yet.

The human rights situation in Bahrain continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. When freedom becomes a privilege for an elite few then the whole concept of democracy becomes a farce. Human rights get violated, justice fails to prevail and a nation becomes a prison for its own people.

As a result, most people opt to remain cautious and accept humiliation rather than confront the authorities – the very authorities who ruled with an iron fist under the State Security Law before the dawn of ‘democracy’ in 2002.

How can the people of Bahrain trust in a regime, which has failed to protect them, and has continued to terrorise and violate their rights for decades? Perhaps the powers that be assumed that the dreams of a better tomorrow would bring about a general amnesia among the masses.

The amount of pain, agony, and the sheer feeling of helplessness my family is going through since May 2004 is a testament to the state of affairs in Bahrain. My life along with the lives of my extended family is in a shambles as the justice system in Bahrain refuses to be just.

I come from a middle-class family, which has managed to get away from the grip of the authorities – until recently.

In May 2004, Ahmed (born September 20, 1976) was arrested in drug-related charges.

I will not discuss the merits of the case here or argue whether he is innocent or not because that is up to the Court to decide on – despite my strong reservations on the judiciary system in Bahrain.

It is what has happened since he was arrested up until today that has infuriated me and made every living moment a living hell for my extended family.

Ahmed was literally "kidnapped" by the authorities from the doorsteps of his Muharraq home at 10pm, on Friday, May 7.

He was "snatched" by the Bahraini CID forces as he returned from shopping with his heavily-pregnant wife, and his four-year-old son. He was whisked off in a police car and another CID official took his car. His wife did not know what had happened to him. His family only knew he was in custody after THREE days from his arrest. He was not given access to a lawyer… or the right to make a phone call. I don't know if those things happen in television only or whether they apply to real life.

He was taken to the CID headquarters in Adliya, Manama, after his arrest and remains there until today.

He was taken to court a few weeks after his arrest. The Public Prosecutor says that the case is still under investigation and the court adjourns every hearing for another 45 days.

Today (December 11), his family again went through the agonising wait for justice. Ahmed was due to appear in court. Again the hearing was adjourned until January 15. This time, no reason was given. Justice delayed is indeed justice denied.

I cannot help but shed a little bit of light on Ahmed: he had a stable job for the last 10 years (10 years – with the same company day in and day out)
And now… he doesn’t have this job anymore.
He has not been involved in any criminal cases.
His police file was clean.
He was about to embark on his master's degree programme
He is a loving father, and he has still not seen his newborn daughter.
He has nothing left now.

Ahmed has now gone on a hunger strike. He and almost 70 other human beings who have been held in custody still awaiting a fair and just trial have decided to protest against their long long wait.

Please pray for Ahmed and his family. All we are seeking is justice. Remember that Ahmed is not alone in suffering this grave injustice. Also remember that in Bahrain no one is immune from suffering injustice at the hands of the very authorities meant to protect them and uphold justice.

Ahmed's court case number is: 2004/3889.

A blind judiciary and a deaf government

2004-12-20T20:30:00.000+03:00

The Ministry of Interior in Bahrain continues to terrorise people.

This is a fact. This isn't second-hand information.

This is information based on what I have experienced myself.

I don't want to be specific and relate all that has happened to my family at the hands of officers, who are supposed to respect and uphold the law.

I want to wage a campaign against the legal system. I need your support. I need you to supply me with information and incidents, which could help ensure that the humiliation and terror we have faced will not be repeated again in a kingdom, which counts itself among the free democracies of the free world.

His Majesty King Hamad and the Crown Prince should be made aware of the atrocities committed by the legal and law enforcement system.

He should be made aware of the corrupt legal system, beginning with the lawyers, to the law-enforcement officers, to the public prosecutors to the judges themselves.

I am ready to stand up to the authorities and confront them with this.

It has taken me seven months to collect evidence and ammunition for this battle to confront the undeclared war the authorities have waged against innocent unwitting boys - and I need your support.

There are scores of prisoners being held in custody for long stretches of time without trial.

All those accused are supposed to be treated as innocent unless proven otherwise.

In Bahrain, the situation is different. There is no justice. Not everyone is treated equally.

The poor don't get the same treatment as those with influence. The Shia are not treated with the same measuring stick by the authorities as the others in the kingdom.

The hunger strike scores of prisoners at the CID Headquarters in Adliya have started is just the tip of the iceberg. It is the beginning of a long struggle for freedom and human dignity, which they have been denied just because they come from modest backgrounds.

Can you tell me why someone who has smoked dope OUTSIDE Bahrain should be held in custody for SEVEN months?

I realise that not all 64 prisoners on hunger strike are innocent.

I also know that they shouldn't remain behind bars - unless the Courts (no matter what we think of their impartiality) make a verdict and convicts them for their alleged crimes.
I know for a fact that if they really were the drug cartels, who are smuggling narcotics to Bahrain, they wouldn't be in jail.

They would be in their palaces, enjoying the best of life that their criminal activities can afford them.

People are not blind and deaf and mute. Bahrain is a small country. Everybody knows all that is happening.

Can the Ministries of Interior and Justice explain how their civil servants whose salaries are not enough to purchase toilet rolls are living in palaces, driving expensive cars, spending long holidays with their families abroad, sending their children to private schools, relaxing in yachts over weekends and still managing to finance their whoring, alcoholism and other ILLEGAL activities?

I wonder what will happen if all the judges, law enforcement officers, public prosecution officers, drug law enforcement officers, lawyers and judges, were subjected to blood tests to check whether they have used narcotics?

I want to know if the Ministry of Interior is ready to face the result of this probe and announce it to the public.

If Bahrain wants to treat its people without dignity and strip them of all their civil rights, then it should start looking at the very people who are supposed to enforce the law.

The Ministries of Justice and Interior should start with cleaning their own backyards first.

Five days!

2004-12-20T18:35:00.000+03:00

Yes.. five days.
The results. No news.
Everyone is busy with the Summit.
And the boys and their families have to pay the price.
Hurray. I am more proud of being a Bahraini than ever before.

Yes we are all watching

2004-12-20T09:15:00.000+03:00

Always an honour to join a freedom movement.
Bahrain has a long way to go in becoming a civilized society.
Do these people know what it takes to be civil?

Destiny, you are right. As we read/hear/see too often, 'We people' have to bear the burden of a national shame - just because a handful of Morons are a law unto themselves.

I have read all the News Items published in the newspapers that you have posted in your blog. Has there been one Editorial written against the incompetent authorities?

It is so so so true that there can be no substitute for competence. No faith, love, god, devil can ever substitute for competence. Not even Viagra!

Here is to you Ahmed, Destiny and all people in this world who seek and want to live in an environment of justice and fairness - HawkEyes' words shall remain as sharp as his claws and beak - in your effort to make this world a better place to live for the weak.

Violence breeds only violence.

Mahatma's thoughts do have the power to ignite a bloodless revolution: "There is only one sovereign remedy, namely, nonviolent non-cooperation. Whether we advertise the fact or not, the moment we cease to support the government it dies a nature death."

Quiz Time 1

2004-12-19T22:28:00.000+03:00

Introducing a nightly quiz on the Free Ahmed Blog from tonight.

The winner should answer all questions correctly to claim a prize.

The quiz will continue for as long as there is injustice and atrocitities being committed against the Bahraini Aborigines (natives).

Tonight's question is: How many judges in Bahrain's courts drive under the influence of alcohol? Has anyone of them ever been caught? Can they be charged? Are they above the law? Do they undergo alcohol testing? Do they pass judgements and sentences over violating drivers?

Thank you.

Four Exhausting Days and Sleepless Nights

2004-12-19T22:01:00.000+03:00

Four exhausting days and sleepless nights is what the families of the hunger strike prisoners have gone through while Bahrain celebrates its National Day.

I want to make it clear that I am not supporting criminals here. Yes, many people would say that those people committed drug-related crimes. I agree, many of them have.

People are asking me why am I taking this crusade personally. I just can't keep quiet for longer. I know that there is grave injustice being committed and the least we can do is document it.

Those people are awaiting trial in gross inhumane conditions. They are being treated like criminals before they have even been convicted. They are being punished before a sentence has been passed on them at the court of the law. Their families are being made to suffer.

How can you explain a mother whose son have been held by the authorities for this long awaiting justice that it is a "normal procedure"?

What do you tell a child asking to see his father?

Nine months to wait for a trial?

Is this just at a time Bahrain shows the whole world that it is a democracy?

When will the judiciary system be reformed?

This incident is the tip of the iceberg.

For those prisoners to defy the very authorities who are holding them captive just to terrorise them and show them that they are still in control of people's fates, is an act of bravey.

I salute each and every one of them -- even the criminals amongst them. Because even those who have committed crimes deserve a fair trial.

What do the rational people out there think? Please tell me for I can't see light at the end of this tunnel.

Terrorism Continues

2004-12-19T13:25:00.000+03:00

There is no news.

As Bahrain celebrates its National Day, hundreds of Bahrainis are locked outside the CID headquarters in Adliya, Manama, worried sick about the fate of their sons.

The four-day holiday (Thursday to Sunday) has meant that there is no news from inside.

As far as the families know, the hunger strike had continued.

As far as we know, the terrorism against those Bahrainis will go on until a political decision is made.

They show the new face of the type of terror exerted by the authorities on the people.

People may not be thrown in jail for their politicial opinions anymore (except for Khawajah), but the war on the Bahraini Aborigines continues.

Are those 75 on hunger strike awaiting justice all criminals?

Have they been subjected to a fair trial?

Are they the only ones involved in Bahrain's roaring drug business?

Hope the government and other people of Bahrain celebrated National Day. Best wishes Bahrain for a prosperous future in which people are treated with humanity and justice and equality and all the other empty words that have a meaning in a dictionary only.

Media Coverage of the Hunger strike in Bahrain Jail - Dec 14-15

2004-12-15T22:12:00.000+03:00

Here is a collection of News Items that appeared in Newspapers in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Prosecutors meet jail hunger strikers
Gulf Daily News

By ROBERT SMITH

MANAMA

PROSECUTORS visited hunger-striking prisoners yesterday, to investigate alleged delays in getting their cases through the courts.
Meanwhile, relatives demonstrated outside the Justice Ministry, in Manama, to call for their cases to be speeded up.
Three more inmates are understood to have been taken to hospital after collapsing from not eating, sources told the GDN.

Prisoners being held at the Criminal Investigation Directorate, in Adliya, have reportedly refused food for almost a week in protest at alleged delays in the justice system.

Some of them have reportedly been in custody for up to nine months, with their cases being repeatedly adjourned by the courts.

Around 50 of their relatives gathered outside the courts yesterday to demand swift action for the men - five of whom are now said to have required medical treatment.

Around 75 inmates are on hunger strike, say relatives.

They claim the strikers are now being made to take cold showers, denied outdoor exercise, threatened with no family visits and refused phone calls.

Public Prosecution officials visited the cells on Monday to hear the inmates' complaints, according to a spokesman.

He said none had complained about being mistreated and any delay in being given medical treatment, as alleged by some realtives.

Technical reports relating to their cases are being forwarded to the Public Prosecution to investigate allegations of unreasonable delays, he said.

"Three or four public prosecutors went there, spoke to the inmates, saw their conditions and heard their complaints and demands - if there were any," the spokesman told the GDN.

"Technical reports are being immediately presented to the Public Prosecution by authorities." He added that hold-ups in completing technical reports - from laboratories or other departments - could be the reason why some of the men have not been released from custody while their case is being investigated.

Evidence

"Sometimes the Public Prosecution decides to put a person in detention while it evaluates the evidence against them," said the spokesman.

"We have to be sure, depending on the technical reports.

"The period of some inmates being in detention depends on the evidence and technical reports.

"Prosecutors tend to demand from the labs - and other places the reports come from - that they are done quickly to shorten the period of detention."

Bahrain human rights activists are now intervening on behalf of the prisoners and have expressed concern over their health and the length of their detention without conviction.

The Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) wrote to authorities on Sunday requesting access to the inmates and hopes to be granted a visit today.

Meanwhile, senior officials from the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) say they are forwarding prisoners' complaints to international human rights organisations.

"We have asked for details about each case and will prepare a report to send to international organisations such as Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch and the United Nations (UN)," said Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, who was at yesterday's demonstration.

"This is not a new problem. It is a failure in the system. The problem is not that the system is slow - it is that prisoners cannot be held for so long without charge."

Those sentiments were echoed by lawyer and Bahrain Society for Public Freedom and Democracy Watch president Ali Al Arrayedh.

"The Public Prosecution here is dealing with accused people as though they are guilty from the beginning," he said.

"They can detain people for 45 days and the courts renew this automatically because there is too much paperwork to assess each case.

"This is bad for the defendants and their families because even if they are found to be innocent they may have lost their jobs.

"They may be held for five or six months, but there is no compensation if they are found not guilty."

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Hunger strike duo taken to hospital

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=98802&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=27269

By ROBERT SMITH

AT least two prisoners were reportedly taken to hospital yesterday after collapsing while on hunger strike. Jalal Ali Jassim and a second man, known only as Emad, are understood to have been transferred to a medical facility at the Police Fort, Manama.

Prisoners have been on hunger strike for the past five days and are now being denied access to hot water, phone calls and outdoor exercise, according to their relatives.

Authorities have threatened that visits to the prison may also be suspended if they continue with the strike, one family member told the GDN.

It is now claimed that up to 75 prisoners at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), in Adliya, are taking part in the hunger strike.

However, Interior Ministry officials earlier put the number at 35. The strike is being staged in protest at alleged delays in the Bahrain justice system - with some inmates spending up to nine months in the cells waiting to be dealt with by the courts.

Their relatives are planning to demonstrate outside the Justice Ministry, in the Diplomatic Area, today in protest.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) wrote to authorities yesterday requesting immediate access to the prisoners.

It wants to investigate the conditions in which they are being held, the health of the prisoners and whether they are being denied their rights to a proper trial.

"I went to visit my brother yesterday, but he could barely talk," said one relative, whose brother is taking part in the hunger strike. "He told me the two other prisoners had been taken to hospital.

"He also said they are not being allowed to make calls and are being forced to take cold showers - even in this cold weather."

He was arrested last month for alleged possession of drugs, but his brother claims he is innocent.

The brother asked that they not be named in print.

Four other inmates - arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking - have been in custody for ninemonths and still have verdicts pending in their case.

Five arrested in another drug-related case are still waiting to be dealt with after seven months in custody.

One of the hunger strikers is Hani Ayyad, who was arrested nine months ago.
"I saw him yesterday and he said people are tired," his brother Adel Ayyad told the GDN. "They can't use the phone and they can't go outside."

Human rights activists want to visit as soon as possible. "We sent a letter on Sunday requesting a visit and we are waiting for a response," said BHRS member Abdulla Alderazi.

"Hopefully we will get one today.

"We want to go in there before the National Day holiday starts on Thursday." Calls to Interior Ministry officials yesterday were not returned.
On Sunday, the Public Prosecution said the prisoners were awaiting rulings from the Bahraini courts.

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Prisoners’ Families Protest in Bahrain Mazen Mahdi
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=56081&d=15&m=12&y=2004
•Arab News

MANAMA, 15 December 2004 — The families of dozens of prisoners who began a hunger strike on Saturday in protest at their long detention without trial protested at the Ministry of Justice yesterday. The protest was made as a letter to the minister of justice with the prisoners’ demands was leaked to the media.

Family members said the number of prisoners on hunger strike had risen from 64 to 75. The Ministry of the Interior earlier denied that a strike was in progress but then later admitted that 35 prisoners were involved.

The protesters were joined by human rights activists from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), which was dissolved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in September. Officials of the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) continue efforts to obtain a visitation permit for a
delegation, including a doctor to visit the prisoners and see the conditions they are being kept in.

Relatives of the inmates — some of whom have been in jail for nine months without being charged — allege that at least two of the prisoners have collapsed due to exhaustion. They also allege that officials at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) ignored pleas for help for nearly five hours before finally taking the inmates to a medical facility. One family member said: “They also took away the prisoners’ daily one-hour outdoor exercise rights in addition to barring them from making phone calls or smoking. They also denied the prisoners access to hot water for showers.”

The leaked letter said that the prisoners wanted those among them who are “sick” to be separated from the others. According to family members, “sick” refers to those suffering from AIDS and other contagious life-threatening diseases. The letter, written by 32-year-old Abdul Aziz Abbas, a father of three who has been in jail more than eight months awaiting trial, alleged inhumane treatment by jailers, a lack of basic rights, a lack of medical care and a lack of proper food.

BCHR member Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja said: “This situation exposes a malfunction in the system when people can be arrested and detained for months without being charged. The public prosecutor has unlimited power to renew detentions but this power should only be used in special circumstances instead of all the time.”

Al-Khawaja added that in accordance with international standards, the prisoners should have been charged within the first 24 to 48 hours or released. The head of the legal committee, lawyer Muhammad Al-Mutawa, said the BHRS had filed a request to meet with the prisoners yesterday and were still awaiting a response from the public prosecutor. No one from the public prosecutor’s office was available yesterday despite repeated efforts to contact officials there.

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DETAINEE DESCRIBES JAIL CONDITIONS IN LETTER
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=98803&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=27269
MANAMA

A FATHER of one of the inmates on hunger strike received a letter from his son yesterday, describing conditions inside the cells. The letter was written by father-of-three Abdulaziz Abbas, 32, on a piece of paper torn from a magazine.

He was arrested around eight months ago on drugs-related charges.

His father, Abbas Ali, said the court twice ordered for him to be released on BD500 bail.

"His family went to pay the Interior Ministry, but were refused," said Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) member Abdulla Alderazi.

In the letter, Mr Abbas claims that telephone calls and visits are being restricted.

"The law states that the person is not guilty until proven so and the person should not be punished or tortured mentally or physically or in any manner humiliating his dignity," said the letter, which was addressed to Justice Minister Jawad Al Arrayed.

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Families rally for detained relatives
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=143738

By Mazen Mahdi, Special to Gulf News Manama :

The families of prisoners who have been on a hunger strike since Saturday demonstrated outside the Ministry of Justice yesterday. They were protesting their relatives' long detention without trial.

The protesters were joined by human rights activists from the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, which was dissolved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in late September as well as officials from Bahrain Human Rights Society.

The representatives of rights groups said they were trying to obtain a visiting permit so that a delegation, including a doctor, could meet with the prisoners.

The dozens of inmates have also written to the Minister of Justice outlining their demands.

Relatives of the inmates said they are being held on drug-related charges for periods of up to nine months without being charged.

They also said at least two of the inmates have collapsed from exhaustion. Family members said the number of prisoners on hunger strike had increased from 64 to 75.

The Ministry of Interior, who earlier denied a hunger strike was taking place, said only 35 inmates were taking part in the strike.

Rights activist Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja said they would be offering assistance to the families and that their cases would be registered and presented to international organisations to help shed light on their situation.

Human Rights activists seek access to fasting prisoners

2004-12-13T13:40:00.000+03:00

Jail visit plea by rights activists

By ROBERT SMITH
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain

HUMAN rights activists are seeking immediate access to 35 prisoners who have gone on hunger strike to protest at alleged delays in the Bahrain courts.

The Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) wrote to the Public Prosecution yesterday to request a visit.

It is concerned about the health of the inmates, some of whom have been in custody for nine months, while they wait to be dealt with in court.

The BHRS is also investigating whether they are being denied their right to a proper trial, said member Abdulla Alderazi.

"We want to see what their conditions are like and how their health is," he told the GDN yesterday.

"If we get permission a doctor and a lawyer will go with us.

"These men do have cases against them, but they should have the same basic rights to a proper trial.

"We want to check there is no violation of their legal rights."

The prisoners are being held in cells at the Criminal Investigation Directorate, in Adliya.

However, they are complaining because of the long duration of some cases in which verdicts are still pending.

On Saturday, the courts further adjourned two drug-related trials, until January 15.

One of the cases has reportedly been going on for nine months and the other for seven.

Mr Alderazi said it could take a few days to a week to arrange a visit if permission is granted.

"Normally the Interior Ministry or Public Prosecution responds to us - sometimes by telephone," he said.

"But from our experience if we don't have an official letter, they won't let us in.

"We will wait for their response to our letter and arrange a visit, but these people have been on hunger strike for a few days already so we want to step up the pressure."

Meanwhile, a Public Prosecution spokesman said yesterday that it was not responsible for any delays in the cases.

"There has not been any report of prisoners detained by the public prosecution awaiting trial going on hunger strike," said the spokesman.

"The prisoners on hunger strike are awaiting a ruling on their cases by the Bahraini courts and it is not up to our office to either speed it up or resolve the issue."

Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Bahrain

2004-12-13T13:37:00.000+03:00

Gulf Daily News, Bahrain

Prisoners fast

THIRTY-FIVE prisoners have gone on hunger strike to protest against alleged delays in Bahrain's courts.

They are understood to be angry because some have been in custody for over nine months without being dealt with in court, said an Interior Ministry spokesman.

"They are refusing to eat in protest against the public prosecution's decision to extend their stay in custody," he said.

Cases involving two groups of prisoners arrested earlier this year for drug-related charges, went back to court yesterday after repeated adjournments.

But both cases were again adjourned until January 15 and the defendants' relatives say there is no end in sight.

One of those on hunger strike, at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), in Adliya, is a 30-year-old Bahraini accused with others of drug smuggling.

His 36-year-old brother met him in court yesterday and said he told him he stopped eating three days ago.

"We are worried. My mother doesn't know. If she did she would cry," he said.

His brother was one of four men arrested nine months ago after they were caught in a boat allegedly being used to smuggle hashish.

He was first detained by Saudi Arabia before being released into the custody of Bahraini authorities.

The father-of-two is demanding to be sentenced or released, at least on bail.

"He wants it to be finished," said his brother.

"They might give him 10 years, but we still don't know what's going to happen."

Five other Bahrainis were back in court yesterday after more than seven months in custody on drug-related charges.

They are among those now staging a hunger-strike after being further remanded in custody until January 15.

"I want justice. I demand a fair trial. I have lost everything since my arrest in May - my job, my family and my children," said a 28-year-old Bahraini.

"I have been rotting in custody for seven months. They should either sentence me or release me on bail until the trial.

"My reputation has been tarnished beyond repair even though the court may find me innocent."

Prisoners staged a similar protest back in August to protest at the long duration of trials.

More than 40 inmates were said then to have gone on hunger strike after a court renewed detention orders against five of them.

They had been arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the country and peddling narcotics.

Bahrain Prisoners on Hunger Strike

2004-12-13T12:51:00.000+03:00

Mazen Mahdi, Arab News

MANAMA, 12 December 2004 - Tens of prisoners being held by Bahraini authorities on drug-related charges went on hunger strike yesterday to demand that they be released or tried. However, the Ministry of Interior denied that they had gone on hunger strike.

A spokesman for the prisoners said that 64 prisoners being held at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) began their strike yesterday noon when they refused to have lunch.

He added that two of the prisoners had begun their strike the day before.

"This is an open strike until they either charge us and put us on trial or shift us to the central prison system," he said.

"The majority of us have been here for months. They take us to appear in front of the public prosecutor and he orders to renew our detention for 45 days without looking into our cases."

The spokesman added that their demands are based on their right for trial as guaranteed by the Bahraini law.

"We need to know what will happen to us," said the spokesman. "They cannot leave us stranded like this with no trial and no release. We are Bahrainis and if they have nothing to charge us with they could release us on bail and ask us to appear in court when they can charge us."

A Ministry of Interior official who wished not to be identified said that the prisoners were being detained in accordance with the law. "They are being held based on orders by the public prosecutor who is reviewing their cases and the ministry is only enforcing the law," he said.

In August, 40 prisoners in the custody of the CID went on hunger strike to protest the continual renewal of the detention of five of them who were being held on drug-related charges.