(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - While the report confirmed that the Alkhalifa regime had adopted systematic torture against Bahrainis, extra-judicial killings and destruction of mosques, the recommendations were taken by USA and UK governments as a benchmark test of the regime’s intention to reform.
On that day, almost everyone who had pinned hope on swift implementation of those recommendations is in a sombre mood, to say the least. The reality is that Alkhalifa allies are now bracing themselves to the aftermath of Bahrain’s hereditary dictatorship. It had a good chance to survive the people’s revolution ordeal, but has chosen not to give an inch of their authority.
The head of the independent commission, the Egyptian-American jurist M. Cherif Bassiouni, told Human Rights Watch that the government’s implementation of the BICI recommendations has been inadequate. “A number of recommendations on accountability were either not implemented or implemented only half-heartedly,” Bassiouni said. “The public prosecution has yet to investigate over 300 cases of alleged torture, some involving deaths in custody, and there has been no investigation, let alone prosecution, for command responsibility, even at the immediate supervisory level, of people killed in custody as a result of torture.”
“You can’t say that justice has been done when calling for Bahrain to be a republic gets you a life sentence and the officer who repeatedly fired on an unarmed man at close range only gets seven years,” Bassiouni said.
As the Day of Ashura gets underway, the country has been transformed into an endless human wave of demonstrations. This is despite the regime’s attempts to criminalise demonstrations and protests, and its warnings to leaders of congregation halls not to allow marches or anti-regime slogans.
Bahrainis have now adopted a policy of civil disobedience, engaging in anything the Alkhalifa bans despite the heavy price they have often to pay. Revolutionary orations, marches, speeches, leaflets, banners can be seen everywhere. On Budayya Road, for example, the youth of Magasha town staged a scouts show indicating their determination to continue the struggle to uproot dictatorship. At a tent erected by revolutionary youth, the family of Ahmad Shams (16 years old boy killed by regime forces last year), declared their intention to continue the struggle until the regime is uprooted and the dictator brought to justice.
On 21st November the Alkhalifa junta sentenced 23 of the medical core to three months prison sentences for treating the injured last year. The aim is to keep these noble doctors on criminal records to tarnish their professional reputation. This is in line with their policy of genocide against the majority Shia Muslim population. Among these medics is Nabeel Tammam who is in Gaza helping the injured Palestinian victims of the recent Israeli aggression.
Another victim of the Alkhalifa policy of silencing opposing voices is Sayyed Kamel Al Hashimi. He was arrested on Sunday 18th November. He was subjected to severe intimidation and maltreatment after being arrested for criticizing the Alkhalifa policies against the majority Shia natives. According to his lawyer, Abdulla Al Shamlawi, Mr Al Hashemi challenged his interrogators insisting on his right to freedom of speech. There is growing fear for his life as the Alkhalifa become increasingly vicious, violent and murderous. Another cleric, Sheikh Ali Al Biladi was arrested on Monday 19th November for expressing his opinion. His torture started the minute he was arrested and his ill-treatment has continued until now.
With intensification of repression, Mr Jawad Al Sheikh, the father of one of the martyrs has been locked in torture cells for insisting on bringing to justice those responsible for the killing of his son. On 31st August 2011 Ali Al Sheikh, 16, was shot dead as he made his way to the mosque on Eid Al Fitr (the day marking the end of the fasting month of Ramdhan). The father has been outspoken, pointing his fingers to the dictator, Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifa, as responsible for the death of Bahrainis as he is the one who issued orders to kill them. The father’s detention has been repeatedly extended. Fathers of other martyrs have been threatened with arrest and torture if they accused senior Alkhalifa figures especially the dictator of killing their children.
/106