Bahraini Rayaheen campaign reveals shocking violations against women

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Rayaheen campaign was launched in Bahrain to shed light on the regime’s violations against women after a series of arrests. The campaign was launched by the Women Affairs Department in Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society on Wednesday 8th October. The Department started the campaign with a solidarity event with the detained women, where it announced the title “Rayaheen” which means Basils in Arabic and refers to every female who had been subjected to the regime’s humiliation, assault, arrest and killing.The Women Affairs Department mentioned that three women are still behind bars in Bahrain. Rayhana Al Musawi, Nafeesa Al Asfour and Zainab Al Khawaja are all prisoners of conscience who expressed their opinions peacefully but were surprised with the false accusations of terrorism they are facing.Women in Bahrain have been subjected to the ugliest types of violations in comparison with other countries of the Arab Spring, like Tunisia and Egypt. However, the Bahraini women continue to join their people in their struggle for democracy despite the outrageous violations practiced against them by the regime.The campaign revealed that more than 250 women were arrested since the beginning of the revolution in February 2011. This is besides 30 other women who have been killed by the regime’s repression, in addition to 9 unborn children and 3 infants.The campaign mentioned that according to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, chaired by international law expert Cherif Bassiouni, that 9 women were arrested from checkpoints, 12 from streets, 72 from work, 23 arrested during home raids, 65 were summoned, and 20 were arrested in other ways. While the number of arrested female medics reached 58.It also revealed that 66 females were interrogated while blindfolded and 72 females were not allowed to see their interrogation documents. It mentioned that 65 females were beaten and 28 were threatened so they sign on false confessions, 27 were coerced into signing using other methods.In connection with suspension from jobs and educational seats taken against females in Bahrain, the campaign revealed that 120 were suspended and denied education, 308 were dismissed from jobs, 186 from the Health Ministry and 92 from the Education Ministry.Many women were taken in collective arrests from work. Some female students were forced to assault and insult their teachers inside prison. The detained females were even forced to humiliate themselves and say things against their religious beliefs. Most of the females who were arrested said they were verbally abused for their religion and background and were bullied that they do not belong to this country.The campaign also revealed that a number of females mentioned they were threatened with rape, either directly or indirectly, including the two “Rayaheen” Nafeesa Al Asfoor and Rayhana Al Musawi.It talked about the methods of torture practiced against detained females in Bahrain. Those methods included standing for prolonged periods of time, handcuffs, beatings with hoses and hitting heads on walls. They are also threaded that their educational or career future will be destroyed and they are denied food, bathroom and prayer for long hours./129