Bahrain Regime’s raid on Al Wefaq offices and destroying the Revolution Museum to be filed to UN experts

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Sayed Hadi al-Musawi, Head of Liberties and Human Rights Department (LHRD) in al-Wefaq National Islamic Society said that the regime forces in Bahrain had raided on Wednesday a political society surrounding it for more than 9 hours. He mentioned that the forces were not accompanied by a representative of the society, adding, this violation will be filed to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, assembly and civil society groups. Al Musawi also mentioned that the forces have confiscated the items displayed in the museum, some of which were belongings of victims killed in the crackdown on protests. Other property, like laptops, was confiscated by the Public Prosecution which described them as “crime tools”.Al Musawi said, “The Revolution Museum is an artistic exhibition that simulates violations documented in a report Bahrain Authority had pledged to implement the recommendations of”, referring to the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI). “The BICI report was issued after flagrant crimes were perpetrated and the king had received it in November 2011”Addressing the Public Prosecution Office, the MoI and all officials who say the Revolution Museum calls for incitement, al Musawi asked, “Which is stronger, the real crime or its simulation?”He mentioned that the Prosecution Office asked him to encourage victims to file their complaints there. “How can we encourage the victims to file complaints after all this? The whole world has seen the marks of torture on prisoners’ bodies, the use of violence against protesters and the demolished mosques. The museum is not inciting anything, a lot more is found on YouTube”.On the details of the raid he said, “This building was raided Wednesday without a legal warrant. The officers said we had not responded to them. I had received the summon at 12:30 pm but they raided the place before I went to the police station”.Al Musawi mentioned that even Al Wefaq’s lawyer was prevented from entering the building while the forces were inside. “The raid of al Wefaq’s offices was a violation and we will add this to the list of violations”.Majeed Milad, member of Al Wefaq’s Secteriat, also spoke at the press conference. Milad said all surveillance cameras in the building were covered at the start of the raid and journalists weren’t allowed to reach the place.“We, in Al Wefaq strongly denounce this raid. This peaceful event exhibited the history of Bahrain and the violations that had been documented by the BICI report, chaired by international law expert Cherif Bassiouni”, he said.Milad also mentioned that the items that belonged to the martyrs and that were displayed in the museum have been confiscated by the regime forces.“The raid of Al Wefaq’s building makes us more convinced that Bahrain needs transition to democracy. Why is force used against peaceful activism? “The regime must be balanced in dealing with peaceful activism in Bahrain”. ”I think the other reason they raided the museum for is the fact that images spoke the revolution over the three past years. Yet, images are the strongest in revealing the violations perpetrated by the regime and this is why many photographers were arrested”, Milad added./129