Bahrain in 2014: the regime starts the new year with more repression

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Bahraini regime has started 2014 with more violations, repression, intimidation, arrests and systematic sectarian discrimination. All this comes within the repressive security campaign in which the regime of uses both  public funds  and national resources to attack and abuse citizens  in attempt to quell  demands for a democratic  transition in the country.The demands to end dictatorship and to respect the marginalized will of the people of Bahrain have continued since February 14th, 2011. The Bahraini people will continue in their civilized  and peaceful movement for democratic transition in Bahrain  despite the ongoing official repression, oppression and abuse against the majority of the people who are demanding democracy and respect of  human rights.Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society said Bahrain enters the new year with a security crackdown and an escalation of the unrelenting repression by the authority, this is added to a series of violations that have not stopped over nearly three years. This confirms that this authority is unable to live with its people as it refuses to give back the usurped rights of the people through the exercise of right  to participate in the managing of their country’s affairs, Al Wefaq added.Al-Wefaq pointed out that Bahrain had faced  many condemnations from the international community and human rights organizations over the past period, adding, it is thus imperative for the international community to push for a political solution to end the current repressive approach.Throughout 2013, Bahrain was repeatedly condemned and called on to respect human rights and respond to the aspirations of its people. President Barack Obama lined Bahrain with Iraq and Syria in sectarian tensions. Also in 2013, 47  states issued a joint-statement urging Bahrain to protect human rights and stop the ongoing violations and implement the recommendations of the Bassiouni report. The British Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons also stressed its concerns  over the situation in Bahrain. The Economist’s  report, issued in April 2013, ranked Bahrain as one of the worst countries in the democracy index and considered it an authoritarian state. While the Freedom House report classified Bahrain as a non-free state  putting it under the lowest levels of classification.The UN’s OHCHR, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First andother international, regional and local organizations issued many   frightening reports about Bahrain’s deteriorating human rights situation. While Reporters Without Borders classified Bahrain under the dangerous countries.Al-Wefaq pointed out that the awareness of the people of Bahrain surpasses the regime’s. The people are civilized and are seeking a true democratic system to rule their country in place of  the current tribal rule. The people consider this demand more than necessary to for stability and coexistence to make Bahrain among the stable and free countries in the world.Al-Wefaq added,  ”The regime has put Bahrain among the most violating-states of human rights by its resort to killings, oppression, bloodshed, revenge and arrest of thousands of citizens and the perusing of others. This is added to the suspension from jobs and the ongoing house raids. The regime is turning the country into military barracks where nonstop violations are practiced with impunity./129