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Al-Wefaq Leader Reiterates Non-Violent Approach • U.S

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Al-Wefaq Leader Reiterates Non-Violent Approach • U.S Bahrain Weekly – November 29: Sentences for Amal Leaders Reduced; Al-Wefaq Leader Reiterates Non- Violent Approach Headlines • Sentences for Amal Leaders Reduced • Al-Wefaq Leader Reiterates Non-Violent Approach • U.S. Officials Fear Fragmentation if Reforms Continue to Lag • Lawyer Interrogated about Torture Comments Updates from Bahrain Amal Society Members’ Sentences Reduced, One Acquitted: Several members of Amal Society, a party that was dissolved by the Bahraini government in June 2012, had their sentences reduced in a trial held on November 28. Ali Al Mahfoud, Jassim Al Dimistani, Sayed Mahdi Hadi, and Talal Al Jamri had their sentences decreased from ten to five years. Yasser Ebrahim, Idris Al Ekri, Ali Mashallah, Jaffer Hassan, and Mohammed Abdullah, who were initially sentenced to five years, were released for time served after having their terms reduced to a range of one to twelve months. Protesters Clash with Security Forces near Former Pearl Roundabout: Security forces clashed with a group of protesters marching towards the demolished Pearl Roundabout, the epicenter of the initial demonstrations of February 2011. Witnesses said hundreds were marching towards the former roundabout from the village of Deih when police fired tear gas and stun grenades into the crowd. The Interior Ministry described the protesters as a “group of vandals” who had “blocked the road, hurled petrol bombs, and terrified passers-by.” The violence reportedly spilled into neighboring Shi’a areas and resulted in at least one arrest. Earlier the opposition party al-Wefaq criticized what they called an attack on a religious process in Nuwaidrat. Photographs showed huge clouds of tear gas dispersing crowds and riot police patrolling the area. Al-Wefaq Speech Repeats Calls for Non-Violence: On the eve of Ashoura, al-Wefaq General Secretary Ali Salman gave a speech in which he again called for the opposition movement to be one of non-violence, even in the face of escalated attacks and discriminatory policies from the government. In the speech, Salman described the movement as working in “the direction of democracy and political reform” through “the right to choose [its] government and parliament with a fair judiciary, where all Bahrainis will enjoy security and stability.” GCC Condemns Bahraini Opposition: According to the state news agency, ministers from the Joint Defense Council condemned acts of violence by the Bahraini opposition and discussed the option of joint military and defense action. This came as GCC ambassadors praised the country’s recent humanitarian projects including facilities for refugees from Syria. Additionally, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation cheered the “efforts by the government in Bahrain to strengthen the reform process” and expressed optimism that this process could lead to national reconciliation. return to top Analysis & Commentary Bahraini Rights Leaders Recognized for Global Thinking: Foreign Policy included four prominent Bahraini human rights activists in its list of the “Top 100 Global Thinkers 2012”: Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and Nabeel Rajab, co-founders of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, and Abdulhadi’s two daughters, Zainab al-Khawaja and Maryam al-Khawaja. Rajab and Abdulhadi al-Khawaja are currently imprisoned, the latter having undertaken a long hunger strike to bring attention to the cause of Bahraini democracy earlier this year. Warnings of Further Fragmentation: Quoting a U.S. government official, Roy Gutman wrote that Bahraini society “could break apart” if current patterns of violence continue. In a briefing set to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the BICI report, two State Department officials discussed the situation in Bahrain and criticized recent decisions by the government of Bahrain to ban protests and strip citizenship from prominent human rights activists. The officials said that the United States has to balance its strategic interests with its interests in encouraging substantial reform. Further Calls for Increased U.S. Pressure: Following her trip to Washington, Bahraini medic Fatima Haji encouraged the United States to “think big and act fast to avoid another disaster in the region.” Haji was among dozens of Bahraini medical personnel arrested in the spring of 2011 for treating and supporting injured opposition protesters. After months of torture and a preliminary five-year jail sentence, Haji was aquitted and released in June 2012. Haji met with lawmakers and government officials during her time in Washington, urging the U.S. to support peaceful protesters and make aid to the Bahraini government contingent on human rights reforms. Brian Dooley of Human Rights First concurred, arguing that the U.S. “should consider recalibrating its relationship with Bahrain, offering more open support for civil society and those pressing for human rights reform inside the country.” return to top International and Bahraini Rights Organizations Event Focuses on the Lack of Human Rights Reforms in Bahrain: Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain held an event in Washington titled Human Rights in Bahrain: Assessing Progress on the One-Year Anniversary of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report. U.S. Representative Keith Ellison said that the government of Bahrain has not lived up to its commitments under the BICI report and that the United States has not been active enough in encouraging reform. Brian Dooley of Human Rights First noted that the situation is much worse now than it was a year ago, citing the severity of violence and the recent banning of protests. Mohammad al-Tajer, a lawyer from Bahrain, described his experiences representing individuals who have been detained for their political activities. Human Rights Lawyer Detained and Interrogated: The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expressed serious concern about the case of human rights lawyer Manar Maki. Maki is defending Adnan al-Mansi, a protester who has reportedly been subjected to torture and sexual harassment while in prison. The public prosecutor summoned and interrogated Maki in connection with an interview on the Alalam channel earlier this month in which Maki described the torture that her client has suffered. return to top .
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