Authoritarianism in Bahrain 2011-2021 SALAM FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS SALAM For Democracy And Human Rights
[email protected] www.salam-dhr.org Tele:+447427375335 4 Decade of Oppression Authoritarianism in Bahrain, 2011-2021 SALAM FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS 5 Table of Contents Executive Summary 7 Methodology 7 Acronyms 8 Introduction 9 A Short History of Bahrain 10 Tribal Affiliations and the State 10 Bahrain’s Colonial Legacy: Designing a Sectarian Police State 12 Post-Independence Sectarianism and Modern Suzerainty 14 Unrest: A History of Uprisings and Crackdowns 16 The 2011 Uprising and the BICI Report 18 Chronology of the 2011 Uprising 18 The BICI Report: Findings and Shortcomings 23 BICI Recommendations: Failure to Reform 25 Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly 33 Freedom of Expression 34 Freedom of Peaceful Assembly 42 Freedom of Association 45 Segregation and Political Oppression 47 Sectarian Policies & Policing 48 Foreign Security Forces and “Docile Labour” 52 “Reform” and the Rentier State 56 Torture and Ill-treatment 58 Systemic Torture, Mistreatment and Its Overseers 59 Mass Incarceration and Prison Conditions 65 Enforced Disappearances 66 Isolation, Deprivation, De-humanisation and Neglect 68 The Death Penalty 70 Ending Moratorium 71 Death Penalty for Political Crimes 73 A Broken Judiciary System 77 Arbitrary Revocation of Nationality 80 6 A Brief Historical Background 81 Legislation on the Revocation of Nationality 81 Arbitrary Revocation of Nationality Since 2011 84 Salam DHR statistics on the Revocation of Nationality in Bahrain: 88 Violations of International Law 89 Effects of the Revocation of Nationality on the Victims 91 The Case of Ibrahim Karimi 92 The Case of Masaud M.