BAHRAIN ARRESTED: Tagi al-Maidan, a U.S. citizen of Bahraini descent, pictured last year in the town of Budaiya in northwest . REUTERS/FAMILY HANDOUT

The case of a U.S. citizen jailed amid popular protests against Bahrain’s government highlights the ethical challenges Washington faces in region In Bahrain, a U.S. prisoner’s dilemma

By Yara Bayoumy DUBAI, AUGUST 12, 2013

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mina al-Maidan was asleep in her family’s apartment in the Gulf Astate of Bahrain last October when masked policemen arrived at about 2am searching for her son, Tagi. “They didn’t show me any papers or arrest warrants,” said Maidan, a Shi’ite Muslim who lives in the village of Sanabis. “They didn’t know what he was wanted for. It all happened so fast. I was thinking is this real or not. Am I dreaming?” The police woke Tagi al-Maidan with a kick. “Get up! Come with us!” one officer shouted. The young man was blindfolded, cuffed and driven to an undisclosed location where, he says, he was ordered to stand on one leg for four hours. He says he was beat- CIVIL UNREST: A man runs for cover after a petrol bomb explodes at a protest in Bahrain last year. en repeatedly as threats were made to rape REUTERS/HAMAD I MOHAMMED his mother and sisters until he confessed, falsely he says, to attending a memorial for a dead protester and throwing a stone at a After four hours of strand of Islam. About 60 percent of the burning police vehicle. interrogation … I signed papers population – Bahrainis disagree on the exact His alleged crimes, according to the even though I had no idea what figure - are Shi’ites. They want constitutional government, include damaging a police had been written on them reform and more power and, inspired by the car and attempted murder during a dis- Arab Spring revolutions, began protesting in turbance related to Shi’ite demands for Tagi al-Maidan the capital, , in Feb. 2011. change in Bahrain, a country long ruled by U.S. national jailed in Bahrain The government cracked down force- its Sunni Muslim minority. If convicted, he fully on the unrest then. But more than two could face 15 years in jail. Referring to human rights and security years on, and with “national dialogue” talks Bahrain denies allegations of torture in in the Gulf, a U.S. Congressional report taking place, lower-level unrest persists, the incident. Still, Maidan’s case is similar last year said: “Bahrain in particular pres- with further anti-government protests ex- to those of some other Shi’ite Bahraini ents Washington with a difficult policy pected in the next few days. youths whom local and international rights challenge.” A cat-and-mouse game takes place groups say have been arbitrarily arrested Bahrain has been ruled since 1783 by the across the patchwork of Shi’ite villages and jailed since 2011 for alleged offences Al-Khalifa family, which follows the Sunni every night. Youths block roads, security against Bahrain’s security forces. But it dif- forces move in, and the two trade volleys fers in one crucial respect: Maidan is an of Molotov cocktails, tear gas and birdshot. American national. Arrests, arbitrary or otherwise, fuel more His predicament throws a spotlight anger among the disenfranchised youth. on the complex relationship between the Hundreds of people have been seized United States and the small Gulf nation of this year during night-time raids, according 1.25 million citizens, around half of whom to Human Rights Watch; they include ac- are expatriates. Bahrain is a U.S. ally in a vol- tivists “who have made credible allegations atile region and has long provided a base for of torture that are consistent with previ- the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet; but at the same CRACKDOWN: Police detain an unidentified ous instances of documented torture,” said it faces criticism over its record on human anti-government demonstrator in Bahrain in Nicholas McGeehan, a Gulf researcher at rights which the United States champions. 2012. REUTERS/AHMED JADALLAH Human Rights Watch.

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Impact of the Arab Spring Algeria Syria Bahrain Unrest started in 2011. Protests against President Protests began in February 2011 with Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president Bashar al Assad began in 2011, Shi’ite majority seeking reform from since 1999, remains in power civil war continues ruling Sunni Al-Khalifa monarchy

Algiers Tunis

IRAQ Tripoli Manama LEBANON Damascus

KUWAIT Cairo JORDAN BAHRAIN The U.S. Fi h Fleet is based SAUDI in the capital, ARABIA Manama BAHRAIN

Tunisia Libya Egypt President Zine el Colonel Muammar President Hosni 5 miles Abidine Ben Ali Gaddafi killed Mubarak ousted toppled January 2011 October 2011 February 2011 5 km Source: Reuters

Bahrain rejects such allegations. When A U.S. State Department official said could not attend a state university and asked to comment about Maidan’s account the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain has been pro- private colleges were too expensive. He of his treatment, the office of the Bahraini viding “appropriate consular services” to applied several times for work at the U.S. government’s spokeswoman told Reuters Maidan. The family says a designated con- embassy and at the naval base, which hosts in a statement that it has a “zero-tolerance” sular officer has seen Maidan several times thousands of U.S. personnel, but was not policy towards torture. and has attended his court hearings. offered anything. Critics accuse the United States of The State Department official said Instead he undertook a number of odd downplaying human rights abuses in Washington has emphasised the impor- jobs, including working at a petrol station Bahrain because of its military and secu- tance of Bahrain’s commitment to “trans- and setting up internet connections for a rity interest there. The dilemma is similar parent judicial proceedings in accordance telecoms company. to that in Egypt, where annual U.S. aid of with universal human rights and due The family has stayed away from the $1.3 billion to Egypt’s armed forces sits process.” protests of the past two years, according to uncomfortably with the military’s recent Amina. That includes a memorial service “SECRET SOURCES” overthrow of the democratically-elected that took place on October 5, 2012, for a Islamist President Mohamed Mursi. Maidan was born in Connecticut in the Shi’ite man who had been jailed after the In jail since October, Maidan answered United States in 1988 where his Saudi fa- Feb. 2011 uprising and later died in hos- questions posed to him by Reuters through ther studied for a Masters degree in public pital. The memorial march turned violent his family and a family friend, who deliv- health at Yale University. His mother is a and police used water cannon and teargas ered a transcript of his answers. He denies Bahraini, but because Maidan was born on to disperse protesters. One water cannon the charges against him; and he, his fam- American soil he is a U.S. national. vehicle caught fire when protesters threw ily and a U.S. based advocacy group that His parents divorced a few years later petrol bombs and stones. supports say and Amina returned with her children to Maidan says he was not at the march but Washington has done little to help him. Bahrain. Maidan, with only a U.S. passport, at home, an assertion supported by his close

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friend, Hussein Traif, who says he asked Maidan to pick him up from the memo- rial procession, but that Maidan said he did not want to leave home while the situation was tense. Less than two days later, the police came for Maidan. The Bahraini government says he was involved in “setting a police vehicle ablaze (at the memorial service) while the policemen were still inside and then proceeded to attack the policemen on the ground resulting in the injury of three officers.” The government say the crimes threat- ened Bahrain’s national security, and Maidan faces charges of attempted murder, inten- tionally setting ablaze a police vehicle, dam- aging a police car, illegal gathering and pos- session of explosives. According to a Bahrain Public Prosecution document, a security officer said his proof Maidan attended the memorial service stems from eight “secret sources” that have not been disclosed. Maidan and his mother say he was forced to confess to being at the event. BIRTH RIGHT: Tagi al-Maidan pictured as a baby with his mother and a friend in Connecticut; “After four hours of interrogation I con- as a five-year-old; and in his passport photograph. By being born in Connecticut Maidan was fessed to everything, I signed papers even automatically a U.S. citizen. REUTERS/FAMILY HANDOUTS though I had no idea what had been writ- ten on them,” Maidan told Reuters through his family. “Out of fear of more beatings, The U.S. State Department official said: known as the Bassiouni Report, said arrests I urinated on myself, and they forced me “The consular section has continued to be in the wake of riots showed a pattern of be- after signing to speak in front of a camera in contact with the relevant Government haviour “designed to inspire terror in the ar- after making me memorise what to say.” of Bahrain authorities, and has repeat- rested persons.” The report said authorities The Bahraini government said in a state- edly emphasised to the (government) that had used widespread and excessive force, ment that its “secret sources” form only part Mr. Al Maidan should receive appropriate including torture to extract confessions. of the evidence against Maidan, and that medical care and food to meet his particu- The Bahraini government says it has “all interrogations and interviews take place lar health needs.” taken steps to address the problems by dis- in a designated room that is fitted with au- The Bahraini government told Reuters missing those responsible and introducing dio and video recording equipment.” that Maidan receives proper care while in cameras at police stations. Soon after Maidan was taken away, prison, including health care. Despite U.S. Congressional criticism of his mother contacted the U.S. embassy in alleged abuses, Washington has approved MISSED OPPORTUNITY Bahrain for help, partly because she was some military sales to Bahrain. A U.S. State concerned about her son’s medical condition. After the initial uprising, in which at least Department fact sheet dated Aug. 28, 2012, Maidan has stomach ulcers and suffers from 35 people were killed, Bahrain’s government stated that military sales to Bahrain since scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine. commissioned the prominent Egyptian- 2000 have totalled $1.4 billion. His mother says requests for specialist medi- American jurist Cherif Bassiouni to lead A former U.S. government official said cal treatment have been denied; Reuters was an independent inquiry into the violence. the fact that the U.S. signed a military unable to verify that claim. His report, published in Nov. 2011 and Text continues on page 6

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PERSISTENT PROTESTS: A woman gives a victory salute amid a sea of national flags as members of Bahrain’s Shi’ite majority demonstrate against the Sunni-dominated government in 2012. Below right, a protester confronts a policeman in 2011. Below left, riot police, seen through the grill of a police vehicle, during anti-government protests in the village of Diraz in April 2013. REUTERS/HAMAD I MOHAMMED

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package last year tended to communicate “Tamarrod” (Rebel) youths, who have “business as usual.” He added: “That was taken inspiration from a similar protest perhaps a missed opportunity where the movement in Egypt that led to the military United States could have applied some overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed subtle pressure to get the (Bahraini) mon- Mursi last month, have called for anti-gov- archy more responsive.” ernment protests in Bahrain on Aug. 14. Kenneth Katzman, a ex- Authorities have warned that anyone pert at the Congressional Research Service joining the demonstrations would face the and author of a paper on Bahrain published force of law and have toughened penal- in April, told Reuters the United States is ties against what they consider “terrorist “basically ... on the side of the government, crimes,” in moves Human Rights Watch of the regime” and that U.S. officials do not has said would effectively create “a new think the Shi’ite majority have the right to state of emergency”. topple the government or call for their de- Meanwhile, Maidan said the U.S. has mands using violence. not done enough to make it clear he is en- Instead, U.S. officials want a compro- titled to the rights of a U.S. citizen. He told mise so that “there’s no disruption to the Reuters he has lost more than 15 kilograms close security relationship”, said Katzman. while in prison and has occasionally been Another U.S. State Department of- DYNASTIC RULER: A security guard stands in restricted to drinking one bottle of water a ficial praised Bahrain’s King Hamad for front of a portrait of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin day. “The embassy has not shown everyone showing “significant leadership” in initiat- Isa al-Khalifa. Members of the al-Khalifa family the legal rights I have and the fact that I’m ing the Bassiouni commission and noted have ruled the country since 1783. REUTERS/ innocent until proven guilty and should that Crown Prince Salman, seen as a figure HAMAD I MOHAMMED have all rights,” he said. with a more reformist mindset, had been The Bahraini government told Reuters appointed Bahrain’s First Deputy Prime that Maidan “enjoys all privileges, rights Minister. The move signalled Bahrain’s of nuclear development. Iran says it is for and care that all the inmates receive with- commitment to a “long-term reform pro- peaceful purposes, the West suspects it is to out any exception.” A verdict in his case is gramme,” said the official. develop weapons. Amid such tensions, the expected in September. But so far talks between the Shi’ite op- U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain is a position and the government have made vital asset. Additional reporting by William Maclean in little progress. Mutual distrust has stymied On a patrol with anti-riot forces in Dubai and Lesley Wroughton in Washington any breakthrough. On one side, the Shi’ite Bahrain earlier this year, Reuters journal- opposition insist on a representative of the ists witnessed a snapshot of the near-daily Editing By Richard Woods and king being present at the talks; on the other, clashes that continue to rock the streets. Simon Robinson the government continues to push the mes- Police drove along main thoroughfares sage that Iran, a majority Shi’ite nation, and clearing roadblocks set up by angry Shi’ite Hezbollah, the Shi’ite Islamist group based youths. While police tackled barricades and in Lebanon, are fomenting the unrest in burning tyres, youths often hurled insults Bahrain. and petrol bombs. The police responded FOR MORE INFORMATION The opposition, Iran and Hezbollah with teargas. On other occasions they have Yara Bayoumy, Senior Correspondent, Gulf deny that charge. The Bassiouni Report did sometimes used birdshot. [email protected] not find any discernible link between Iran Recently, youths have targeted police Richard Woods, Senior Editor, Enterprise and the protests of early 2011. patrols, and there have been attacks on a and Investigations, EMEA Nevertheless, Washington and London Bahraini lawmaker’s house as well as on a [email protected] view Bahrain partly through the prism mosque in a district where many members Michael Williams, Global Enterprise Editor of Iran, which is pursuing a programme of Bahrain’s royal family live. [email protected]

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