Bahrain; Anti-Israel protests call for an end of naturalization with Zionists

The people of Bahrain responded angrily to the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla last week. In addition to the articles, sermons at Friday prayers and statements, the people participated in marches against the Israeli aggression. On Friday, thousands of Bahrainis took part in processions in various parts of the country, especially the one that started from the Duraz roundabout, and was headed by religious scholars and political figures. The ruling family was furious at the public expression of anger against the Zionist state, fearing a backlash from the Israeli advisors at the ministry of the interior, some of whom have passports of European countries. There have been strong calls for an immediate halt to the normalization of relations between the ruling family and the Zionist officials, and the activation of the Boycott Office that was closed down three years ago by a decree from the ruler.

The Bahraini natives have always made comparisons between the ruling Al Khalifa regime and the occupiers of Palestine. In recent weeks, the ruling family has increased its hostility towards the expression of opinion in the open and has sought various means to stop this. The most worrying development has been the legalization of the use of lethal weapons against peaceful demonstrators calling for an end to the dictatorship, torture and repression. Activists have now started an international campaign against the use of shotguns against people taking part in peaceful protests. They have urged the youth to highlight the plight of the victims of these weapons of their Facebook Twitter, websites and other blogs. They have always urged natives to send news to the international news organizations to shed light on the plight of the natives who are being dominated by naturalized foreigners who have been granted Bahraini IDs and Passports by royal decrees. The various bodies created by the ruling family to enhance its reputation have become either dormant or mouthpieces of the repressive regime. Those who have refused to be exploited to serve the hereditary dictatorship have been severely and unjustly persecuted.

Meanwhile, the Americans friends of Bahraini natives have organized a protest at the gates of the Al Khalifa embassy in Washington. On Friday 4th June, scores of Bahrainis and their friends picketed the embassy as it received guests to a reception organized for the Anti Discrimination Committee, a US-based body whose aim is to combat discrimination. Officials of this body have been informed that holding their reception at the Al Khalifa embassy had given the wrong impression to others. The US Foreign Ministry has repeatedly recorded anti-Shia Muslim discrimination by the ruling Al Khalifa family as a routine policy and urged the regime to change its policies. Upon learning the extent of discrimination, the ADC officials expressed regret at their decision to attend the function at the Al Khalifa embassy as it would give the wrong impression about the aims and nature of their organization. It is illogical to combat discrimination, on religious or racial grounds, using the tools of those who exercise discrimination as a systematic policy. The guests of the reception have been informed of the extent of human rights abuses in Bahrain, and the whole meeting became a focal point for debating the political, human and cultural crisis in the small enclave of Bahrain that is gradually threatening to become a regional crisis.

The ongoing strife in the country has continued unabated in the past two weeks. The youth of Sitra, Al Dair and Karzakkan have continued their struggle against the Al Khalifa dictatorship demanding an immediate end to the ordeal of those who have been taken hostages by the regime on the backdrop of allegations that they had participated in a an anti-Al Khalifa demonstration that led to the violence against the security forces. These moves are intended to cover up the international outcry against the regime for using banned weapons and tools of repression as they sought to cripple the popular movement and end the strife. The demonstrators raised their demands for freedom and democracy and urged the international community to make a stand against this unique form of despotism.

Bahrain Freedom Movement