Bahraini Authorities stepping up in targeting Shiite citizens
Bahrain- 2009-01-03
Bahraini Authorities stepping up in targeting Shiite citizens
Bahrain- 2009-01-03
In an escalation undermining the right to practice religious freedoms of Shiites in Bahrain, a large number of the Special Security Force, overwhelmingly staffed with non-Bahraini tribal Sunnis, besieged yesterday evening Al-Sadiq mosque in Al-Ghofool area in the capital, Manama, preventing Shiite citizens from praying behind Hasan Mushaima – the default Imam of the mosque for evening prayers every Saturday. The security Special Force prevented the mosque care-taker from opening the mosque for the evening prayers, and warned people from coming close the mosque or stay in the area.
This escalation coincided with other security measures constraining the exercise of Shiite their annual rituals in the occasion of Muharram. This include the use of Special Forces to remove black cloths and fabrics, containing slogans and condolences of Shiite figures attributing Imam Husain Bin Ali Bin Abi Taleb, Shiite used to hang on walls of houses and buildings. Al-Hussein Bin Ali, the third Shiite Imam, was killed in Karbala more than 1350 years and since then they commemorate his and his family death. These forces recently triggered a campaign to tear these fabrics, in very antagonistic manner, and confiscate others in of Shiite villages such as Al-Dair, Karzakan, Al-Mussala and Bilad Al-Qadeem.
Nabeel Rajab – President of BCHR – who was near Al-Sadeq mosque witnessing the heavy security presence to prevent Shiite citizens from praying in their mosque, stated that: “The action of the security services, under no justification, in closing the mosque and the preventing Shiite worshipers from performing their prayers is a flagrant violation of basic religious freedom of those citizens”. He continued: “Targeting Shiite worship places and Matams in this way is a dangerous escalation signaling a potential and rapid deterioration of the overall security and stability in Bahrain”.
On the evening Friday January 1, 2009, the authorities used the Security Special Force to attack tens of citizens who went to Bahrain Airport to meet Mr Hasan Mushaima- the Secretary General of HAQ Movement of Civil Liberties and Democracy – on arrival from the United Kingdom following a participation in an annual activity in the House of Lords concerned with the political and human rights situation in Bahrain.
In this regard, Mr. Rajab said: “I was monitoring the event at the airport at that instance. There was no reason what so ever to justify the attack of Special Forces on the innocent people and those around Mr. Mushaima on their way towards the car park.” He continued: “It was a horrible and terrifying sight when those forces used utmost ferocity and brutality on those present at that time, without distinction between a young or elderly of men and women”.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) is gravely alarmed over the escalation of the use of excessive force in dealing with popular gatherings and fears that the persistent policy of suppressing religious freedoms and detaining and torturing Shiite citizens, under the context of “uncovering a terror plot”, could spark a popular anger, with unaccounted consequences. Therefore, the BCHR calls upon the following:
1 – Cease all provocative practices and programs to suppress Shiite citizens and respect their right in exercising religious freedoms in accordance to international norms.
2 – Terminate the implementation of the secret plot, revealed by Dr Salah al-Bandar – a former adviser to the Government of Bahrain – designed to contain and control Shiite religious institutions in Bahrain, including mosques and community centers (Matams) and interfere in its affairs. This includes bring all the perpetrators to justice.
3 – Respect and maintain freedom of expression and assembly, in accordance to international norms and amend all relevant laws.
4 – Launch a serious dialogue to prevent further deterioration of the security situation and the adoption of practical programs to resolve the outstanding issues, primarily the political naturalization and the marginalization of Shiites at all levels.