. Algeria
On July 25, 2005, Algeria has withdrawn all its diplomats from Iraq following
the kidnap of two of its staff. Algeria said the decision was a precautionary
measure and was not made in response to the kidnappers' demands.
- Two blasts - one exploding near the prime minister's office- in Algeria's
capital Algiers have killed at least 23 people and injured 160 on April 11,
2007. A caller claiming to represent al-Qaeda in the Maghreb told an Arabic
TV channel that his group had carried out the attack but there was no independent
verification of the claim. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, who was unharmed,
called the attacks a "cowardly and criminal act".
- Members of al-Qaida's North Africa wing said on Sunday September 9, 2007,
they carried out two suicide attacks that have killed at least 50 people in
Algeria in the past two days. In the latest attack, at least 30 people died
on Saturday when a truck packed with explosives drove into a naval barracks
in the port of Dellys.
- On December 11, 2007, the Algerian capital, Algiers, has been rocked by
two deadly bomb attacks, on the country's Constitutional Council and the offices
of the United Nations. More than 60 people were killed.
- At least two people have been killed and several others wounded in a car
bomb attack in the Algerian town of Thenia on January 29, 2008. The blast
also caused serious damage to houses near the police building.
- A bomb at a police college east of the Algerian capital, Algiers, has killed 43 people and injured a further 38 on August 19, 2008. The bombing targeted a paramilitary police training school at Issers, near Boumerdes. An attacker drove a car full of explosives into the school's entrance.
. Australia
- On October 21, 2003, while in visit in Australia, President Bush defended
the invasion of Iraq and lauded Australia "special regional security
role" in a speech to the parliament in Canberra. He was heckled inside
the parliament building and by protesters outside.
- On August 8, 2004, a group of 43 Australian former officials -former militaries,
politicians, diplomats- attacked the foreign policy of their government. They
said that it undermine democracy and increase the terrorist risk by making
Australia a target.
- On August 30, 2004, the opposition Labour Party renewed its pledge to withdraw
Australian troops from Iraq if it wins October 9 elections. Australia, under
the conservative Prime Minister, John Howard, contributed 2,000 soldiers to
the US-led invasion of Iraq last year and about 850 Australian troops remain
in the area. Australian Labour Party leader Mark Latham also said a Labour
government would continue to aid the reconstruction of Iraq through the United
Nations. Latham once called Bush the most dangerous and incompetent US president
in living memory.
- On September 10, 2004, the Australian government repeated it would not pull
its troops out of Iraq because of a deadly car bombing outside its embassy
in Indonesia's capital. The car bomb killed nine people and wounded 182. All
of the dead and almost all of the wounded were Indonesian. Jema'ah Islamiyah,
a militant Muslim network linked to al Qaida, claimed responsibility for the
attack. The group warned of more attacks unless Australia withdrew from Iraq.
- On September 10, 2004, Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer pledged
to hunt down the perpetrators of Thursday September 9's bomb attack at the
Australian embassy in Jakarta. Indonesian police say one or more militants
may have died in what they believe was a suicide car bomb attack.
- On September 26, 2004, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has launched
his campaign for next month's election, promising to keep Australian troops
in Iraq as long as necessary. He told supporters that sending troops to Iraq
was the most difficult decision his government had faced, but he is convinced
it was the right course of action.
- The Australian conservative party led by Prime Minister John Howard won
the elections on October 10, 2005.
- The Australian Labour Party defeat was cheered at the White House on October
10, 2004, with George W. Bush lauding "my friend" John Howard as
"the right man to lead that country." John Howard is the first leader
of the coalition of the "willing" to be returned to office.
- Australia is planning to send an additional 450 troops to Iraq for one year,
Prime Minister John Howard has said on February 21, 2005. The new soldiers
would protect Japanese troops doing humanitarian work in southern Iraq and
will help replace 1,400 Dutch troops, who are being withdrawn after their
government decided against renewing their mission. Australia already has about
950 troops stationed in and around Iraq.
- On March 7, 2005, a Japanese military commander says he does not expect
Australian forces to provide direct protection for his men in southern Iraq,
sparking uncertainty about the exact role of an extra deployment of Australian
personnel. Japanese troops have been involved in reconstruction work in the
province and to do so, they need the province to remain stable.
- Australia's most senior Muslim cleric prompted an uproar on October 26, 2006, by saying that some women are attracting sexual assault by the way they dress. Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali said women who did not wear a hijab (head dress) were like "uncovered meat". He later apologised for any offence caused by his comments. Leading Muslim women condemned the comments and PM John Howard said the remarks were "appalling".
- Australian Prime Minister John Howard visited Baghdad on Saturday March 17, 2007, and told Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that Australia would keep its troops in Iraq as long as they were needed. Howard's plane made an emergency landing after a visit to Australian troops in southern Iraq. The plane's loading bay filled with smoke, forcing it to return to Talil airbase. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear. Howard disembarked safely.
- Police investigating failed car bombings in Glasgow and London have detained a man, Dr Mohammed Haneef who was trying to board a plane to India, at Brisbane airport. It brings the number of people held to eight. In addition, Australian police are interviewing a second doctor.
- Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson admitted on July 5, 2007, that securing oil supplies is a key factor behind the presence of Australian troops in Iraq. But PM John Howard has played down the comments, saying it was "stretching it a bit" to conclude that Australia's Iraq involvement was motivated by oil.
- On July 5, 2007 police in Australia seized new evidence and questioned five more doctors over last week's failed car bomb attacks in the UK. Computers and other materials were taken from two Western Australian hospitals, one in Perth and one in the outback mining town of Kalgoorlie. The doctors questioned have not been arrested. The raids came as Australian police were given more time to question a relative of two men held in the UK.
- On July 14, 2007, Australian police have charged a 27-year-old Indian doctor linked to the suspected UK bomb attempts. Mohammed Haneef has been charged with providing "reckless support" to a terrorist organisation. He is alleged to have provided a mobile phone SIM card to two of his second cousins, both detained in Britain.
- An Indian doctor has been freed from custody in Australia on July 27, 2007,
after charges linked to the failed bomb attacks in the UK were dropped. Dr
Mohamed Haneef was released into home detention while he awaits a decision
on his immigration status. His visa revoked after he was charged with giving
"reckless support" to terrorism. - The charge was withdrawn on Friday
after Australia's chief prosecutor admitted "a mistake has been made".
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in Baghdad on December 22, 2007, that Australian
troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by June 2008.
- Australia is planning to withdraw its 550 combat troops based in southern
Iraq, the country's military chief said Wednesday February 20, 2008.
- On June 1, 2008, Australia has begun withdrawing its contingent of about
500 combat troops from Iraq. The pullout honours a pledge made by the Australian
Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, when he was elected last November.
- On Wednesday August 5, 2009, one of five men charged in Australia for allegedly planning a suicide attack on a Sydney army base has denied in court that he was a terrorist. The five were detained on Tuesday in a series of raids in Melbourne. They are Australian nationals of Somali and Lebanese descent, with suspected links to Somali militants.
- An Australian court has found five men guilty of plotting to carry out a series of bombings in retaliation for Australia's involvement in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. After a 10-month trial, the five men were convicted on Friday October 16, 2009, on charges including possessing chemicals for explosives and instructions on how to make bombs. The men, all Muslims, face a maximum of life in prison when they return to the court in Sydney for sentencing on December 14.
- On February 15, 2010, five men convicted of a terrorist conspiracy in Sydney have been handed jail sentences of between 23 and 28 years. The men were found guilty last year of charges such as possessing bomb-making instructions and explosives chemicals. Prosecutors said they were plotting violent jihadist attacks in protest at Australia's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- On February 26, 2010, a top UN official has condemned as "inadmissible" Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's call for a jihad, or holy war, against Switzerland. Colonel Gaddafi also criticised a Swiss vote against the building of minarets and urged Muslims to boycott the country. Libya and Switzerland are embroiled in a long-running diplomatic row. The dispute dates back to 2008, when one of Mr Gaddafi's sons was arrested in Geneva, accused of assaulting two servants.
. Bahrain
---------------------
Bahraini uprising (2011 - 1/8/2012)
- The Bahraini uprising is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance. The Bahraini protests were initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and equality for the majority Shia population, and expanded to a call to end the monarchy of King Hamad following a deadly night raid on 17 February 2011 against protesters at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, known locally as the Bloody Thursday.
- Protesters in Manama camped for days at the Pearl Roundabout, which functioned as the centre point of protests. After a month, the government requested troops and police from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which arrived on 14 March. A day later, the king of Bahrain declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency. Pearl Roundabout was cleared of protesters and the iconic statue at its centre was destroyed. Smaller-scale protests and clashes have continued to occur almost daily, mostly in areas outside Manama's business districts, with some rare marches in the centre of the capital city. On 9 March 2012, protesters staged what they called "the biggest march in our history". Reuters estimated the number of protesters as more than 100,000 while opposition activists estimated the number to be between 100,000 and 250,000.
- The police response has been described as a "brutal" crackdown on peaceful and unarmed protestors, including doctors and bloggers. The police carried out midnight house raids in Shia neighbourhoods, beatings at checkpoints, and denial of medical care in a campaign of intimidation. More than 2,929 people have been arrested, and at least five people died due to torture while in police custody.
- In June, King Hamad established a commission of inquiry composed of international independent figures to assess the incidents. The report was released on 23 November and confirmed the Bahraini government's use of systematic torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse on detainees, as well as other human rights violations. It also rejected the government's claims that the protests were instigated by Shia Iran. It has been criticised for not disclosing the names of individual perpetrators of abuses and extending accountability only to those who actively carried out human rights violations.
Background
- The roots of the uprising date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. The Bahraini people have protested sporadically throughout the last decades demanding social, economic and political rights. Demonstrations were present as early as the 1920s and the first municipal election was held in 1926.
History
- Ruled by Al Khalifas since 1783, Bahrain was a British protectorate for most of the twentieth century. In 1926, Charles Belgrave a British operating as an "adviser" to the ruler became the de facto ruler. The National Union Committee (NUC) formed in 1954 was the earliest serious challenge to the status quo. Two year after its formation, NUC leaders were imprisoned and deported by authorities. In 1965, a one month uprising erupted by oil workers was crushed. The following year a new British "adviser" was appointed. Ian Henderson was then known for allegedly ordering torture and assassinations in Kenya. He was tasked with heading and developing the intelligence agency.
- In 1971, Bahrain became an independent state and in 1973 the country held its first parliamentary election. However only two years later, the constitution was suspended and the assembly dissolved by the late Emir. Human rights state deteriorated in the period between 1975 and 2001 which saw wide range repression. An alleged failed coup d'état was attempted in 1981. In 1992, 280 society leaders demanded the return of the parliament and constitution, which the government rejected. Two years later a popular uprising erupted. Throughout the uprising large demonstrations and acts of violence occurred. Over forty people were killed including several detainees while in police custody and at least three policemen.
- In 1999, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded his father. He successfully ended the uprising in 2001 after introducing wide range reforms, which 98.4 percent of Bahrainis voted in favour in a nationwide referendum. The following year, opposition associations "felt betrayed" after the government issued a unilateral new constitution. Despite earlier promises, the appointed upper half of parliament was given more powers than the elected lower half. The Emir became a king with wide executive authorities. Four opposition parties boycotted the 2002 parliamentary election, however in 2006 one of them, Al Wefaq won a majority. The participation in elections increased the split between opposition associations. Haq Movement was founded and utilized street protests to seek change instead of bringing change within the parliament. The period between 2007 and 2010 saw sporadic protests which were followed by large arrests. Since then, tensions have increased "dangerously".
Human rights
- The state of human rights in Bahrain was criticized in the period between
1975 and 2001. The government had committed wide range violations including
systematic torture. Following 2001 reforms, human rights improved significantly
and were praised by Amnesty International. They began deteriorating again
in the end of 2007 when torture and repression tactics were being used again.
By 2010, torture had become common and Bahrain's human rights record was described
as "dismal" by Human Rights Watch. The Shia majority have long complained
of what they call systemic discrimination. They accuse the government of naturalizing
Sunnis from neighbouring countries and gerrymandering electoral districts.
Economy
- Bahrain is relatively poor when compared to its oil-rich Gulf neighbours;
its oil has "virtually dried up" and it depends on banking and the
tourism sector. Unemployment rate in Bahrain is among the highest in the region.
Extreme poverty does not exist in Bahrain where the average daily income is
US$12.8, however 11 percent of citizens suffered from relative poverty.
Foreign relations
- Bahrain hosts the United States Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the home
of the US Fifth Fleet; the US Department of Defence considers the location
critical to its attempts to counter Iranian military power in the region.
The Saudi Arabian government and other Gulf region governments strongly support
the King of Bahrain. Although government officials and media often accuse
the opposition of being influenced by Iran, a government-appointed commission
found no evidence supporting the claim. Iran has historically claimed Bahrain
as a province, but the claim was dropped after a UN survey in 1970 found that
most Bahraini people preferred independence over Iranian control.
Lead-up to the protests
- Inspired by the successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, opposition activists starting from January filled the social media websites Facebook and Twitter as well as online forums, e-mails and text messages with calls to stage major pro-democracy protests. A Facebook page which had 14,000 "likes" calling for a revolution and a "day of rage" in Bahrain on 14 February 2011 was blocked, however their "likes" jumped to 22,000 few days later.
- Bahraini youths described their plans as an appeal for Bahrainis "to
take to the streets on Monday 14 February in a peaceful and orderly manner
in order to rewrite the constitution and to establish a body with a full popular
mandate to investigate and hold to account economic, political and social
violations, including stolen public wealth, political naturalisation, arrests,
torture and other oppressive security measures, and institutional and economic
corruption."
- The day had a symbolic value as it was the tenth anniversary of a referendum
in favour of the National Action Charter which had promised to introduce democratic
reforms following the 1990s uprising. It was also the ninth anniversary of
the Constitution of 2002, which had brought some of the promised reforms such
as an elected parliament, but opposition activists considered it going back
on reform plans, because the upper house forming half of the seats was completely
appointed by king and the parliament did not have the power to elect prime
minister.
- Unregistered opposition parties such as Haq Movement and Bahrain Freedom Movement supported the plans. While the National Democratic Action Society only announced it supported "the principle of the right of the youth to demonstrate peacefully" one day before the protests. Other opposition groups including Al Wefaq, Bahrain main opposition party did not explicitly call for or support protests, however its leader Ali Salman demanded political reforms.
- A few weeks before the protests, the government made a number of concessions
such as offering to free some of the children arrested in August crackdown
and increased social spending. On 4 February 2011, several hundred Bahrainis
gathered in front of the Egyptian embassy in Manama to express solidarity
with anti-government protesters there. According to The Wall Street Journal,
this was "one of the first such gatherings to be held in the oil-rich
Persian Gulf states." At the gathering, Ibrahim Sharif, the secretary-general
of the National Democratic Action Society (Wa'ad), called for "local
reform."
- On 11 February 2011, hundreds of Bahrianis and Egyptians took to the streets
near the Egyptian embassy in Manama to celebrate the fall of Egypt's president
Hosni Mubarak following the successful 25 January Revolution. Security forces
reacted swiftly to contain the crowd by setting a number of roadblocks. Appearing
on the state media, king Hamad announced that each family will be given 1,000
Bahraini Dinars ($2,650) to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the National
Action Charter referendum.
- The next day, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights sent an open letter to the
king urging him to avoid "worst-case scenario" by introducing wide-range
of reforms, including "releasing more than 450 detainees including Bahraini
human rights defenders, religious figures and more than 110 children, dissolving
the security apparatus and prosecuting its officials responsible for violations
and to start serious dialogue with civil society and opposition groups on
disputed issues".
- On 13 February, authorities increased security forces presence in key locations
such as shopping malls and set up a number of checkpoints. Al Jazeera interpreted
the move as "a clear warning against holding Monday's [14 February] rally".
At night, police attacked a small group of youth who organized a protest in
Karzakan after a wedding ceremony. Ministry of Interior said that about 100
individuals who gathered in an unauthorized rally in the village attacked
security forces injuring three policemen and in response police fired two
rubber bullets, one of which rebounded from ground causing an injury to a
protester. Small protests and clashes occurred in other locations as well,
such as Sabah Al Salem, Sitra, Bani Jamra and Tashan leading to minor injuries
to both sides.
Early stage
- Protests began on 14 February 2011, but met immediate resistance from security forces in Manama and Shia villages. Fourteen protesters were reportedly injured and one was killed as Bahraini government forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up demonstrations, but protests continued into the evening, drawing several hundred participants. Most of the protesters were Shia Muslims, who make up the majority of Bahrain's population. The next day, one person attending the funeral of the protester killed on 14 February was shot dead and 25 more were hurt when security officers opened fire on mourners. The Al Wefaq National Islamic Society quickly declared its solidarity with protesters and announced it would not participate in the National Assembly any longer.
- The same day, thousands of protesters stormed the Pearl Roundabout in downtown
Manama and occupied the area, setting up protest tents and camping out overnight.
In the early morning of 17 February, security forces retook control of the
roundabout, leaving four dead, 600+ injured, and 70 missing. Manama was subsequently
placed under lockdown, with tanks and armed soldiers taking up positions around
the capital city. That day become known as Bloody Thursday. Troops withdrew
from the Pearl Roundabout on 19 February, and protesters re-established their
camps there. On 22 February, a mass rally, dubbed the Martyrs' March in honour
of the victims who had lost their lives in the protests, was held. Up to 200,000
people -25% of all adults- participated. It is estimated that the number of
demonstrators at the Pearl Roundabout peaked on this date, reaching more than
150,000, and as protests intensified toward the end of the month, King Hamad
was forced to offer concessions in the form of the release of political prisoners,
the declaration of a national day of mourning for protesters killed in the
preceding days, and the dismissal of several government ministers.
- Protests continued into March, with the opposition expressing dissatisfaction
with the government's response. A counter-demonstration on 2 March 2011 was
staged, reportedly the largest political gathering in Bahrain's history in
support of the government. Sectarian violence broke out the next day between
naturalized Sunnis and local Shias youths in Hamad Town and police deployed
tear gas to break up the clashes. Protesters escalated their calls for the
removal of Prime Minister Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifa from office, in power
since 1971, gathering outside his office on 6 March. Several major Shia groups
also called for the abdication of the monarchy and the establishment of a
democratic republic in Bahrain, calls which are tantamount to treason.
- On 13 March 2011, the government reacted strongly, with riot police firing
tear gas canisters and tearing down protest tents in the Pearl Roundabout
and using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators in the financial
district. In April 2011, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) documented forensic
evidence that government authorities used excessive force against unarmed
civilians, employing high-velocity weapons and shotguns, birdshot, rubber
bullets, and tear gas against unarmed protesters.
Repression
- On 14 March 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed to deploy Peninsula
Shield Force troops to Bahrain. Saudi Arabia deployed about 1,000 troops with
armoured support, and the United Arab Emirates deployed about 500 police officers.
The forces crossed into Bahrain via the King Fahd Causeway. The Saudis took
up positions at key installations but never intervened directly in policing
the demonstrators, though warned that they would deal with the protesters
if Bahrain did not. The opposition reacted strongly, calling it an "occupation".
The next day, King Hamad declared a state of emergency, and two people died
in clashes between security officers and demonstrators. The Pearl Roundabout
was violently cleared of protesters within days, leaving five dead and hundreds
wounded. A planned "day of rage" across Bahrain late in March was
quickly squelched by government troops, a sign of the apparent ascendancy
of security forces in the faltering uprising.
- April, international doctors' organizations "Médecins Sans Frontières"
and "Physicians for Human Rights" reported medical staff and patients
were systematically detained by assailants allegedly acting on government
orders. UK medics have stated that Bahrain is violating the Geneva Convention.
The Bahraini government dismissed these reports as lies. Two Shia prisoners
reportedly died in custody, but the government denied allegations that the
jailed activists were tortured.
- "Physicians for Human Rights" released a report titled "Do
No Harm: A Call for Bahrain to End Systematic Attacks on Doctors and Patients"
which detailed the takeover of Salmaniya Medical Center on 15 March by Bahraini
security forces. Medical professionals and patients alike were detained and
tortured. The report also showed that Bahraini security forces had used excessive
force against protesters, including shotguns, tear gas, and high-velocity
weapons. The principle of medical neutrality has been violated frequently,
as the government has kidnapped and tortured many medical professionals simply
because they offered treatment to protesters.
Trials
- Late in the month, four Shia demonstrators detained during March's deadly
raid on the Pearl Roundabout were sentenced to death for allegedly attacking
officers. The sentences for two of the condemned were later commuted to life
imprisonment without parole. A human rights advocate and Danish citizen, Abdulhadi
Alkhawaja, was reported missing in Bahrain on 9 April after masked security
guards beat him unconscious in the middle of the night and carried away him
and two sons-in-law. However, Bahrain's Ministry of Interior reported the
deaths of two protesters while being held in custody. Ali Isa Saqer, 31, died
at a detention centre on 9 April, and Zakariya Rashid Hassan al-Ashiri, 40,
who was being held since 2 April, was found dead in a detention facility,
and an autopsy confirmed the cause of death was sickle cell disease. BICI
attributed his death to torture. Hassan was charged with inciting hatred against
the government, spreading false news and calling for an overthrow of the government.
On 12 April, Bahrain has put two Iranians and a Bahraini on trial on charges
of spying for Iran's Revolutionary Guards. On 15 April, Bahrain backed off
its move to dissolve the kingdom's strongest political opposition bloc after
the US criticized the decision. The Ministry of Justice and Islamic affairs
announced it was seeking court approval to ban Al Wefaq, a Shiite political
bloc that is the government's strongest opposition, and the smaller Islamic
Action Society. On 22 April, Bahrain's main Shiite opposition group said the
Sunni-led government has demolished 30 mosques since quelling political unrest
in the Persian Gulf nation started. The Ministry of Justice said the buildings
were "illegal" and "unlicensed". On 25 April, Bahrain
sought the death penalty in a case against seven defendants accused of killing
two policemen during pro-democracy demonstrations last month.
- Much of May was comparatively quiet in Bahrain, with security being enforced
by soldiers and riot police empowered by the state of emergency to use lethal
force, as well as by foreign troops under the GCC. However, some clashes between
protesters and police were reported, with several injuries on both sides.
On 31 May, on the same day King Hamad called for a national dialogue to resolve
ongoing tensions, a military court accused several opposition leaders and
human rights activists of crimes against the state and ordered them to appear
for interrogation. All of them were released in the same day.
- On 31 May, the king of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, called for a national
dialogue to resolve ongoing tensions. However the seriousness and effectiveness
of the dialogue has been disputed by many opposition figures.
- On 1 June, protests erupted across Shia-dominated areas of Bahrain to demand
the end of martial law. Protests continued through early June, with demonstrators
marching around the destroyed Pearl Roundabout, but security forces battled
back and regularly dispersed demonstrators. The 2011 edition of the Bahrain
Grand Prix, a major Formula 1 racing event, was officially cancelled. On 11
June, protest was announced in advance but did not receive government permission,
opposition supporters said. It was held in the Shiite district of Saar, west
of the capital. Police did not stop up to 10,000 people who came to the rally.
Helicopters buzzed overhead. The trials of 48 medical professionals, including
some of the country's top surgeons, started on June 13, a move seen as the
hounding of those who treated injured protesters during the popular uprising
which was crushed by the military intervention of Saudi Arabia. On 18 June,
The Bahraini government decided to lift a ban on the largest opposition party.
On 22 June, the Bahraini government sent 21 opposition figures to be tried
by a special security court which sentences 8 pro-democracy activists to life
in prison for their role in the uprising; Others defendants were sentenced
to between two and 15 years in jail.
- On 9 August the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry announced that
137 detainees had been released, including Matar Matar and Jawad Fayrouz,
Shia MPs from the Al-Wefaq opposition party.
2012
- On 1 February 2012 King Hamad's media affairs adviser Nabeel Al Hamer revealed
plans for new talks between the opposition and the government. The move was
supported by Al Wefaq National Islamic Society former MP Abduljalil Khalil.
He reiterated that "People want serious reforms that reflect their will
and what they really want for their future. However the National Unity Assembly
board member Khalid Al Qoud said that his society would not participate in
talks "until those behind the acts of violence were arrested".
- The Bahrain Debate is an initiative that brings together young people from
across the spectrum of Bahraini society to debate the political and social
problems confronting the country, and their solutions. The debate is not funded
or organised by any political group.
- Bahraini independents worried that the island will slide into sectarian
violence also began an effort to break the political stalemate between pro-government
and opposition forces. A basic framework for discussion is the seven points
for democratic reform announced by Crown Prince Salman in March 2011.
- Bahraini newspaper Al Ayam reported on 7 March 2012 that the government
and the opposition political societies were approaching an agreement to start
a dialogue towards reconciliation and reunifying the country.
- On 9 March 2012, hundreds of thousands protested in one of the biggest anti-government
rallies to date. Reuters estimated the number to be over 100,000 while opposition
activist estimated the number to be between 100,000and 250,000. The march
was called for by Sheikh Isa Qassim, Bahrain's top Shia cleric. Protesters
called for downfall of King and the release of imprisoned political leaders.
The protest ended peacefully, however hundreds of youth tried to march back
to the site of the now demolished symbolic Pearl roundabout, and were dispersed
by security forces with tear gas.
- On April 10, a homemade bomb in the Bahrani village of Al Eker exploded,
injuring 7 policemen. A group called "Wihdat Aldifaa Almuqadas"
claimed responsibility for the attack shortly after it occurred. Four days
before the attack, the group warned the Bahraini government that they will
"woe from the revolutionaries' fire" if they did not release hunger
striker Abdulhadi Alkhawaja from jail. The group posted a video of the bombing
on April 17.
- Additionally, a bus was burned by Molotov cocktails in Sehla. The attack
on the bus had apparently been done by a group calling itself Asa'ib Althawra.
The claim of responsibility for the attack was made on the group's Twitter
account "Rebelsracebh".
Censorship and repression
- The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights said that Bahraini authorities were
blocking a Facebook group being used for planned protests on 14 February,
and that its own website had been blocked for many years. Nabeel Rajab, head
of the centre, said that the group was "only asking for political reforms,
right of political participation, respect for human rights, stopping of systematic
discrimination against Shias". Several bloggers were arrested prior to
6 February.
- Following the deployment of Gulf Cooperation Council forces, the government
stepped up the arrests of Shia Muslims, including many cyber activists, with
more than 300 detained and dozens missing, the opposition stated on 31 March.
Rajab said that a growing number of reform campaigners were going into hiding,
after the country's most-prominent blogger, Mahmood al-Yousif, was arrested
a day earlier, on 30 March. Although al-Yousif was released on 1 April, several
other people, including Abdul Khaleq al-Oraibi, a pro-opposition doctor working
at Salmaniya Hospital, were detained.
- Google Earth had previously been blocked after it showed the locations of
the ruling family's estates which was reported to have stirred up discontent.
- On 3 April, Bahraini authorities prevented the publishing of Alwasat, the
country's main opposition newspaper, and blocked its website. The Information
Affairs Authority was said to be investigating allegations that editors intentionally
published misleading information. However, on 4 April, the newspaper resumed
printing, although a government spokesperson said the newspaper had broken
press laws.
- On 14 April, the Justice Ministry stated it was seeking to ban the Wefaq
party, as well as the Islamic Action party, a Wefaq ally, for "undertaking
activities that harmed social peace, national unity, and inciting disrespect
for constitutional institutions."
- In early May, Al Wefaq claimed that in response to the protests, Bahraini
police had "raided up to 15 mainly girls schools, detaining, beating
and threatening to rape girls as young as 12."
- By mid-May, 28 mosques and Shia religious buildings had been destroyed by
the Bahraini authorities in response to the anti-government protests. The
Justice Ministry stated that the mosques were destroyed because they were
unlicensed.
- In September 2011, twenty Bahraini medical professionals who had been arrested
for treating protesters at the Salminaya Medical Centre were handed jail terms
of up to twenty years on charges of anti-government activity. In October,
the Bahraini government nullified the convictions and scheduled retrials in
civilian court, which are ongoing. Despite promises of greater transparency,
the Bahraini government has denied several human rights activists access to
the trial.
Expulsions
- Alwasat newspaper, reported on 12 April, that sixteen Lebanese nationals
were requested by the Bahraini security services to leave the country. No
details or reasons for the request were given.
- However the Bahraini government claimed in a confidential report to the
UN in April 2011 that Lebanese political organisation Hezbollah, considered
a terrorist group by the US, is present in Bahrain and is actively involved
in the organisation of the unrest.
Incarcerations
- Amongst the more prominent opposition figures, the Al-Khawaja family has
been intermittently in and out of prison, even before the uprising began.
Since the start of the uprising, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, the former president
of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was placed on trial for his part in
the uprising. On 22 June, he was sentenced to life in prison. His daughters
and sons-in-law have also been intermittently in and out of prison since the
counter-revolutionary crackdown by the government.
- Ayat Al-Qurmozi was found guilty of organising protests and assembling at
the Pearl Roundabout and reading a poem critical of government policy. Sheikh
Abdul-Aziz bin Mubarak, her spokesman, said that the poem "caused incitement
and hatred to his majesty the king and to the prime minister" with lines
such as "we are people who kill humiliation" and "assassinate
misery."
- Human rights lawyer Mohammed al-Tajer was detained on 16 April 2011, apparently
for providing legal support to other arrested activists. He was held incommunicado
for two months before being charged with inciting hatred for the regime, engaging
in illegal protests, and inciting people to harm police. He was released on
7 August, though the charges against him were not dropped.
- As of 22 May 515 detainees had been released and more than 140 were released
on 9 August.
Torture
- Torture during the uprising has been described in many human rights reports as being widespread and systematic. 64%of detainees (1866 individuals) reported being tortured. At least five individuals died as a result. During the uprising detainees were interrogated by three government agencies, the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Bahrain Defence Force. According to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report, physical and psychological abuse was inflicted by the NSA and the MoI on a systematic basis and in many cases amounted to torture. The BICI report describes the systematic use of techniques similar to those used during the repression of the 1990s uprising as indicative of "a systemic problem, which can only be addressed on a systemic level".
Use of mercenaries
- For decades, the Bahraini authorities have been recruiting Sunni foreign
nationals in the security forces from different countries, including Egypt,
Jordan, Syria, Iraq (Ba'athists), Yemen and Pakistan (Baluch). In 2009, Bahrain
Centre for Human Rights claimed that 64 percent of National Security Agency
employees were foreigners and that only 4 percent were Shia. Pakistanis mainly
from Balochistan make up 30 percent of Bahrain security forces. The Bahraini
government admits it recruits foreigners in security forces, although it does
not describe them as mercenaries. Some of them have been naturalized and their
children are working at the ministry.
- During the uprising, the deportation of Syrians and Pakistanis serving in
security forces was one of protesters' main goals; one of their slogans was
against hiring Pakistanis in riot police department. One month after the uprising
began, ministry of interior announced 20,000 jobs in security forces were
available for Bahrainis, including protesters. The move was considered a step
to satisfy protesters' demands. However, advertisements of "urgent requirement"
in the National Guard, special forces and riot police were spread in Pakistani
media.
- The appearance of advertisements was preceded by two "quiet trips"
to Pakistan by Bandar bin Sultan, now the Director General of Saudi Intelligence
Agency. Later, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
and commander of the National Guard made a similar visit. Iran News Agency
reported that in August 2011, Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan
has agreed to send more Pakistani troops to Bahrain during his one-day visit
to the country. It was also reported by The Jakarta Post that Bahraini government
tried to hire Indonesian and Malaysian mercenaries.
- Al Jazeera English sources estimated that the size of riot police and the
National Guard has increased by as high as 50 percent after at least 2,500
Pakistanis were recruited in April and May 2011. According to Nabeel Rajab,
the exact size of increase is not known, however he said it was "much
more than 1,500 or 2,000". The size of National Guard in 2011 was estimated
by the US State Department to be 1,200 but its size has increased by about
100 percent.
- Bahraini human rights groups and opposition parties have heavily criticized
recruiting mercenaries in the Bahraini security forces.
Casualties
- As of 24 March 2012, the uprising resulted in about 86 deaths. The number of injuries is hard to determine due to government clamp-down on hospitals and medical personnel. The last accurate estimate for injuries is back to 16 March 2011 and sits at about 2708. Another 200 injuries were treated by Médecins Sans Frontières outside hospitals, for a total of 2908. A doctor who asked to remain anonymous said he secretly treats about 50 injured protesters a week (~2,500 in a year). In addition, minister of Interior Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa claimed that 395 police officers were injured, four of them allegedly "abducted and tortured".
- The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry concluded that many detainees were subjected to torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse while in custody, five of whom returned dead bodies. The BICI report finds the government responsible for 20 deaths (November 2011). Opposition activists say that the current number is about 78 including 34 who allegedly died as a result of excessive use of tear gas.
Deaths
- The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry found that there were 35 deaths between 14 February and 15 April 2011 linked to the uprising. The Commission found the government responsible for 20 of these deaths, protesters responsible for 3, and mobs responsible for 2. The Commission could not attribute the remaining 10 deaths to a perpetrator. Additionally, the Commission found that there were another 11 deaths potentially linked to the uprising between 16 April and 6 October 2011. Between 7 October 2011 and 5 April 2012, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) reported 32 deaths linked to the uprising, for a total of 78 deaths. The total number, counting all related incidents, even those not mentioned in the BICI report and BCHR is 90 deaths as of 21 April 2012.
Media Coverage of the uprising
- Coverage of the uprising within Bahrain has been controversial and confusing. In numerous incidents media outlets reported conflicting reports of deaths and violence both by government forces and anti-government protesters. Both national and international journalists have had difficulty gaining access to protests and allegations of bias have caused scandals in two leading Arabic new sources, Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.
International Coverage
- International correspondents from several major news outlets had difficulty gaining entry to Bahrain or, once there, having the freedom to pursue stories. The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) lists a number of media outlets that were allowed access to Bahrain, including the BBC, Financial Times and news agencies such as Reuters and Associated Press. However, claiming that the western media published and broadcast false and biased reports, the government of Bahrain denied visas to several international journalists. The Agence France-Presse (AFP), The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, and the UK's Channel 4, and Al Jazeera all applied for media visas but had their applications denied.
- In addition to refusing to grant visas, Bahraini authorities had detained
some journalists. On March 31, 2011, 4 CNN journalists were detained for not
having proper documents. When some journalists attempted to interview the
president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Rajab, at his home, 6 military
vehicles arrived and 20 masked men surrounded the CNN team and Rajab and deleted
all of their photos. Another CNN reporter, Mohammed Jamjoom, was expelled
from Bahrain on March 16, the same day he arrived. Reuters correspondent Frederik
Richter, was expelled on May 10 for what Bahraini government said was biased
reporting. On at least two occasions the Bahraini government has commenced
or announced legal action against news sources or reporters for articles targeting
Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- The Bahrain Freedom Movement posted on their website that, in the second
week of February, many journalists were banned from entering the country to
report on the deteriorating situation-especially as the regime increased its
cracked down on the protesters.
- In order to evaluate the situation of freedom of expression in the country,
a delegation of international NGOs was supposed to make a visit from 5 to
10 May 2012. The delegation received permission from the Bahraini government
on April 11. The government, however, withdrew its permission on April 30,
claiming that new regulations had taken effect that prevented the presence
of more than one international NGO in any one week.
- In June 2012, the BBC admitted making "major errors" in its coverage of the unrest. In an 89-page report, 9 pages were devoted to the BBC's coverage of Bahrain and included admissions that the BBC had "underplayed the sectarian aspect of the conflict" and "not adequately convey the viewpoint of supporters of the monarchy" by "failing to mention attempts by Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to establish dialogue with the opposition". The report added that "the government appears to have made a good-faith effort to de-escalate the crisis" in particular during a period when the BBC's coverage of the unrest dropped substantially and that many people had complained that their coverage was "utterly one-sided".
Domestic responses
Executive
- Prior to the outbreak of the larger scale protests and the first domestic
crackdown, King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa made a series of announcements to
appease protesters. The government was to give BD1,000 to each family, which
was interpreted by Al Jazeera as a favour to all Bahraini citizens. The King
also offered to increase social spending and to release minors jailed after
the August 2010 protests. On 15 February, on television King Hamad offered
condolences for the deaths of two protesters, said that a parliamentary committee
to investigate the deaths would be created, and stated that peaceful protests
are legal.
- The King called for "dialogue" and a direction that the King's
son, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, work on a resolution to the
conflict. On 13 March, in a televised statement, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
renewed his call for national dialogue, promising talks would address key
demands such as bolstering the power of parliament and that any deal could
be put to a referendum. He said talks would also cover electoral and governmental
reforms, as well as looking into claims of corruption and sectarianism.
- King Hamad took a series of steps aimed at initiating a period of reconciliation
following the unrest in February and March 2011. He established the Bahrain
national dialogue on 1 July 2011 as a forum for the discussion and promotion
of reform. The genuine substance of this proposal has been disputed by many
opposition figures. Out of 300 participants, Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main opposition
party had only 5 seats and pulled from the dialogue 2 weeks after it started
and about 1 week before it ended. In total the opposition parties had only
25 out of 300 seats.
- The King also established the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
(BICI), chaired by noted human rights lawyer M. Cherif Bassiouni, on 29 June
2011 to investigate the events of February and March 2011 and their consequences.
The report was released on 23 November and confirmed the Bahraini government's
use of torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse on detainees.
- Legislative
Following demands from young protesters for the end of the ruling regime and
in protest against the deaths during demonstrations, all eighteen party MPs
submitted their official resignations from parliament.
- Four members of the Shura council, the upper house of parliament, Mohamed
Hadi al-Halawji, Mohamed Baqir Hasan Radi, Nasser al-Mubarak and Nada Hafad
resigned in protests against the crackdown. Hafad quit first accusing the
government and state media of attempting to foment divisions within Bahraini
society.
- A parliamentary by-election was held on 24 September 2011 to replace the
18 members of the largest political party in parliament, al Wefaq, who had
resigned in protest at governmental actions. Security forces made several
arrests on 23 September and on 24 September closed Pearl Roundabout and attacked
protestors in the village of Sanabis, who intended to march to Pearl Roundabout.
International reactions
- The uprising has had consequences for Bahrain from the international community
as well as foreign investors. Western governments and organisations have generally
expressed more magnanimity toward the Bahraini government, seen as a key ally
of the European Union and the United States and a bulwark against nearby Iran,
than they have toward other governments accused of violating the human rights
of protesters during the Arab Spring. The United States and the United Kingdom
have condemned the use of violence by Bahraini authorities. They did not call
for regime change or threaten sanctions.
- Iran has expressed strong support for demonstrators, the majority of whom
follow Shia Islam, the Iranian state religion. Relations between Tehran and
Manama have cooled considerably during the uprising, with both countries expelling
one another's ambassadors. Iran was joined by Iraq in opposing the Gulf Cooperation
Council's military intervention in Bahrain. Allies of the Bahraini government,
such as Saudi Arabia and other GCC member states, have conversely blamed Iran
for inciting upheaval in the small archipelago country and questioned the
legitimacy of the protesters' demands, echoing Manama's claims.
- Thousands of Shia protesters arose in Iraq and Qatif, Saudi Arabia, in opposition
to the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain. The Gulf Co-operation Council and
the Saudi government have defended the action as necessary to restore stability
and security in the country.
- Human rights groups including Amnesty International and "Physicians
for Human Rights" have documented alleged atrocities in Bahrain and strongly
condemned authorities' response to the uprising. The treatment of medical
professionals accused of administering to opposition activists has been a
particular source of distress to critics of the government, including both
human rights advocates and journalists working in the region.
- The Bahraini government's decision to establish an independent inquiry to
investigate the unrest won praise from many western governments, such as the
United Kingdom and the United States, as well as human rights organisations
such as Amnesty International. However, many of the recommendations made in
the report were not implemented, including allowing human rights organizations
into the country to observe and report on the situation. In January, Brian
Dooley of Human Rights First and Courtney C. Radsch and two other activists
from Freedom House were denied entry to the country.
-------------------
. Belgium
- The Belgian played a "silly" joke on the USA on April 29, 2003.
A Belgian's 1993 controversial war crime law gave the Belgian courts universal
jurisdiction on war crimes. This law give Belgium courts jurisdiction to try
war crimes, genocides, and other crimes against humanity wherever they are
committed and this is ridiculous. As a result, 19 Iraqis with the help of
their lawyer, Jan Fermon, are seeking to bring charges General Tommy Franks
and other US soldiers of crimes against humanity. This was taken very badly
in Washington, which "ordered" Belgium to drop the case or else…
- On Friday June 13, 2003, the British newspapers were saying that the USA
is threatening to boycott Belgium over their war crime law!! As we say in
French: "Le ridicule ne tue pas". The US Defence Secretary, Donald
Duck (Rumsfeld) warned Belgium at a NATO meeting to drop its controversial
law or face a boycott of Brussels' new 400m Euros building for NATO Headquarters.
The government has already tried to water it down, but it is still on the
book.
- France and Germany protested at the UN about Washington's continuous opposition
to the International Criminal Court that has the backing of 90 countries.
The immunity of the American soldiers fighting in Iraq was extended for one
year with the abstention of France, Germany and Syria. The USA is afraid that
its soldiers could face trial. I assume that they would agree to have it try
no-American soldiers!
- On June 23, 2003, the Belgium government proposed to the Parliament to change
the law. It was amended in April 2003 to allow the government to dismiss politically
motivated or "propaganda" cases by transferring them to the courts
of the defendant's home country. The USA wanted more. The Belgian government
gave in, but who looks like the idiot in this case if not the USA? The new
law will limit its scope to cases where Belgian citizens or Belgian residents
are directly involved and introduce legal safeguards to prevent politically
motivated cases. What a shame that a big power like the US feels threatened
by such a small country like Belgium!!
- On October 1, 2003, a Belgian court condemned Nizar Trabelsi to 10 years
in prison for preparing an attack for al-Qaida in Brussels.
- On June 8, 2004, on the base of information from the Italians, the Belgian
police arrested 15 terrorists suspected of planning an attack in another country.
- Belgian police raided a few houses on Wednesday November 30, 2005 and detained
14 suspects O9 Belgians, three Moroccan and two Tunisian- that sent volunteers
to Iraq. This follows the information that a Belgian woman who converted to
Islam carried out a suicide bombing on an American patrol in Baghdad. The
French arrested a Tunisian linked to that group. The Belgian woman was the
only person killed in the November 9 attack. Her husband is believed to have
died in a similar attack in Iraq.
- On December 11, 2008, police in Belgium have arrested 14 people suspected of being members of the al-Qaida network. The police believed one of those held was planning to carry out a suicide attack. The suspect had been given the go-ahead for the attack and had already said good-bye to his family.
- On December 11, 2008, authorities arrested the Belgian widow of a man involved
in killing an anti-Taliban warlord, saying she was part of an Al Qaida group
that was about to launch a suicide attack. Malika El Aroud, 49, was charged
with belonging to a terrorist organization. Five men in their 20s were also
charged; eight others were released for lack of evidence.
- Nine people suspected of links with al Qaeda, including one who prosecutors say may have been planning a suicide attack, went on trial in Belgium on Monday March 8, 2010, facing possible prison terms of up to 10 years. Malika el Aroud and her husband Moez Garsalloui stand accused of leading a terrorist group, while a third principal defendant, Hicham Beyayo, is charged with handling explosives and membership of a terrorist organisation. Under Belgian law, suspects can be prosecuted for handling explosives, for instance in terrorist training, even outside the country. Prosecutors said in December 2008 that Beyayo was possibly planning a suicide attack and were forced to act as a summit of leaders from the 27 European Union countries was taking place in Brussels.
- A Belgian court has convicted three leaders of an al Qaeda terror cell accused of recruiting Europeans to fight in Afghanistan. Those found guilty Monday May 10, 2010, include Malika el Aroud, a 50-year-old Belgian-Moroccan woman whom authorities have described as an "al Qaeda living legend." She was sentenced to eight years in prison for "creating, directing, and funding" the terrorist cell. El Aroud is the widow of the al Qaeda operative who killed Ahmad Shah Massoud, the head of anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. He was killed in Afghanistan two days before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. El Aroud and eight others had been on trial in Brussels since March. Two of the defendants were tried in absentia, including el Aroud's husband, Moez Garsallaoui. He is a Tunisian who was accused of recruiting a group of six Belgian and French recruits with his wife and escorting them to al Qaeda's camps in the tribal areas of Pakistan in 2008. Garsallaoui also received an eight-year prison sentence. The other leading figure in the cell who was convicted is Hicham Beyayo, one of the young men el Aroud and Garsallaoui recruited to fight in Afghanistan. Beyayo is accused of playing a deputy role to Garsallaoui within the group. The court sentenced him to five years in prison, but authorities could release him from prison and put him on probation within months. As for the six other defendants, one was acquitted while five received sentences ranging from three to five years.
- Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders had his task of heading coalition negotiations extended as his country approaches the world record for the longest period without a government following elections, with political infighting still dividing Belgium more than eight months after voters went to the polls. The country -which will match Iraq's record of 249 days Thursday and break it Friday February 18, 2011- held elections June 13, 2010.
- On Friday February 18, 2011, Belgium has been without a government for
250 days breaking a modern-day record that was held by Iraq; some Belgians
managed to joke about it. Across the country, Belgians marked the event with
mock celebrations toasting their non-government leaders who haven't been able
to form a working coalition since elections in June.
- Belgium tied the world record with Iraq for time without a government on
Tuesday March 29, 2011, but months of political waffling that was once a joke
is quickly wearing thin. Tuesday marks the 289th day the country's bickering
Dutch-speaking and Francophone politicians have failed to form a government
after a June 13 election -and there's no agreement on the horizon. Early irritation
turned into almost giddy celebration as the country broke the European record
in January. Then parties were thrown last month as Belgium matched the time
it took for an initial agreement to form an Iraqi government two years ago.
Iraq then took another month to actually present its government. On Tuesday,
as the real moment came and went, Belgium was subdued. Front pages focused
on anything but the record, highlighting instead the resurgent national football
team, the breakup of a celebrity cooking couple and the downfall of a local
politician.