How is the US support emboldening the Bahraini regime to suppress the opposition?
As Bahraini regime’s crackdown on the opposition and its violent suppression against the civilians are still going on, more and more international figures are urging Al Khalifa to reconsider its political and social approaches. This is while, confident on the US and Saudi support, Al Khalifa shows no sign of a possible shift in its policies.
Tabnak – As Bahraini regime’s crackdown on the opposition and its violent suppression against the civilians are still going on, more and more international figures are urging Al Khalifa to reconsider its political and social approaches. This is while, confident on the US and Saudi support, Al Khalifa shows no sign of a possible shift in its policies.
In one of the latest reactions to the current situation in Bahrain, a UN human rights chief on Friday urged an investigation into a Bahraini security raid which killed five people last month and expressed concern at a crackdown on dissent in the Persian Gulf island kingdom.
"I urge the Government to investigate the events of 23 May, in particular the loss of lives, to ensure that the findings are made public and that those responsible are held accountable," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
"I urge Bahrain to choose a different path – one of engagement and dialogue, as well as accountability for violence, regardless of the perpetrator," he added.
It should be noted that five people were killed and dozens were injured when regime forces attacked Bahraini Shiite Leader Sheikh Qassim’s supporters in the northwestern village of Diraz. The clergyman’s fate remains unknown, with some reports saying he is under house arrest.
At the same time, France condemned the Bahraini regime’s decision to dissolve the country’s largest leftist political party, the National Democratic Action Society (Wa’ad), stating that the measure which comes as part of the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty’s crackdown on dissent, prevents national reconciliation efforts in the country.
"The worsening tensions in Bahrain constitute a brake in the resumption of a broad political dialogue that encompasses all components of Bahraini society,” Press TV quoted French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal as saying. "This dialogue is the only way to ensure national reconciliation,” he added.
Bahrain’s Administrative Court ruled on May 31 to dissolve Wa’ad and hand over all its properties to the treasury. Back in March, Bahrain’s Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments accused Wa’ad of "incitement of acts of terrorism and promoting violent and forceful overthrow” of the Manama regime.
However, a very important point regarding the current situation in Bahrain is the linkage between the regime’s increasingly violent actions and the support it receives from its regional and trans-regional backers, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United States.
For example, the Diraz bloodshed came less than 48 hours after Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah met with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of a summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Analysts believe Manama’s fresh crackdown on political dissent and King Hamad’s meeting with Trump were no coincidence.
Since the Diraz attack, people have held several protests across Bahrain to denounce the incident and express solidarity with its victims.
Since 2011, Bahrain has been the scene of peaceful anti-regime protests against the systematic abuse of the Shiite population and discrimination against them. Manama has responded to the protests with lethal force, which has drawn international criticism.
In another instance of recent criticisms, Amnesty International called upon the authorities in Bahrain to "immediately end the torture and other ill-treatment of human rights defenders." It has cited instances of where activists who are supporting pro-democratic protests have not only been physically tortured but also sexually assaulted.
The call comes after the travails of human rights activist Ebtisam al-Saegh, who has told Amnesty she was detained on May 26 and tortured and sexually assaulted because she was protesting against the regime.
