Tunisia: "Bahrain Free Free, Khalifa Out Out”

Eslam al-Rihani

In a remarkable statement Thursday, the new president of Tunisia Moncef Marzouki stressed his country’s support to the Bahrain people, who are peacefully revolting against the dictatorship of the King of Bahrain Hamad Al Khalifa. "Bahrain Free Free, Khalifa Out Out”, Marzouki boldly said after a meeting with reporters in the capital city of Tunisia, calling upon the king of Bahrain to step down. Marzouki also announced his advocacy of the Bahraini people’s revolution and noted that it is an issue of Arab peoples living under dictatorship regimes. “Bahrainis are suffering from corruption, injustice and oppression just like what Tunisians had suffered.” Marzouki also stressed the battle of Bahrainis is part of that of Tunisians. “We say to our brothers in Bahrain, we the Tunisians support them as Arabs, and support them in their struggle, because the problems they have, such as corruption, injustice and oppression are the same that we have had." Marzouki expressed beliefs that "the Bahraini regime wants to play with the sectarian card, i.e. the Sunnis and Shiites, but we in Tunisia do not consider the issue as such. We believe it is the cause of peoples suffering from the Arab dictatorships which do not differentiate between Sunnis and Shiites." "It is the battle of peoples against the tyrants and has nothing to do with religions or sects … We say to our brothers in Bahrain: we totally stand by your side, we feel pain when you feel it, and we consider your battle a part of our battle." It is worthy to note that Tunisian President’s statements came amid a semi-total Arab and Muslim silence regarding Al-Khalifa’s brutal crackdown against the peaceful revolution of Bahraini people. International organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the U.N. human rights agency, have repeatedly accused the government of violating citizens' rights, citing allegations of torture, unfair trials, excessive use of force and violent repression. In November, investigations conducted by the panel commissioned by Ben-Khalifa revealed that security forces "used excessive force" while "many detainees were tortured," Bahraini Commission of inquiry stated. Bahraini Authorities say 24 people, including four policemen, were killed in the unrest, while the Shiite-led opposition puts the death toll at 30. Hundreds more were injured. In March, Bahraini security forces boosted by some 1,000 Gulf troops crushed the month-long uprising in Manama's Pearl Square, epicenter of the peaceful anti-government movement.

Source: Al-Manar Website

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