| "Citizens in the Grip of Torturers" is a rights report produced by the Bahrain Forum for Human Rights, which reveals the violations of Bahraini King Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa's sons and some members of the royal family against civilians and activists. The Bahrain forum says in its report that witnesses who were subjected to "intensive beating, torture, and violation" by indivisuals they identified as members of the ruling family. Four of who carry Al-Khalifa's last name are:
- Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa - Khalid bin Hamad Al-khalifa
- Nora bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa - Khalifa bin ahmad Al-Khalifa Who are those Involved in Violations?     Despite their young age, the Bahraini's king's sons assumed high positions as well as military ranks that should rather be ran by more experienced high-ranking officers. This, according to the report, "reflects the mentality that controls Bahrain, and that posts do not come on the basis of competence and experience, but comes under tribal or family considerations." Nasser Bin Hamad Ali Khalifa was appointed as the leader of the Royal Group since its inception in 2000, and assumed the honorary chairmanship of Bahrain Committee of Endurance Horse Race. In 2003, he became president of the Equestrian and Endurance Royal Union, and in 2007, he was appointed as a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the charity's Royal institution. In 2008, his father King Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa gave him membership in the Economic Development Board, which is chaired by Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. He was chosen as president of the Bahrain Olympic Committee in 2009, and in 2010 he was appointed as president of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports. In 2011, Nasser was promoted to colonel rank by a royal decree issued by King Hamad, who also appointed him as commander of the Royal Guard of the Bahrain Defense force. As for Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, he served as Honorary President of the Star club since 2006. He was first vice-president of the Equestrian and Endurance Royal Union since its establishment in 2003, and was appointed as its president in 2009. He became member of the Royal team of the Endurance Horse Race since its establishment in 2000. Nasser Bin Hamad Threatens Opposition, Take Part in Quelling Protests In a special episode broadcast on the Bahrain official channel about sportsmen who participated in the peaceful demonstrations that called for reforms in Pearl Roundabout, Nasser Bin Hamad made a phone call in which he threatened everyone participating in the protests, denying any right for citizens to protest peacefully and express their opinion. Violations and Testimonies Bahrain Forum for Human Rights' report revealed testimonies for victims that confirm the involvement of the names mentioned in many violations.  Ayat Al- Qurmozi was arrested for reciting a poem against the Bahraini regime during a peaceful demonstration in Pearl Roundabout.Ayat spoke after her release about the torture she was subjected to by men and women, specifying that one of the torturers was Nora Al-Khalifa. According to the report, Nora spit at Ayat, slapped her repeatedly spit inside her mouth, shocked her face with electricity repeatedly, and screamed sectarian expressions.  Another victim was Dr. Fatima Hajji who was arrested from her apartment by Nora Al-Khalifa and 25 masked men.Dr. Hajji assured she did not take part in ant protest, she only treated patients. Yet, she was insulted by Nora who also slapped her for almost 25 minutes and beat her on the feet with a piece of plastic. "When Nora Al-Khalifa searched in her (Fatima's) BlackBerry and saw two emails for Human Rights Watch (one about her arrest and another about martyr Ahmed Shams), she screamed in her face: How dare you defame our government's image; and then she electrocuted her in the face," the report stated. Dr. Hajji  was also exposed to sexual harassment under the supervision of Nora Al-Khalifa, and "was forces to stand on one leg and make sounds of animals and singing and dancing".The report also mentioned the case of a university student, Fatima Al-Bakali who was taken blindfolded to Western Al-Riffa center where Khalifa bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa investigated with her, beating, slapping, and kicking her. Khalifa offended her with sectarian terms and threatened her of being raped if she talked about what happened during investigations. "Citizens in the Grip of Torturers" also portrayed nine testimonies for victims who suffered violations that are punishable under national and international laws.  Sheikh Issa Al-Mahroos was reportedly arrested by members of the National Security Service who were dressed in civilian clothes and masked. They shattered the doors with their weapons and arrested Sheikh Al-Mahroos beating him severely all over his body. According to Al-Mahroos, he was blindfolded and handcuffed, and was taken away wearing his pajama. Patterns of Torture: 1 - Assault on the sanctity of the home. 2 - Insults and sectarian insults. 3 - Constant beating by plastic pipes. 4 - Sexual harassment 5 - Spitting in the mouth, and forcing to swallow the spit. 6 - Full stripping  Mohammed Al-Meqdad was reportedly arrested by members of the National Security Service, where a group of 50 to 60 elements wearing civilian clothes and masked surrounded the area of the house and raided it, breaking down the doors and arresting Al-Meqdad brutally. Patterns of Torture: 1 - Assault on the sanctity of houses. 2 - Cursing and sectarianism insults. 3 - Complete stripping during arbitrary detention from one of the houses. 4 - Hanging in a way that head down and feet up. 5 - Beating on feet heel for multiple hours. 6 - Use of electric shocks at sensitive places and some parts of the body. 7 - Sleep deprivation for long periods 8 - Severe beatings to the point of Bloodying on the back and head by clubs and shoes. 9 - Spitting in the mouth, and forcing him to swallow it.  Mohammed Jawad was reportedly stopped at a checkpoint, were he was told that his car’s number was on the national security’s Wanted list. After he came out of the car, he was cursed and beaten severely on the head and pelvis and taken to a police station. Patterns of Torture: 1- Verbal abuse and insults 2- Severe beatings and mental torture. 3- Sexual assault attempt. 4- Exposure to delusive execution. 5- Spitting in the mouth. 6- Threat of sexual assault on his wife and daughters. 7- Electrocution. 8- Arbitrary detention.  The Forth victim said he was with his wife and children in his car. As they passed near a checkpoint, the police searched the car but found nothing. After he searched his mobile, Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa saw messages about Pearl Roundabout, and so he insulted and beat the victim. Patterns of Torture: 1- Curses and insults 2- Severe beatings on the face and ribs 3- Sitting on the knees and collectively beating 4- Forcing to eat chili for not keeping Royal greeting  The fifth victim said he was stopped at a checkpoint and asked about his identity card, which was lost during an attack on the roundabout. When they knew that he wasn’t carrying any papers they became suspicious about him. According to the victim, Khaled bin Issa Al-Khalifa later came and asked for his phone, and when he found a message on his phone demanding the toppling of the regime and marching to the roundabout, he started beating him on his face. Patterns of torture: 1- Verbal abuse and insults. 2- Severe beatings on the face and groin, and different parts of the body. 3- Handcuffing and beatings on the genitals. 4- Forcing to sign a confession under torture.  The sixth victim was also stopped at a checkpoint as he was riding a bus of 15 passengers for a private company and heading towards his work. Khalid bin Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa took the victim's mobile phone and started searching in it, and ordered the rest of the security personnel to search the car. A picture of a cleric was found in his bus, which he said was planted in it, and messages about Pearl Roundabout. Patterns of torture: 1- Verbal abuse and insults 2- Severe beatings on the face, and different parts of the body. 3- Breaking the nose. 4- Threatening and terrorizing with weapons.  Ayat Al-Qurmozi was arrested after reading a poem against the regime during a protest in Pearl Roundabout. Patterns of torture: 1- Curses and insults 2- Severe beatings on the face and on different parts of the body. 3- Electrocution. 4- Spitting on the face. 5- Recording of confessions and apologies for broadcast on state television. 6- Forcing to open the mouth to put a wooden sweeper to clean the bathrooms.  The eightth victim was arrested during his work at the Ministry of Interior. His clothes were ripped off and he was beaten severely with a plastic cable. Patterns of torture: 1- Cursing and sectarian insults. 2- Severe beatings on sensitive areas in the body. 3- Rape attempt. 4- Electric shocks and standing for long hours.  The ninth victim said he was attacked while he was at his office. They broke into his office, directing their weapons at his head, dragging and insulting him. Patterns of torture: 1- Verbal abuse and insults 2- Severe beatings on the face, and different parts of the body. 3- threatening and terrorizing To read the whole report of "Citizens in the Grip of Torturers" Click the following Picture  | ||||
| ||||
Uprooted Palestinian
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!
No comments:
Post a Comment