24th October 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahrain opposition leader denies violence as trial starts, but says U.S.backed monarchy must reform
A prominent opposition gure in Bahrain told a court hearing Thursday that he rejects violence but stands by his calls for peaceful anti-government protests to force reforms in the troubled Gulf nation. The arrest of Khalil alMarzooq last month touched off outrage from international rights groups and prompted Bahrain's Shiite-led opposition to suspend political talks with the Sunni monarchy and its allies. Bahrain has been gripped by nonstop unrest after the kingdom's Shiite majority began an uprising in early 2011 calling for a greater political voice. Read More Wefaq opposition formation who was arrested on September 17, appeared in court in the presence of his lawyers and observers from several foreign embassies. On October 5, the general prosecutor charged Marzooq with "promoting acts that amount to terrorist crimes" and of using his position in Al-Wefaq, a legal association, to "call for crimes that are considered terror acts under the law." Read More A document leaked by UKbased watchdog Bahrain Watch appears to be a public tender placed by the country's Ministry of the Interior on June 16 for more than 1.6 million shells containing the chemical. As Slate's Joshua Keating points out, that'smore cans of tear gas than there are people in Bahrain, a country with an estimated population of 1.3 million and home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. Read More

Bahraini court temporarily releases Shi'ite opposition leader

A senior Bahraini opposition politician was temporarily freed on Thursday by the court trying him on charges that include inciting terrorism, in a surprise conciliatory ruling in the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state.

Khalil al-Marzouq, a former parliament member, was detained in September by police investigating his alleged promotion of terrorism, angering his Shi'ite Islamist al-Wefaq party, Bahrain's largest opposition group. Unrest has gripped Bahrain since a 2011 uprising led by its Shi'ite majority demanding reforms and more share in government in the kingdom ruled by the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa dynasty. Read More constitute crimes of terrorism.

Bahrain court frees senior opponent as trial opens

A Bahraini criminal court released prominent Shiite opposition gure Khalil Marzooq at the opening of his trial Thursday for inciting "terrorist crimes" and set the next hearing for November 18. Marzooq, an ex-MP and a senior gure in the main Al-

Bahrain court releases Al Wefaq leader Khalil Marzouq

A Bahrain court on Thursday released Khalil Marzouq, the deputy secretary-general of Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, after adjourning his trial to November 18. Marzouq is facing charges of inciting terrorism and promoting acts that

First Attorney-General Abdul Rahman Al Sayed earlier this month said that the charges levelled after the Public Prosecution completed its investigations of the case also included using a position within a legally formed political association to call for committing crimes that constitute acts of terrorism punishable under the Community Protection Law. Read More was arrested after being summoned to a police station on Tuesday.

Bahrain Tear Gas Tender By Interior Ministry Fuels Fears That Kingdom Is Stockpiling Dangerous Chemical
Human rights groups around the world are growing increasingly alarmed by what seems to be a push by the Bahraini government to stockpile massive volumes of tear gas.

Khalil Marzook: Bahrain court frees opposition figure

A leading member of Bahrain's main Shia opposition party arrested on terrorism charges has been released temporarily. Khalil Marzook, assistant secretary general of Wefaq,

He was charged for inciting youth violence and trying to overthrow the government. Rights activists regard the surprising court ruling as a conciliatory gesture aimed at placating public anger. Read More

Rights group exposes new teargas shipment to Bahrain

A leaked document from Bahrain's interior ministry detailing a request for a tear gas and grenade shipment has set off an online Bahraini campaign calling for the shipment's halt. "Stop the Shipment" was launched on 17 October by a bevy of activists from

Bahrain Watch, an independent UK-based research and advocacy organisation. The tender document, penned on 16 June, invites proposals for the provision of 1.6 million canisters of tear gas, 145,000 stun grenades, 45,000 hand grenades, and another 45,000 teargas grenades. The request asks supplying companies to submit proposals to the ministry by no later than 16 July. Read More

Video: Tear gas fired at protesters in Bani Jamra, Bahrain

Activists in Bahrain clashed with police in the western region of Bani Jamra on October 23, following the funeral of teenager Ali Khalil al-Sabbagh. Police claimed the youth died

while carrying explosives, and that a gun and ammunition were found near his body, according to reports. Police red tear gas at mourners, and responded with stun grenades after petrol bombs were thrown at them. Read More

Can Bahrain Find a Path Forward?

Bahrain remains mired in a political stalemate with little serious progress toward reconciliation and reform, but few signs of a return to the acute instability of 2011. The National Dialogue established in 2011 has stalled, society remains polarized, and some prominent members of the Shia political opposition have turned to boycotting the political process. The Bahraini leadership enjoys full backing from Saudi Arabia, which views the island kingdom as a vital bulwark against Iran, and continues to host the U.S. Navy, which has meant Washingtons criticism of the governments crackdown and human rights abuses has been muted. Read More

The political impasse in Bahrain has certain similarities to the recent bewildering lack of constructive politics in Washingtonclinging to hard-line positions, the inability to nd areas of compromise, and deliberate exaggeration in the media. And some gures in both countries do not seem much interested in nding ways to move forward. Read More

Its Now or Never

Contrary to optimistic expectations, since the Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, was promoted to the position of deputy prime minister, Bahrain has entered a new phase of oppression and civil unrest, characterized by mass arrests, harsh prison sentences, revoking of citizenship, the revival of torture and excessive force, and attacking activists under false charges of terrorism (including the arrest of Khalil al-Marzooq, a member of the al-Wefaq opposition party). Read More

Denial Not a Good Plan