14 Years old Bahraini boy killed

The story in Bahrain and around the world today seems to be the 14 year old martyr Ali Jawad Alshaikh from Sitra. It was reported in almost every reputable news agency and in Amnesty International- Teenage activist killed in Bahrain protest.

Remember when the 13 year old Syrian boy was tortured? It caused chaos around the world and became the face of the uprising. Well, Bahraini authorties today did not only torture a boy but killed him with a tear gas canister fired by riot police. A direct shot in the head, and what is worse is that doctors refused to treat him in the hospital where he was taken. Instead of questioning the doctors, the police went to arrest the hospital security guards. 

Nabeel Rajab, president of Bahrain Center of Human Rights accompanied three eye witnesses to the ministry of interior (MOI) to give their statement that riot police fired at Ali from close range at around 8:40am while he was protesting. 

American president Barrack Obama called the king of Bahrain earlier, I am not sure what they talked about after they exchanged greetings on Eid. I wonder which of the below list of newspapers Mr. Obama reads, but I'm pretty sure he would come across at least one of them, and when he does we expect him to speak up and condemn such police brutality. It is morally unacceptable for Mr. President to remain silent while his Bahraini ally keeps killing. 

There were reports of an intiative from Gulf leaders to resolve the ongoing issues in Bahrain. Saudi and Bahrainis, as reported, rejected it. This could be one of the reasons that even Aljazeera Arabic reported the story today [Direct Link]. In a U-Turn Iran (Asaad closest ally) last week urges Asaad to consider some of his people's demands in an unexpected turn of events. When will Bahrain's allies, such as The United States and The United Kingdom, condem the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters?

Story in the media:

The Associated press.

New York Times.

The Financial Times.

Washington Post.

Bloomberg.

CNN International.

BBC World.

Aljazeera English.

Voice of America.

The Jerusalem post.

Canada Views.

This is a call to Mr. Hague and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to start acting and condemning the human rights violations in Bahrain. Wake up, and forget about your interests for once. Human lives are much more important than oil and trade!

Bahrain: News round up

Start with the amazing Patrick Cockburn from the British Independent Poet who became symbol of Bahrain resistance is jailed

The Author interviewed Ayat's brother Yousif over the phone who informed him that Ayat is not receiving as much torture as she used to and authorities are treating her a little better than before. This however doesnt mean that she is not getting tortured or humiliated anymore. Her lawyer was not allowed to present his argument or speak in her defence in court yesterday, he however submitted a formal appeal against the one year sentence. The Author then goes to mention the huge turn up for Alwifaq organised event "Everyone's Homeland" and the challenging speech by Sheikh Ali Salman. The revelotuion, simply, can not be crushed by fear. [End]

The Guardian had an article as well about Ayat Bahrain student jailed for year over protest poems

From the Associated Press the paper explored how poetry is a powerful tool in the Arab world, Ayat cries to the King to step down have been rewarded with torture and imprisonment. The 30% minority Sunni rulers supported by their closest allies Saudi (who helped crushed the protesters in March) have tightened the grip on Shia and showing no signs in backing off claiming that Shitte majority are backed by Iran. Yet Shitte showed no signs of backing off either as over 10,000 people gathered in Saar answering Alwifaq calls. [End]

Both article had comment about the US interest in Bahrain and the importance of dialogue in stabilising the the country that host the US 5th Fleet

The Washington Post had this article Tribunal sends Bahrain protester to prison

The same article from the Associated Press shows how Ayat became a celebrity in Bahrain for her revlutionary poem she recited back in March. She was sentenced to one year in jail for "anti-state charges, including inciting hatred, the official Bahrain News Agency reported". [End]

I personally read, listen (over and over) to her poems, i failed to feel the hatred, it was rather funny at some stage. If you want a real hate preaching then look at this guy Abu Hamza al-Masri. 

So many newspaper around the world wrote about Ayat, most of them had the story from the Associated Press (AP) only Cockburn was origional. 

Today's Bahrain news wrapped up

Will start with the leading Independent- 

Patrick Cockburn yet again writing about Ayat al-Gormozi! This senior news editor has been very busy lately with Arab spring. Today he writes Detained poet 'beaten across the face with electric cable'

Interviewing Ayat's mother over the phone he was informed, in graphic detail, about the horrific treatment her 20 year old daughter has to endure during her imprisonment since March 30th. the brutal account detailed, amongst many, how she was beaten across the face with electric cables, kept in a tiny solitary confinement cell where the air conditioning was on constant full power and that she was being completely isolated from any of the other prisoners. Moreover, and aside from the psychological abuse she endures on a daily basis, she gets forced to clean the police officers toilets, cells and corridors with her bare hands.

Another article in the Independent today was from Kate Allen the director of Amnesty International UK. She writes Kate Allen: A warped response to calls for democracy

She talks about both the medical staff and Ayat and about the torture they suffer in prison, simply for taking to the streets in peaceful protest and demanding their rights. They are forced to sign false confessions after which they are filmed "admitting" these in front of the camera. She mentions reports by Amnesty International which focus on the situation in Bahrain and emphasises the lack of thorough independent investigations. 

Reuters have the story about the Kuwaiti Nasser Abul who was arrested for simly sympathising with Bahraini people. Kuwait arrests man over Twitter posts - source

Kuwait authorities arrested the man over his Twitter activities, specifically in regards to a pictures he posted of Martyr Sager showing torture signs on his body. So far there are no charges pressed against him. Reuters explains the close relationship between the two ruling families in Bahrain and Kuwait. 

France24 reports on Bernie Ecclestone made a last-ditch desperatly trying to save the prestigious Formula 1 in Bahrain Formula One boss in last-ditch Bahrain bid: FIA

Adding another twist to the ongoing debate, Ecclestone proposes to move the race date to December after rather than October. However the FIA still need guarantees that Bahrain is safe to host the event, which in my opinion is impossible with quarter of the BIC staff detained or sacked. 

Last but not least is a video [The Telegraph] of Bahrain police tear gas unarmed protesters

Video purported to show Bahrain security forces firing tear gas at unarmed civilians has been posted online.

Which says it all.