Rights Group: Bahrain in Very Dangerous Direction

Rasa - Human rights groups expressed deep concerns over deteriorating situation in tiny Persian Gulf Island of Bahrain where the West-backed Al-Khalifa regime has been cracking down on pro-democracy activists since 2011.

News ID: 436092

Date: 29 January 2018 - 18:35

RNA - "Bahrain is now clearly sliding in a new and very dangerous direction with 37 people arrested yesterday alone," US-based Human Rights First said on Thursday, Al-Waght reported.

"The fairly weak level of restraint that was there before has all but gone," Brian J. Dooley ,Senior Advisor at Human Rights First, stressed, adding that countries influential in Bahrain such as the United States and Britain needed to step up their criticism.

Dimitris Christopoulos, head of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, an umbrella group, expressed concern about health and safety of prominent Bahraini activist Nabeel Rajab who was sentenced to two years in prison in July on charges related to TV interviews in which prosecutors allege he disseminated rumors and false news about the situation in Bahrain in a way "that undermines the prestige of the state".

Christopoulos stressed that the imprisoned activist has been denied adequate medical care and is being held with extremists, putting his life at risk.

"We have received alarming credible reports about the reliability of the medical care afforded to Rajab and we have reasons to believe that his health conditions are not treated in a very good way," Christopoulos said at a press conference in Beirut.

"Our sources... reveal that Nabeel's safety is at risk and we fear for his life," he added.

Rajab has faced two trials, one concerning his criticism of the ruling regime in alleged interviews he has given and statements made to foreign media, and another having to do with his critical tweets.

Dozens of Bahraini people have been jailed and stripped of citizenship since a popular uprising began in the tiny Persian Gulf state in mid-February 2011. The kingdom has also deported citizens whose nationalities had been revoked.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have also held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.

They are demanding that the Al-Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. In mid-March 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.

Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a result of the Al-Khalifah regime’s crackdown.

Last year, Bahrain’s parliament and king granted military courts jurisdiction to try civilians charged with "terrorism”, a vaguely defined legal term.

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