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Pushing for a democratic transformation of Bahrain.
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22/02/2017

Bahrain Campaign's statement:
Event summary: Conference - Overdue change in the Middle East - the case of Bahrain
                               

During the week's anniversary of Bahrain's February 14 uprising, a conference was held in London that was panelled by various activists, analysts, personally effected individuals and researchers. The conference highlighted the fact that there is a change going on in the Middle East, with a focus on Bahrain. The conference concluded with key recommendations the international community and grassroot activists can take up to put pressure on the Al-Khalifa regime, and ensure they are held accountable and the world knows of their illegitimate rule and crimes against the indigenous population.

The conference reached an unanimous conclusion that there is a paramount need to end the tribal hereditary Al-Khalifa dictatorship, if events are to settle and the country to move in the right direction. 

The conference also pressed on key issues affecting the population, which are the rule of law or in reality the lack and complete manipulation of the law, and state-sponsored repressive acts from the regime, including nationality revocation and clampdown on breadth of political opposition. 

Ultimately, the participants of the conference concluded with key recommendations for the international community to act to push Al-Khalifa's tyrannic regime to the edge, and the complementary role activists can play, through social media and international conferences, to bring to the fore the Al-Khalifa illegimitate rule aswell as shed light on all bloody and violent reccurent behaviours of Al-Khalifa's security apparatus. Coupled with this, Bahrain will only truly move in the right direction by a complete overhaul of the rulership in the country, where Al-Khalifa logically would not have a role if human rights, democracy, and rule of law are to be upheld as such principles have become incompatible and mutually exclusive with their regime. 

 
Other developments:
European Parliament strongly condemns executions in Bahrain and Kuwait
                              

The European Parliament strongly condemns the executions of seven people by the Kuwaiti authorities on 25 January 2017 and the executions of three people in Bahrain on 15 January 2017. It deplores the decision of these countries’ authorities to revive capital punishment when more than 160 other UN states have outlawed or ceased to use it, and calls upon Kuwait and Bahrain to impose a moratorium on the death penalty as a step towards its abolition.  

 

Further, MEPs are extremely worried by reports from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that defendants in both countries did not receive a fair trial, and that one of those convicted in Bahrain was under the age of 18 at the time of his alleged crime. They reiterate the EU’s opposition to capital punishment and call for a retrial of those currently awaiting execution according to international standards.

Gulf News: Bahrain opposition loses appeal against dissolution 
                              
 

Dubai: Bahrain’s top court rejected on Monday an appeal by the country’s main opposition group Al Wefaq against its dissolution over terrorism-related charges, a judicial source said.

The court of cassation “denied the appeal against the dissolution of Al Wefaq and the seizure of its assets,” the source said.

The decision comes three months after the Gulf kingdom’s largest Shiite formation appealed a court order to dissolve it over charges of inciting violence, encouraging demonstrations and harbouring terrorism.

The court ruling drew criticism from the United Nations.

Al Wefaq leader Saeikh Ali Salman has been behind bars since 2014 after being convicted of inciting hatred.

AP: Bahrain protesters, police clash as island marks uprising
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Anti-government protesters in Bahrain clashed with police on Tuesday as they marked the sixth anniversary of the tiny island kingdom's Arab Spring uprising.

Images posted on social media showed masked protesters hurling rocks and other projectiles at riot police, who responded with tear gas. Protesters elsewhere were seen marching peacefully through rain-soaked streets, carrying the national flag.

Large-scale protests led by Bahrain's Shiite majority erupted on Feb. 14, 2011, demanding political reforms from the country's Sunni monarchy. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets then, with many occupying a prominent roundabout known as Pearl Square.

Authorities backed by forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates eventually suppressed the protests. The government later agreed to some reforms, but low-level unrest continues.

At the United Nations, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq reiterated "U.N. concerns about restrictions on fundamental freedoms, including restrictions on fundamental freedoms including rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression in Bahrain."

"We have encouraged and continue to encourage the government to undertake meaningful and confidence-building measures including a genuine national dialogue so as to help ensure peace, stability and prosperity for all Bahrainis," Haq said.

Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

 

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