ID :
188709
Wed, 06/15/2011 - 09:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/188709
The shortlink copeid
Bahrain regime can't tolerate any opinions : Activist
London, June 15, IRNA – The jailing of a young student for reading a poem shows that the Bahrain regime cannot tolerate any opinions about the need for reforms in the country, says a leading UK-based activist in the Bahrain Freedom Movement.
“It is really an indication of how the regime has become so much embattled and weak that it cannot tolerate a young girl saying a few words in front of people,” said academic and journalist Saeed al-Shahabi.
“Most of the people in jail have done nothing more than expressing their opinions about reforms and changing the situation but have only been met with all these ferocious attacks and human rights violations.” Shahabi told IRNA.
He described Sunday's sentencing of 20 year old Ayat al-Qermezi to one year in prison by a military court for reading a poem critical of the Bahrain monarchy as “one of the most outrageous acts of abuse and torture among all detainees” held after pro-democracy protests.
“Anyone who loves freedom and who respects international law would object to the sentencing. Jailing people for their opinion is not acceptable,” he said.
Shahabi confirmed that al-Qermezi had been reportedly tortured while held incommunicado after she was forced to give herself up when her family was threatened.
“Her whereabouts was not known for weeks but it is now confirmed that she has been subjected to an enormous degree of abuse and that is why she is being kept in jail, not only because she said something they did not like but to cover what they have done to her,” he said.
Amnesty International, among other human rights organisations; have condemned the jailing of the female poet merely for expressing her views in public, saying it demonstrated “how free speech and assembly are brutally denied to ordinary Bahrainis.”
The Bahraini activist said he expected the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to call for sanctions against regime for their “total abrogation” of international norms.
“It is responsible for ignoring all values. You cannot torture and kill people for expressing their views.” he said.
Shahabi also condemned the acting US ambassador in Bahrain for supporting the regime's brutal repressive measures against any kind of democratic reforms in the country.
He accused the Americans of being in alliance with the regime and taking sides in directing the clampdown, saying the US was “complicit including in the torture and killing.”/end
“It is really an indication of how the regime has become so much embattled and weak that it cannot tolerate a young girl saying a few words in front of people,” said academic and journalist Saeed al-Shahabi.
“Most of the people in jail have done nothing more than expressing their opinions about reforms and changing the situation but have only been met with all these ferocious attacks and human rights violations.” Shahabi told IRNA.
He described Sunday's sentencing of 20 year old Ayat al-Qermezi to one year in prison by a military court for reading a poem critical of the Bahrain monarchy as “one of the most outrageous acts of abuse and torture among all detainees” held after pro-democracy protests.
“Anyone who loves freedom and who respects international law would object to the sentencing. Jailing people for their opinion is not acceptable,” he said.
Shahabi confirmed that al-Qermezi had been reportedly tortured while held incommunicado after she was forced to give herself up when her family was threatened.
“Her whereabouts was not known for weeks but it is now confirmed that she has been subjected to an enormous degree of abuse and that is why she is being kept in jail, not only because she said something they did not like but to cover what they have done to her,” he said.
Amnesty International, among other human rights organisations; have condemned the jailing of the female poet merely for expressing her views in public, saying it demonstrated “how free speech and assembly are brutally denied to ordinary Bahrainis.”
The Bahraini activist said he expected the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to call for sanctions against regime for their “total abrogation” of international norms.
“It is responsible for ignoring all values. You cannot torture and kill people for expressing their views.” he said.
Shahabi also condemned the acting US ambassador in Bahrain for supporting the regime's brutal repressive measures against any kind of democratic reforms in the country.
He accused the Americans of being in alliance with the regime and taking sides in directing the clampdown, saying the US was “complicit including in the torture and killing.”/end
