Ebrahim Sharif is a secular reformer, a dignified and serious man who heads Bahrain's National Democratic Action Society (al-Wa'ad). This account of his arrest, provided by his daughter to As'ad AbuKhalil, well captures the characteristic punky arrogance of Amn al-Dawla or State Security. Sharif was one of several opposition figures arrested today in Bahrain
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Others include Abdul Khalil, a senior figure in al-Wefaq; and, Hasan Mushaima and Abdul Jalil al-Singace, two leaders of al-Haq, an oppositon group that has been particularly insistent on having Prime Minister Khalifa Bin Salman step down. (The PM has been in place since Bahrain gained independence in 1971. He is a tireless autocrat with close ties to the Saudis and it is likely that he has been a constant hardline voice during the recent protests.)
It is worth reflecting that there are three states in the region that persist in apartheid style discrmination: Bahrain, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. As American applaud the courage of demonstrators across the Middle East, is it not past time to ask why U.S. so avidly abets blatantly repugnant policies?
Update:
Eight opposition figures and reformers have been arrested.
See Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Amnesty.
Also see Patrick Cockburn on the blatant brutality of Bahraini security forces.
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights on incidents denied by government.
.Others include Abdul Khalil, a senior figure in al-Wefaq; and, Hasan Mushaima and Abdul Jalil al-Singace, two leaders of al-Haq, an oppositon group that has been particularly insistent on having Prime Minister Khalifa Bin Salman step down. (The PM has been in place since Bahrain gained independence in 1971. He is a tireless autocrat with close ties to the Saudis and it is likely that he has been a constant hardline voice during the recent protests.)
It is worth reflecting that there are three states in the region that persist in apartheid style discrmination: Bahrain, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. As American applaud the courage of demonstrators across the Middle East, is it not past time to ask why U.S. so avidly abets blatantly repugnant policies?
Update:
Eight opposition figures and reformers have been arrested.
See Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Amnesty.
Also see Patrick Cockburn on the blatant brutality of Bahraini security forces.
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights on incidents denied by government.
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