human rights in bahrain: bah bah bah, bah bah bah bahrain
TRANSCRIPT
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7/31/2019 Human Rights in Bahrain: BAH BAH BAH, BAH BAH BAH BAHRAIN
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Human Rights in Bahrain
On February 14th
2011, following several decades of brutal government
repression against Bahrains Shiite community, protesters took to the streets in a youth-
led Day of Rage demanding; political reforms, basic human rights and access to state
services. Since 1990s opposition groups have been imbued with a human rights frame
and as they started to mobilize thepeople, the movements demands reflect such a
development. However, the non-violent protests were met with a harsh government
response, and after international condemnation, King Hamad call on his son to create
national dialogue with opposition leaders.
At first glance Crown Prince Salman al-Khalifia seemed to have convinced
government hardliners and members of his family to work with the oppositions and
guarantee basic human rights. Whereupon, King Hamad freed some of the detained
opposition leaders, made the 14th
of February a national holiday to remember victims,
and created ICI to investigate security forces human rights violations. However, leading
opposition groups -particularly the al-Wafad partywere responsible for undercutting
the national dialogue because of their inability to manage protests and because their
demands were prerequisite for dialogue. Additionally, as a result of al-Wafad and youth
organizations who gathered at the royal palace, calling for a Bahraini republic and an
end to the constitutional monarch, Saudi Arabia and Qatar sent military troops in to quell
revolt.
The Bahraini governments list of human rights violations against Shiite majority
are extensive, to say the least, but between all its unlawful imprisonment, torture, forced
exiles, institutionalized discrimination and economic inequality. Many Bahrainis,
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especially Shiite majority, saw government concessions in the early part of 2000, as a
indication that times were changing in the small GCC state, and a future held promise of
freedom for all. In the aftermath of 2011-2012 protests Bahrains modest reforms (islah),
including women rights, broadening political participation and allowing civil society
have been completely abrogated, even to the point where King Hamad declaration of a
state of emergency. And some would say government concessions to opposition before
and after the February protests were only a faade, to appease U.S. pressure and to cause
future sectarian clashes.
Moreover, the 2011-2012 protests have inflicted irreparable damage upon Shiite
community, and especially future prospects of a free and equal society. A particular
barrier to Bahrains future is the fear and distrust between Sunni-Shiite communities that
have been exacerbated to unprecedented levels. Where in fact, both sects had protested
together on February 14th
to ensure government guarantees of basic human rights. What
will determine Bahrains future development and engagement with human rights
frameworks depends upon the willingness of U.S.s to act as an arbitrator as well as its
ability to foster reconciliation (Sulha) between Shiite opposition leaders and Bahrains
royal regime.
Nevertheless, it appears Bahraini protests have been internalized by Royal family,
Sunni leaders and community, United States, that geopolitical issues will inevitably
trump those that deal with human rights. This view reflects many developments over the
past year and thus the future opposition leaders should take heed of this particularity as
well as become better equipped with managerial skills and grass roots organization, for if
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the leaders cannot connect with the people, a revolution will be bound to fail from the
start.