The Khalifa violence machine never stops working, and does not pay attention to values and morals. Rather, it has one goal: depriving citizens of stability and security, instilling terror in their souls, and taking lives. If a march takes place, it is suppressed, some of the participants are arrested, and condemnatory slogans rise against it. While public presence in public squares, gathering places, and websites is supposed to be one of the pillars of a contemporary society that enjoys public freedoms and does not persecute opponents. A government that does not allow for an effective opposition capable of objecting to and confronting wrong policies does not belong to the era, but is considered authoritarian, backward, and oppressive.
In recent years, the current dictator has sought to hide his true bloody identity by various means, and some may have thought that he had stopped using violence as a fixed policy in dealing with the people. But the ugly face cannot be permanently hidden by makeup, as its true nature quickly appears at the first scratch. This is what happened in Bahrain these days. The injury of the young man Hussein Badaw to his forehead and head can be considered a confirmation of the policies of oppression and persecution of the Khalifa, which adopt violence in its relations with the oppressed Bahraini people. The young man did not commit a mistake or a crime, but was participating in a legitimate activity demanding the freedom and rights of his people. The attack by the authoritarian repressive forces came as a surprise and without warning. Others were injured with less serious injuries when their peaceful march was suppressed without mercy or compassion. This was a new bell for the people not to become numb and heedless, and to be aware of the reality of the situation they live in under the hateful Khalifa rule. The aforementioned attack is not unique, nor will it be the last attack targeting the people in their existence and freedom. Rather, the series of oppression and persecution will continue as long as the tyrant remains in power, supported by the forces targeting the nation, its people, and its freedom.
In addition to other facts that deepen the belief in the continuation of emergency laws and their implementation whenever the ruler desires. Public freedoms are confiscated on a large scale, and freedom of speech does not exist in reality. As soon as a citizen utters a word that includes criticism of the ruling gang and its internal or external policies, especially its relations with the occupation, the speaker is quickly arrested and subjected to abuse. Many prison sentences of up to a full year have been issued for those who participate in a protest march demanding political reform. Despite the optimism felt by some when half of the political prisoners were released, that optimism has reached a dead end with the arrest of dozens of citizens. In addition to the arrests, there are summonses for those who participate in the general movement, where the original citizen is exposed to more insults and threats of further punishment if he continues on his path of movement.
What do these facts mean? There are several things that should be noted to clarify what the country has become and what the situation could become in the future if there is no fundamental change in the current governance project in Bahrain:
First: There is no existence of the public freedoms that citizens aspire to and that generations have struggled to achieve. Freedom of expression is completely confiscated and subject to the mood of the ruler and his henchmen. Freedom of assembly does not exist. As soon as citizens gather in a public square, for example, the oppressive forces of the authorities surprise them, some are arrested and others are summoned, and the trials begin again, filling the prisons with prisoners of conscience. Even religious freedoms are not available to the overwhelming majority of citizens. The citizens insisted on performing religious rituals during the Ashura season of their own free will and refuse to abandon them no matter what the Caliphs do. Because it is linked to the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, the tyrant fears insisting on preventing and excessively suppressing the participants, because that would cause the situation to explode against him, and a comprehensive revolution might occur if this tyrant harassed the rituals of Imam Hussein or sought to prevent them or harass the participants in them. This is one of the things that worries him a lot because it was linked to the identity of Bahrain and its people centuries before the Khalifi invasion, and he knows that whoever challenges Hussein is engaging in a losing adventure.
Second: The popular movement aiming to achieve political change has not stopped for decades, and has increased in ferocity since February 14, 2011, when the largest revolution in the country’s modern history erupted. This movement finds in religious occasions an opportunity to renew the determination of citizens, and refuses to submit or surrender. Its goal is clear and cannot be reversed. This goal is to end the dark Al Khalifa era, which citizens have paid a heavy price to confront for a century. Ending it has become a popular goal passed down through generations. Popular movements aiming for this have been suppressed, but these movements are constantly renewed. The ongoing popular movement has been linked to the people of Bahrain, and is unparalleled in any other Gulf country. This is very embarrassing for a regime that pretends to be stable in order to confront the international criticism it faces. Despite the methods of oppression and repression, this movement has not stopped. Prisons are overcrowded with citizens, as are methods of oppression, abuse, torture, and unjust sentences. Is it reasonable to issue a sentence to imprison a citizen for three months for participating in a march demanding political rights? How low can the security situation go? What level can the authoritarian repression, bloodshed and hatred of the indigenous population reach?
Third: The popular national consciousness is becoming more entrenched despite the ongoing repression, policies of division and fragmentation, and policies of religious and social division. This consciousness is what made the Bahraini popular movement an example that others seeking freedom and change look up to. The Khalifas sought to contain this and change the country’s reputation from a country dominated by protests to a country where sports tournaments, car races (Formula 1) and bicycle races are held. The Crown Prince Al Khalifa sought to change the image of Bahrain under his family’s rule from a repressive country to a sporting country, but nature prevails over nurture. As soon as the security tension subsides, the tyrant takes the initiative to stir up the security situation with arrests, imprisonment, abuse and unfair trials.
Thus, the political and security situation in the country continues and the polarization deepens in its atmosphere. There is an occupied family that failed to fully integrate into the popular and national crucible, and has become dependent on external support for its survival. On the other hand, there is the indigenous people who defend their freedom, identity and rights, and sacrifice what they own to achieve the security of their homeland and preserve its independence. Therefore, the cycle of political and security tension between the two parties continues, and with it the forms of opposition and forms of steadfastness are renewed. It is a struggle over identity on the one hand, human dignity on the other hand and political rights on the third hand. Between these dimensions, the forms and means of popular movement are diversified, and the noose on the tyranny regime is increasing, as the people hope that this noose will lead to the fall of the backward ruling system for which the Bahrainis have paid a heavy price to survive.
O God, have mercy on our righteous martyrs, and grant them a position of truth with You, and release our prisoners, O Lord of the worlds.
Bahrain Islamic Freedom Movement
July 26, 2024
2024-07-26 10:07:07