14th October 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahrain king blasts 'foreign' links in unrest
Bahrain's king says his country will stand against foreign interference a clear reference to Iran in clashes between the Sunniled ruling system and majority Shiites seeking a greater political voice. The comments Sunday to parliament by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa are part of efforts to link Iran to the 20month Shiite uprising in the strategic Gulf nation, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Iran has denounced the violence, and there is no rm evidence of Tehran aiding the protesters. Bahrain presents a difcult challenge for Washington, which seeks to keep its military ties but also has expressed concern about the unrest that has claimed more than 50 lives. Read More Criminal investigation police questioned him in the presence of two lawyers over statements he made during a visit to Egypt earlier this month, according to a statement carried by the BNA state news agency. Salman admitted referring to a "revolution in Bahrain" but said he "did not mean toppling the regime, while he meant demanding freedom, democracy, equality and respect for human rights," BNA said. Read More prison sentences, called their action "The Lost Justice," and have stopped taking food and medicine, the lawyers said. A sixth medic has been released because of time already served. The medics reiterated accusations that the authorities used "harsh and systematic torture" during months of initial detention in the wake of a deadly crackdown on protests in March last year. Read More against resorting to violence for political aims.

Bahrain king urges talks, and to make 'violence' a crime

Bahrain's King Hamad said at the opening of parliament on Sunday that the government was open to dialogue with the opposition and also urged the body to criminalise "violence." "The door to talks remains open to everybody," he said in a speech to MPs, while also warning the opposition

"Demands cannot be met through the use of force and violence but through dialogue and national understanding," he said of near daily antigovernment protests by Shiites in the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom. The Shiite-led opposition in Bahrain wants a constitutional monarchy. Read More

is going through, Al Arabiya TV reported him as saying.

Bahrain questions Shiite leader over statements made in Egypt

Bahrain police on Sunday questioned cleric Sheikh Ali Salman, who heads the largest Shiite opposition formation Al-Wefaq, over remarks related to "sectarian and security" matters, the authorities said.

Bahraini King says door for dialogue open, hails countrys defense ministry
Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa said that the door for dialogue is open, when he addressed the new National Assembly on Sunday. Al-Khalifa said that the visions for a consensus on national dialogue represent a national desire to start a new phase to understand what the country

He added that these visions have led to new important constitutional amendments, that will cement democracy and consolidate transparency, human rights and freedom of expression. In May, the King has approved amendments to the countrys constitution that give more power to the parliament by allowing it to have more control over government ministers. Read More

Jailed Bahrain medics 'go on hunger strike'

Five medics jailed in connection with last year's anti-regime protests in Bahrain went on hunger strike on Sunday, urging international rights groups to campaign for their release, lawyers said. The Shiite medics, who have been in prison since October 1 after the Gulf kingdom's highest court upheld their

Irish-trained doctor among five on hunger strike in Bahrain

Five doctors, including one trained in Ireland, who were jailed for their part in antiregime protests in Bahrain have gone on hunger strike. The medics, including Ali AlEkri, who trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, are urging human rights

groups to campaign for their release.

They have been in prison for the past two weeks after Bahrain's highest court upheld their sentences. The doctors claim they have been systematically tortured during their detention causing injuries and in some cases disabilities. Read More

Bahrain: Overturn Rights Activists Conviction

Bahrains court of appeal should overturn a lower court conviction for illegal assembly against the human rights activist Nabeel Rajab and cancel his three-year prison term, Human Rights Watch said today. Because the authorities have presented no evidence that he advocated or participated in violence, his conviction is a violation of his

right to freedom of peaceful assembly, Human Rights Watch said. The court is scheduled to hear Rajabs appeal on October 16, 2012. A criminal court sentenced Rajab on August 16 to three years in prison for organizing and participating in three demonstrations between January and March 2012. Rajab is president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and a member of the advisory committee of the Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa Division. Read More

HRW says Bahrain should overturn rights activists conviction

Bahrains court of appeal should overturn a lower court conviction for illegal assembly against the human rights activist Nabeel Rajab and cancel his three-year prison term, Human Rights Watch said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Because the authorities have presented no evidence that he advocated or participated in violence, his conviction is a violation of his right to freedom of peaceful assembly, Human Rights Watch said. The court is scheduled to hear Rajabs appeal on October 16, 2012. Read More

Bahrain jailed medics go on hunger strike

In Bahrain, ve jailed medics have gone on hunger strike to urge international efforts for their release, lawyers say. Read More

Saudi-backed Bahraini forces clash with protestors

Heavy clashes have been reported in Bahrain between Saudi-backed forces and protestors who have taken to the streets to show solidarity with political prisoners and jailed medics. Read More

Rights groups call on Bahrain to release activist

Human rights groups urged Bahrains court of appeal on Sunday to quash what they call the politically motivated conviction of the leader of the countrys main human rights group. Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, received a three-year sentence in August for involvement in

illegal practices, inciting gatherings and calling for unauthorized marches via social networking sites. Rajab is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday to appeal his conviction and sentence. Under Bahrains Penal Code, it is a criminal offense for ve or more people to gather in a public place to undermine public security, even if intended to achieve legitimate purpose. Read More