20th March 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahrain's king pledges to press on with reforms - 20/03/12
Bahrain's King Hamad pledged Tuesday to press on with political reforms, more than a year after quelling a Shiite-led uprising, as the UN rights office criticised the kingdom for its ongoing crackdown of dissent. Speaking in Manama after receiving a report on progress in implementing the recommendations of an international probe into last year's crackdown, he said their implementation "reflects Bahrain's commitment to reform in all fields." The monarch also said the "doors to dialogue were, and remain, open," without, however, referring to a call by the opposition for a "serious" dialogue to end the country's political deadlock. King Hamad, whose Sunni Muslim Al-Khalifa dynasty rules the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom, insisted that security is a must for reform and sovereignty. Read More Reprinted here:
Bahrains king pledges to press on with reforms iafrica.com | news | world news | Bahrain king to bring reform Bahrain's king pledges to press on with reforms - FRANCE 24

Bahrain opposition: Free prisoners before talks - 20/03/12

Bahrain's king said Tuesday the Gulf nation has made progress enacting political reforms in response to the uprising by the country's Shiite majority for more rights. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said improvements have been made to the security forces and the judicial system after international investigators criticized them in a report on the unrest. The monarch's comments were part of his speech on Bahrain's efforts to implement the report's recommendations, aimed at

encouraging reconciliation between Shiites and a Sunni minority that rules the tiny but strategically important island that is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Read More Reprinted here:
Bahrain's king says political reforms on right track following Shiite uprising - 3/20/2012 1:00:39 PM | Newser Bahrain's King: Political Reforms on Right Track - ABC News Bahrain's king: Political reforms on right track - CBS 3 Springeld WSHM Bahrain's king: Political reforms on right track (OneNewsNow.com) Bahrain's king: Political reforms on right track Bahrain's king: Political reforms on right track | WSLS 10 Bahrains king says political reforms on right track following Shiite uprising - The Washington Post Bahrain's king: Political reforms on right track

Hamad welcomes reforms - 20/03/12

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain said Tuesday he approves of reforms made since a November report criticized his handling of political protests. Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority told CNN: "The government carefully studied the recommendations and

received leading international legal, policing, media and other experts, to advise decision-makers on the most appropriate way for Bahrain to implement the structural and legislative reforms necessary. The king welcomed the 'significant broad progress' that has been made." Read More Reprinted here:
Hamad welcomes reforms - World Report - World - Dalje.com

discrimination and democratic reforms.

Bahrain says significant progress made on reforms 20/03/12

Bahrain's king said on Tuesday his island state had rolled out real reforms in the wake of international criticism of its crackdown on protesters last year but now needed to prove it could put them into practice. At least 1,000 people were detained when the Sunni Muslim kingdom crushed protests led by its Shi'ite majority demanding curbs to the power of the ruling family, an end to sectarian

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa said the country - a key ally by Washington in its conflict with Iran since it provides a base for the U.S. navy's Fifth Fleet - had made significant progress in reforming its security forces, judiciary, social policy and media since the unrest in February-March 2011. Read More Reprinted here:
Bahrain monarch says signicant progress made on reforms Bahrain monarch says signicant' progress made on reforms Signicant progress made on reforms says Bahrain Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Bahrain says signicant progress made

laws and security forces in the aftermath of unrest last spring.

Bahrain king to receive report on changes after crackdown - 20/03/12

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain is expected Tuesday to receive a report on the implementation of recommended changes to the Middle Eastern state's

In November, Bahrain's Independent Commission of Inquiry issued a report that was highly critical of the authorities' reaction to the protests, which began in February 2011 - spurred by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Read More

gauge what progress the government has made since November, when an independent investigation concluded that security forces had killed unarmed protesters and tortured and abused prisoners during the crackdown.

Bahrain lauds progress as critics decry delay 20/03/12

The Bahraini government has made significant progress in implementing reforms over the last four months, according to a new report from a commission appointed by the king, a claim which opposition leaders have already dismissed as an exaggeration. The National Commission delivered its report to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during a lavish ceremony at Sakhir Palace. It was reminiscent of the scene nearly four months earlier, when a previous panel, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) reported on widespread abuses committed last year during the unrest here. Read More

Read More

Scorecard: Bahrain's progress - 20/03/12

The Bahraini government has undoubtedly taken some steps towards implementing the BICI report's recommendations. The report from the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry contains more than two dozen recommendations for the government. The government claims that 90 per cent of these have been implemented; critics say the figure is closer to 10 per cent. The scorecard below gauges the governments progress on a selection of the BICI recommendations. Read More

Bahrain praises 'progress' toward reforms 20/03/12

Bahrain has claimed "significant and broad progress" toward reforms in a report following up earlier recommendations to correct widespread abuse committed during the government's crackdown on pro-democracy protests last year. The report, submitted by the country's National Commission to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa on Tuesday, is meant to King Hamad said in a speech delivered on Tuesday the doors to dialogue were, and remain, open.

Ali Alaswad - No political changes in Bahrain 20/03/12 WATCH HERE Inside Story - Bahrain - 20/03/12
With Ali Alaswad, Michael Stephens. Jamal Fakhro WATCH HERE

protesters, who were not shown. Toward the end of the video one of the police appears to lighting a Molotov cocktail and hurls it at protesters without provocation. The Ministry of Interior said it would investigate the report immediately and the officer could face disciplinary action, though it was not clear what sanctions could be considered. Read More

Bahrains King Hamad: Manama regime remains open to dialogue - 20/03/12

Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has claimed the Manama regime is open to dialogue amid the ongoing violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in the country.

Bahrain: Molotov cocktail policeman "to be investigated" The Bahraini monarch stated the government has 19/03/12
made significant progress in implementing reforms in the sectors of security, judiciary, social policy and media since February 2011. Read More A Bahraini policeman who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at pro-democracy activists is to be investigated, the country's Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday. Video emerged on YouTube last week showing a Bahraini policeman throwing tear gas at

Bahrain: UN calls for probe into alleged excessive use of force against protesters 20/03/12
The United Nations human rights office today voiced concern over the alleged excessive use of force against protesters, including teargas and rubber bullets, by security forces in Bahrain and called on the Government to investigate the reports.

The use of tear gas in particular has reportedly resulted in a number of deaths of protestors and bystanders and that number has reportedly U.N.: Bahrain must risen in recent months, Rupert probe reported Colville, spokesperson for the protester deaths Office of the UN High 20/03/12 Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters The United Nations called in Geneva. on Bahrain on Tuesday to Reliable sources indicate that investigate reports of the civilians who died from tear protesters and bystanders gas suffered complications from killed by security forces. gas inhalation, and that security The announcement came forces have been firing metal tear gas canisters from grenade as Bahrain's king announced progress in launchers into crowds, he making reforms, and an added. Read More

opposition member said new protests are scheduled for Friday. "We have been receiving worrying reports of the disproportionate use of force by Bahraini security forces, including the excessive use of tear gas, the use of bird shot pellets and rubber bullets," said Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights. Read More

UN rights ofce concern at Bahrain protest deaths 20/03/12

The U.N.'s human rights ofce has expressed concern about the number of protesters in Bahrain who have died after security forces used tear gas against demonstrators. A spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights says the Geneva-based ofce has received "worrying reports of the disproportionate use

of force by Bahraini security forces." Rupert Colville told reporters Tuesday that human rights groups claim 30 people have died because of tear gas since anti-government protests began in Feb 2011. Read More Reprinted here:
GENEVA: UN rights ofce concern at Bahrain protest deaths | World | CentreDaily.com OfcialWire: Europe: UN Rights Ofce Concern At Bahrain Protest Deaths trib.com/news/national/europe/ un-rights-ofce-concern-atbahrain-protest-deaths/ article_3c144f03e22e-58ba-8072bc45dd4b57d9.html

UN rights body says Bahrain tear gas may have killed 30

The UN rights office on Tuesday criticized Bahraini forces for their "disproportionate use of force" as they sought to quell protests, saying their use of tear gas may have led to over 30 deaths.

"We have been receiving worrying reports of the disproportionate use of force by Bahraini security forces, including the excessive use of teargas, the use of birdshot pellets and rubber bullets," said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. "The use of tear gas in particular has reportedly resulted in a number of deaths of protestors and bystanders, and that number has reportedly risen in recent months," he said. Read More OHCHR said "reliable sources" indicated that a number of deaths were linked to the use of tear gas fired by security forces into crowds. Bahrain has been responding to a largely Shiite uprising against the Sunni-led monarchy. The government was criticized for its crackdown against demonstrators. Read More

Hundreds sentenced in Bahrains military courts as UN criticizes deadly use of tear gas - 20/03/12
In Bahrain, more than 100 demonstrators are behind bars due to lengthy government-run military courts, according to human rights groups in the country. The findings are released to coincide with a report submitted to Bahrains King Hamid bin

Isa Al Halifa today on the ongoing crackdown on protesters who have been advocating for democratic reforms for more than a year. The report, conducted by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, says that total sentences handed down through the military tribunals to date are about 500, with more than 100 of those receiving harsh sentences, such as life in prison or the death penalty. More than twenty are either teachers or medical staff. Read More of tear gas against protesters, have also taken to throwing Molotov cocktails.

U.N. concerned by Bahrain's crackdown 20/03/12

The government in Bahrain is called on to investigate reports of the disproportionate use of force by security forces, the United Nations said. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said it's received "worrying reports" about the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and birdshot pellets. The

Reprinted here:
U.N. concerned by Bahrain's crackdown - OMGLOBE.com

Bahrain: Protests Press Cause Of Arab Spring's Forgotten Revolution 20/03/12

As supporters of the Bahraini opposition march in Lebanon and Iraq, the United Nations has voiced concern over the regime's use of tear gas on protesters. On Monday, Bahraini opposition activists staged a

sit-in outside the headquarters of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) in Beirut. The rally was staged in support of Bahrain's opposition and its calls for an elected government. The demonstrators called on the international community to "shoulder its historic responsibilities regarding this illegitimate interference, which represents a blatant occupation." Read More

Protesters aren't the only ones throwing Molotov cocktails now the police are 20/03/12
Homemade firebombs, also known as Molotov cocktails, are usually the reserve of those who don't have access to standard weapons. Lately, however, Bahraini police, better known for their liberal use

In the past few months, numerous amateur videos showing police hurling Molotov cocktails at antigovernment protesters have surfaced online. The latest of these videos, however, has gone viral. It shows a police officer throwing multiple tear gas canisters, then casually switching to Molotov cocktails. Read More

A family under siege: The Khawajas in Bahrain - 20/03/12

An important aspect of many of the popular movements of the Arab Spring has been the emergence of different generations of activists from the same families. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and his daughters Zainab alKhawaja and Maryam alKhawaja epitomize such cross-familial activism.

Abdulhadi is among the most renowned human rights activists in Bahrain. A co-founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), a regional representative for Irelandbased Frontline Defenders, a consultant for Amnesty International, and a member of The Arab Group for Monitoring Media Performance, al-Khawaja has dedicated his life to achieving political freedom and human rights for all in Bahrain. Read More On this day, I was kidnapped and tortured in Bahrain International airport. I will tell you some of what happened to me, he starts. In his account of being abducted, Naser begins by stating that he didnt anticipate having any problems leaving the country. After he checked in with passport officials, he was taken in police custody where things got nasty. Read More

order to help create initial confidence."

Bahrain: Opposition ready for dialogue with monarchy - 20/03/12

Bahrain's opposition political leaders said they were ready for dialogue with authorities on Monday in a bid to end the political deadlock in the Gulf kingdom, but demanded a referendum on the outcome. The five main opposition associations, led by the AlWefaq party, said in a statement that the two sides of the dialogue should agree beforehand on its "agenda, mechanism, and time frame, in

The groups also demanded that the dialogue include opposition leaders jailed in the wake of a brutal crackdown last year on a month-long protest demanding democratic change. The opposition acknowledged that they have not received any invitation for talks, but said they were preparing in case negotiations were initiated and had agreed to form a "joint delegation" for any future talks. Read More

Naser Al Raas, a Canadian citizen, suffered mock executions in Bahrain - 20/03/12

One year ago today, Naser Al Raas, a Kuwait-born Canadian citizen, was taken hostage at Manama airport in Bahrain for attending pro-democracy protests. Still trapped in Bahrain, hes tweeting details of the torture and confinement he suffered at the hands of Bahraini authorities.

and taken from the international airport in Bahrain.

Canadian takes to Twitter to recount Mideast ordeal - 20/03/12

A Kuwait-born Canadian citizen who says he was tortured and jailed in Bahrain for taking part in pro-democracy protests, used the one-year anniversary of his purported ordeal to share his story in greater detail on Tuesday. A year ago Tuesday, Naser AlRaas says, he was kidnapped

"Today we (made) a decision, some of the other victims and myself, to say whatever happened to us," he said in an interview from Bahrain, via Skype. "We know sometimes, there's consequence about it . . . to say whatever happened to us to the public so everyone would know about it. Today, I felt that people have a right to know what happened to me." Read more