In a statement released today, 5 Bahraini opposition societies described the current situations as an “unannounced state of emergency”.
The statement that included leading opposition party Al Wefaq said that the escalation in the security crackdown is the product of a “political decision” and therefore not the act of individual security officers.
They went on to cite 5 previous recent demonstrations that had been banned by the Ministry of Interior, as proof of the ongoing crackdown. Previously, the government had been willing to allow the demonstrations called by the mainstream parties but all of the recent requests have been denied.
The banning of protests has gone in tandem with increased force being used by the security forces in order to suppress “those who dare to express their opinions”.
Read the full statement below.
Political decision behind escalation of security attacks and we insist on our right to protest
Bahrain opposition parties: Bahrain is undergoing an unannounced state of emergency and has become a human rights black hole.
The opposition parties in Bahrain describe the current dangerous security escalation as an unannounced state of emergency, backed by a political decision. Regime forces are broadly violating human rights in an iron fisted attempted to crush the national demands of the Bahraini people.
House raided by security forces
In a statement published by the opposition political parties ( Al-Wefaq, Wa’ad, Al-Wahadai, Al-Tajmowa’ Al-Qawmi and Al-Ekha’a Al-Wattani), they stressed that Bahrain has become a human rights black hole where all human rights are violated by the regime forces without being stopped or checked. Bahraini citizens are suffering from a brutal repression and arbitrary decisions in order to prevent them for exercising their right of expression and right to protest.
The opposition parties consider what is happening in Bahrain as acting as a green light for more violations to be committed against the people by a security force who is supposed to be protecting the people and the country. The regime is using force to silence the people and prevent them for raising their demands.
The opposition parties insist on their right to protest, a right guaranteed by the constitution, the law and all international treaties and conventions. They reject and condemn the increased restrictions that are being imposed by the regime and the misuse of power to prevent any event held by the opposition.
The opposition parties stated that the regime has arbitrarily banned many peaceful protests in violation of the people’s basic human rights. The protests that have banned so far are:
- 13th June 2012 – Peaceful protest in Manama
- 15th June 2012 – Peaceful sit-in protest in Karbabad
- 22nd June 2012 – Peaceful protest in Bilad Al-Qadeem (during which security forces attempted to assassinate opposition leaders who were carrying roses)
- 30th June 2012 – Peaceful protest in Al Budayi’a Road
- 6th July 2012 – Most recent peaceful protest banned and participators threatened with repression.
Opposition parties stated that all freedoms in Bahrain are suppressed and anyone who dares to express their opinion is targeted by the regime. These repressive procedures come after a year and a half of protests when hundreds of thousands of Bahrainis have taken to the streets to demand the transition toward democracy.
They stressed that the ongoing security escalation, from the regime, is happening whilst international organisations are remaining silent and turning a blind eye. Their reaction is not appropriate to the huge level of violations committed by the regime, as if Bahrain is outside of the normal humanitarian circle.
They continue to stress that the people of Bahrain are a peaceful people and have chosen the course of peace since the first day of calling for their rights. The regime has no option but to fabricate security stories about the opposition in order to escape from the people’s demands, called for by more than half of Bahrain in a peaceful manner. The people of Bahrain have insisted on these national demands as accepted by the world as just and reasonable, for more than 16 months, since the mass public movement took to the streets in February 2011.
The opposition parties concluded that the security solution currently being undertaken by the regime is costing the country heavily, as it has since even before 14th February 2011. This solution has been proved as useless and will not be able to stop the people from calling for their full rights and refuse to turn back. The people of Bahrain are an enlightened people who have taken the decision to win their rights and to be “the source of all authorities”. The people of Bahrain are intent on getting an elected government; similar to the people of the free world, along with a parliament with full powers elected by fairly distributed voting districts. They also want an independent judiciary that guarantees the rights of all citizens and a security institution based on protecting the people and capable of providing security to all.
