Current trials are just a form of political oppressionAl-Wefaq: puttin
 

31-05-12 02:55 PM

Current trials are just a form of political oppression
Al-Wefaq: putting the political figures on trials proves that the situation after the Bassiouni Report is still the same, if not worse
http://alwefaq.net/index.php?show=ne...rticle&id=6519

Al Wefaq National Islamic Society said that the continued trials of political figures, who are considered to be prisoners of conscience, proves that the authority in Bahrain is turning a blind eye to international calls to demand their release. Furthermore they are ignoring calls to start the process of finding a comprehensive political solution that will meet the aspirations of the people of Bahrain, in moving towards democracy.

Al Wefaq watched closely the actions of the prosecution during the last two sessions of the trials of the political leaders.

Tuesday 29th May was the second session against those detainees. Those who appeared in the appeal courts are internationally recognized as prisoners of conscience and victims of brutal repression committed against the opposition, aiming to halt all forms of free speech.

Al Wefaq clarified that during the two sessions it became clear how the opposition leaders went through a brutal oppression that, according to international law of human rights, constitutes as a crime.

It continued, all basic human rights, that should be guaranteed on humanitarian grounds, were crushed in the name of the so-called “national safety law” when even the basic right to life was compromised.

During their trial the political figures spoke about the following violations committed against them:
· Physical abuses
· Religious abuses
· The right to free speech
· Violation of their dignity
· The right to a fair trial

All these violations prove the authorities deliberately intended to commit these abuses in a systematic manner reaching a well-planned conclusion. This reveals the enormity of the crimes committed against them that was described as “political oppression” by Navi Pillay after the primary verdicts were made against them.

Al Wefaq added that the statements made by the political figures have crossed the prison bars and walls of the courtroom to reach the international community. Ironically, the trials were against all those who violated human rights during the so called “national safety period”.

Al Wefaq stated that the political figures are being kept in prison, despite the calls made by the international community to release them and instead bring to justice those responsible for the human rights violations.

Al Wefaq added that the violations mentioned by the political figures have already been mentioned in the BICI report, which gives them more credibility and proves that all violations were committed systematically, not individually as the government claimed. Shockingly the decision was made to continue to keep the political prisoners detained and to leave the guilty free to violate more human rights in the same manner.

Al Wefaq stated that as long as the authority is continuing trials of political figures, providing impunity to torturers, supporting the hateful media and hiring journalists to write against the opposition, it proves the political situation is still catastrophic and the BICI findings has failed to change anything. What has come after the BICI report is still the same as before. Ignoring the BICI recommendations and running away from implementing them prove that the authorities are following a systematic procedure to ignore all recommendations with the help of public relations firms. The hiring of PR firms to whitewash their crimes is no excuse to turn a blind eye on all violations they claim to have no idea of.

Continuing to put the political figures on trial after the UPR in Geneva on 21st May proves that the government has no intention to resolve the crisis of human rights violations. Refusing to address this only serves to frustrate anyone longing for reforms. Any compromise, by the international community, on any reforms is lost and meaningless with the continuation of violations.

Al Wefaq pleas to the international community to take a serious stand against all broad violations and to demand the immediate release of all sentenced political prisoners due to their participation in the movement that began on 14th February 2011.

Al Wefaq stated that all verdicts against activists and citizens is another form of political oppression, previously described by Navi Pillay, and confirmed by many delegations to the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva on 21stMay.

It stressed that those verdicts have the aim to prolong the crisis, as many prisoners remain imprisoned for expressing their opinions and practicing their right to protest.

Al Wefaq said that the people of Bahrain would continue to struggle against dictatorship, despite the attempts of the authorities to ignore demands and fabricate stories against innocent civilians to be followed by long prison terms. This only serves to empower the people further to insist upon gaining their right that “the people are the source of all authorities”.

Al Wefaq stressed that all of these fabrications and shows that claim conspiracies are now recognized to the international community as nonsense. The authority is aiming to avoid meeting the peoples’ aspirations of gaining an elected government, fairly distributed voting districts, security for all and independent law that guarantees the rights of everyone.

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