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Despite the political interests of many neighbor countries of Bahrain and the Western interests in the region, when it comes to the heart breaking events that takes place in Bahrain, many organizations have attempted to shed light on the facts that happen there. On August 9th, New America Foundation recently organized a joined program with Aljazeera English to address the Bahraini issue once again. Faultline, sheds light on United States interests and policies in the region.  During this heart braking 30 minutes documentary, Seb Walker, Al Jazeera’s reporter accompanied with Jeremy Young an Al Jazeera producer and also Shawna Bader-blau the Regional Program Director of Middle East and North Africa from The Solidarity Center have given their inputs about what has been happening in Bahrain.  Throughout this event, more than hundred Journalists were present.

 

On September 8th, organized by Code pink Women for Peace, the unfortunate events in Bahrain gets another spotlight on in Washington D.C during a business casual gathering at Bus Boys and Poets accompanied by more than three dozens of journalists and leaders of major humanitarian, politically active organizations. Code pink presents the publicly available production of the documentary, shouting in the dark, produced by Aljazeera English and followed by comments by Husain Abdulla from Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, followed by inputs from Khalid Almarzooq from Al Vefagh Shia-Muslim opposition group in Bahrain, and the commentary cession is concluded by Joe Stork, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division. Representatives from Human Rights Watch, University of Maryland, Nonviolence International, George Mason University, Shia Rights Watch, and Imam Shirazi World Foundation .  Throughout this event, representatives from mentioned organizations have gathered to discuss the recent events that took place in Bahrain.

 

Recently, Imam Shirazi World Foundation (ISWF) attended an important convention hosted by Islamic Information Center (IIC) regarding  American Leadership Initiative for Muslims on September 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of 2011 in neighborin city to Washington D.C, Bethesda. Throughout the ALIM convention, held annually, a large number of thinkers, scholars, professors, students, accompanied by political and religious organizations gathered to discuss the major changes that both people of leaders of our country are going through and brainstorm ideas to resolve and reduce misperceptions that may’ve been created amongst people of all races about religion of Islam. Speakers of this convention also emphasized on the progress of Shia-Muslims in variety of organizations in the United States, and this has been a great success for the Shia-Muslim community.

Executive directors of ISWF met with Maulana Naqvi, IIC chairman and Rahat Husain, the executive director of IIC in regards of their recent activities at Islamic Information Center. ISWF also had in depth conversation with Anwer Hasan, organizer of Muslims for Obama campaign, Mohamed Sabur, an experienced lawyer in Muslim Advocates branch in California, and Hassan Abbas, Harvard University professor. Series of conversations were held in regards of role of Media and its impact on the perception of ordinary people of both East and the West, Alex Kronemer took part in, and Seyed Mahdi Modaressi emphasized on this issue, and also gave an presentation about the unfortunate situation in Bahrain, and series of crimes that are committed without being noticed or emphasized on by the Media or even worse, minimal of coverage by Western humanitarian organizations.

 

UMAA Convention 2011

The Quran, Ahlul Bayt & Modern Society

A Focus on Identity, Citizenship and Collaboration

Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada, hosted thousands of Shiites who gathered for the Ninth reunion to take part in an intellectual convention called Universal Muslim Association of America. Throughout the long Memorial Day weekend, UMAA conference was an incredible reason for scholars, researchers, professors and experts to gather and discuss Islam and the coexistence of Quran, Ahlul Bayt (the prophet of Islam and his 12 successors) and the modern society. Among many other great topics that were addressed, the Prophet of Islam, Ahlul Bayt in the Eyes of Non-Muslims, Islamic Communities and Racism: A historical & Contemporary Perspective, Our Global Identity in the 21st century, and the State of Shia: Session on the Crisis in Bahrain were emphasized on as well.

The representatives of Imam Shirazi World Foundation held an informative booth and addressed any questions that people had in mind about the ISWF’s activities and the most recent events in regards to Bahrain, and other agendas that ISWF has. Our staff also met with people of different ethnicities and religions to take their inputs and opinion regarding many programs and events that ISWF addresses.

Imam Shirazi World Foundation took part in an event held in Jaffari Village, one of the largest mosques in the Northern America, regarding The state of the Shia : Special Session on the Crisis in Bahrain. The critical and heart breaking crisis that is ongoing in Bahrain has brought together many scholars and experts, accompanied by the presence of Media and press, to discuss and document the crime that has been committed in Bahrain. Attendance of such great scholars, experts and the importance of the crisis that has been going on for months concluded to presence of multiple press and media channels, and more than dozen of Humanitarian organizations such as Shia Rights Watch, and Imam shirazi World Foundation and Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain.

ISWF’S informative booth

Presentation of Shia Rights Watch(srwpress.com) , and latest quotes by Imam Seyed Sadiq Al-Shirazi regarding nonviolence and Bahrain

Discussion about the importance of having a Shiite organization being active in the humanitarian fields

In Dept Analysis of the heart breaking crisis in Bahrain

Casual conversation between Sayed Mahdi Al Modaressi, Ahlul Bayt TV, Hussain Abdullah, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, and ISWF

post Bahrain event, the lobby

 

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission                   

Friday May 13, 2011

Human Rights in Bahrain

Congressman Jim McGovern

&

Panel I:

  • Mr. William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  • Mr. Jeffrey D. Feltman, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Panel II:

  • Maryam Al-Khawaja , Bahrain Center for Human Rights
  • Mr. Joe Stork, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch
  • Richard Sollom, MA, MPH, Deputy Director at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)

Congressman McGovern started the hearing by emphasizing on the fact that Bahrain is indeed a friend, but does not deserve a pass on human rights issues.

The hearing was enriched with formal statements from Amnesty International, AFLCIO, and Doctors Without Borders and other organizations.

Mr. Joe Stork, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch:

Mr. Stork explains how now it’s a critical time, and there is a strong counter-narrative effort by the Bahraini government. Bahrain is trying to make it so that democracy is equated with terrorism. Detainees are political prisoners, and are kept hidden from their own family members and lawyers.Only international reporter in Bahrain was kicked out of country last week. Human Rights Watch turned away at airport, and even Joe Stork is personally banned from Bahrain. Mr. Stork explains that the credibility of US is being questioned.

At the end of his testimony, Mr. Stork makes a few recommendations:

  • Stork recommends cutting commercial & security assistance to Bahrain, specifically riot gear, tear gas, & other crowd suppression tools.
  • Stork recommends that that the US speaks about specific issues, otherwise they will undermine human rights efforts in Bahrain.
  • The Obama Administration needs to call out on officials by name and be specific.

Maryam Al-Khawaja , Bahrain Center for Human Rights:

Ms. Khawaja elaborates on her first hand experience as a Bahraini throughout the recent events and she explains how the Al Khalifa government has been targeting Sunnis who protest with special ferocity to prevent any other Sunnis from joining the anti government protests, and democracy seeking movements. She also mentions the fact that the government denies having prisoners that they have publicly arrested. She shares the data gathered from the protestors which includes that over 400 students were expelled, dozens of staff were unlawfully terminated. scholarships revoked for any protesting the Bahraini government.

To conclude her testimony, Ms. Khawaja suggests the following as necessary steps to ease the stressful situation in Bahrain:

  • Use the relationship between the United States and Bahrain to calm down the situation in Bahrain. If the situation remains unstable, people of Bahrain will seek any help that they can get, and although unfortunate and definitely and the solution people want, but Iran will be the first solution in hand. She reassures that Iran’s presence in Bahrain is not what people want.

Richard Sollom, MA, MPH, Deputy Director at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)

Mr. Sollom, the Deputy Director at Physicians for Human Rights Solomon addresses the Bahraini issue through his organization’s interest, and he suggests that the United States Government officials should visit Bahrain, especially Sulaymania hospital, the most advance and best equipped hospital in Bahrain, and then they would realize what is going on in Bahrain. Mr. sollom also suggests that a new UN mandate for violations of medical neutrality needs to be formed.

Mr. Sollom also points out that as a expert in this issue, it is wrong to see that more than six physicians were arrested, tortured and abused purely because they are doing a humanitarian job, and saving lives! He furthermore explains that high velocity weapons are used at such short distance and that’s just inhumane.

Mr. Sollom also describes her visit to the Sulaymania hospital and he recalls that event because it has been so shocking for him. Mr. Sollom and few of his colleagues approach the hospital in a car, and suddenly notice that there is a military tank parked outside the hospital and faces the entrance of the hospital. As they get closer to the hospital, they notice that there were at least two dozens of military officers whom were divided into officers wearing blue which he assumed are Saudi Arabia forces, and rest were obviously Bahraini national guard. Mr. Sollom and his colleagues were arrested, and interrogated for an hour, and finally let go unharmed, but definitely shocked by what they had witnessed.

Mr. Sollom believes that physicians have been arrested, taken forcefully to the sixth floor of the Sulaymania hospital, tortured and forced to face the camera and mention that they work for the Iranian government, and they were also tortured to face the camera and mention that they were trained in Iran, hence they are there trying to corrupt the Bahraini government.

Questions presented by congressman Jim McGovern, in the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commision:

Congressman McGovern: Has the Bahraini Government inquired and investigated the abuses?

Mr. Sollom: Such Inquiries have never been materialized

Congressman McGovern: what do you say about allegations that Bahrain Center for Human Rights is instigating the Violence in Bahrain?

Ms. Al-Khawaja: The center only investigates and reports on human rights violations.

Mr. Stork: the government has banned the group and seized their assets.

Congressman McGovern: Bahraini Government says that human rights groups are unrestricted in Bahrain!

Mr. Stork: Absolutely not true!! This idea is not from reality.

Congressman McGovern: Ms. Al-Khawaja, please tell us about the Shia-Sunni relations !

Ms. Al-Khawaja : My best friend is a Sunni Bahraini, and we, people of Bahrain, do not have any problems or disagreement within themselves except the fact that this what the kingdom of Bahrain is doing is wrong. Unfortunatly government has been able to spin the issue into a sectarian issue. I have recommended that the State Department take urgent action.

She also adds that she has personally seen tear gas and rubber bullet canisters that said “Made in the USA-Pennsylvania.”

Congressman McGovern: tell us about the destruction of mosques by Bahraini Government :

Mr. Stork: Human Rights Watch was kicked out of Bahrain when they started investigating.

Congressman McGovern asks the panel for their final comments :

Mr. Sollom: There is a difference between torture and beating, and Bahraini government is engaging in torture in hospitals according to corroborated testimony. There are police was videotaped beating, torturing, and forcing physicians and doctors for false confessions.

Ms. Al-Khawaja : Regarding the Human Rights situation, it is going from bad to worse. I have been begged to ask for protection for innocents.

Mr. Strork: while focus is on Bahrain, what US says or doesn’t say, does or does not do, has implications of the situation in Bahrain.

Congressman McGovern: our focus is on human rights, not supporting or opposing one side. US is late to the game for speaking out against violations. We urge the government to take the comments seriously and earnestly.

Congressman Jim McGovern ( representing 3rd district of Massachusetts )

ISWF among the reporters and humanity organizations

From right to right to left:

  • Right : Mr. Joe Stork, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch
  • Middle : Maryam Al-Khawaja , Bahrain Center for Human Rights
  • Left : Richard Sollom : dupity director at       Physicians for Human Rights

Maryam Al-Khawaja and ISWF: discussing the sectarian issue, role of Saudi and Iran in this issue, and ISWF’s full support for people of Bahrain:

Richard Sollom and ISWF: discussing the severity of tortures done to doctors in Bahrain

Joe Stork, a reporter, and ISWF talking about the role of human rights watch, and Mr. Stork being banned from entering Bahrain

 

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