Bahrain: Hassan Mushaima preps for return after 308 prisoners released, trial cancelled

Haq movement leader returning to Manama, Bahrain

Hassan Mushaima, the leader of the Shia movement known as Haq is in Lebanon preparing to return to Bahrain, now that King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has released over 300 prisoners, over 100 of which were political prisoners. The King has also cancelled ongoing trials for 25 Shia activists who had been on trial since last year for plotting against the state, indicating how much the Gulf kingdom's rulers (close allies of Washington) want to get reform talks with protest leaders under way.


Sheikh al-Mugdad released from custody

Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Mugdad, a prominent Shia cleric who was among those released from custody on Wednesday, headed the prisoners' march to Manama's landmark square that has become the centre of the protest.

Al-Mugdad, who was detained in August, told reporters he was tortured and repeatedly beaten in custody. He showed signs of what he said were electric shocks on his chest, stomach and legs.

He said he spent three months in solitary confinement because he had criticized the government for "denying rights to Bahrainis and not sharing wealth."

"I faced torture because they wanted to silence me," al-Mugdad said. "They did not succeed and I am marching with my people, joining them in a peaceful protest to get our rights."

The government said in its email that it takes allegations of mistreatment in custody "extremely seriously" and is "committed to thoroughly investigating all and any claims made."

Bahrain's Shia community has complained of discrimination and political persecution in the kingdom. It has staged protests in the past, but the latest unrest is the most serious challenge to the Sunni monarchy.


Source: news.ca.msn.com

Bahrain getting crowd control help from Saudi Arabia

Israeli intelligence website reports Saudis assisting Bahrain

In light of the troubles in Bahrain this evening, with democracy protesters being tear-gassed and killed in the streets, it is worth considering this report on reputable Israel intelligence website Debka.com:

Saudi Arabia is especially alarmed by the swelling protest in its small but strategic neighbor, Bahrain, site of US Fifth Fleet headquarters for the Gulf region. For the first time, Sunni Muslims joined the majority Shiite protest against the rule of the Al Khalifas who have been in power since 1971. DEBKAfile discloses that shortly before dawn Wednesday, Feb. 16, the Bahraini king secretly asked the Saudis for riot dispersal gear for his security forces to break up the protests. He also asked Saudi Arabia to place its security forces on the ready in case they got out of hand.

Riyadh had already taken action out of fear that its own large Shiite minority in the eastern oil-rich regions of the kingdom catch fire from Bahrain. Tuesday, security and military forces were rushed to those regions and security stepped up at the oil facilities and ports of eastern Saudi Arabia, most of which are manned by Shiites who are close to their coreligionists over the bridge in Bahrain.

Full Debka.com report on democratic uprisings in Yemen, Jordan, Libya and Yemen