By Janet Salmon

The President of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association, Mahdi Abu Deib was sentenced to ten years and the Vice President, Jalila Al Salman, three years. The V.P. has already spent six months in jail and three weeks on a hunger strike and is in hiding.

Three members of the International Handball Association were sentenced to fifteen years for “setting fire to a police station.” Ali Yousaf Abdulwahab was sentenced to death on appeal for “killing a policeman”. Seven men had initially received death sentences, including one with his leg in plaster accused of driving the car.

On 28th September, twenty Opposition MPs and Human Rights lawyers lost their appeal against life and fifteen-year sentences. The Doctors were sentenced on 29th September, after a strong international campaign, led by
Irish activists. Thirteen got fifteen years, including Irish-trained Ali Al-Ekri and Ghassan and Bassim Dhaif.

Rula Al-Safir, Head of Nursing, got fifteen years, after six months’ detention and a three week hunger strike. Hasan Al Tooblani and Saeed Al- Samahiji, (being treated in Jordan for a stroke) got ten years and five other medics got five years.

Where does Bahrain go from here?

The Sunnis and Shiites have to sit down and negotiate the democratic rules for their country. South African whites voted in February 1992 to recognise that a minority can’t subjugate the majority for ever. Even with arms and torture equipment provided by the U.S. and U.K.

If hard-hitting and brave enough, the International Commission’s Report, due out on 1st October, could begin the process. Otherwise, the economy will decline, the banks will withdraw, tourism will cease and the educational and health systems will wither away. Young people, both Sunni and Shiite, will go abroad and talent will be permanently lost.

The choice to negotiate a new political settlement is for the people of Bahrain to make. They should be allowed to do so with no interference from the West and certainly no arms sales.

Please contact your MP asking them to support the Bahrainis, write to national papers and campaigns. Change is possible but it needs people to care.

Please see frontlinedefenders’ petition to King Khalifa and Bahrain, Free the Docs.

Janet Salmon is a consultant, writer and activist.