Repression in Bahrain

@Cloudwarrior is that what you call a basis for argument? That I write a comment & leave it to be read & rated? Just like your "claims" on Lulu - they are baseless. Baseless because non of you acted like citizens, you acted as followers. I don't care if you accept what I write or not.
The aim of this article is to glorify someone The Economist has probably never met, yet who I know to be otherwise.
No one is writing to you because you sound like a silly teenager. Give me a break.

And all the first time posters.... magically disappear!

Sorta like the protesters in Bahrain actually.

Wow Ahmed S

You know a lot of facts. First time poster and managed to find your way aaaaaalllllll the way to this little blog 2 days after everyone else had finished commenting.

And quelle surprise.... four people recommend your post - ALREADY!

You seem to know a lot, but unfortunately not how to post convincingly on a forum......

I'm sure we'll hear from you again.... together with Lamsat, M.Ghayyath, Ahmedakbar, AmootFelBahrain, Bahraineh and FatimaAli5..... next article on Bahrain.

It must be so difficult to counter freedom of speech and an uncensored press outside your country.

So frustrating that the version created by your government doesn't seem to be believed by anyone but your own country..... and as we all know, quite a few don't believe it there either.

What is The Economist doing writing a "sob story" on this nobody? Is it because his wife did her PhD in an Economics-related field in UK and has ties to people in The Ecomonist?
You write "Mr Farhan was not among those protesting. The closest he came to activism, says a foreign observer, was organising charity galas at the Rotary Club." - I know for a FACT money went "missing" during one of the events Ghazy was in charge of. I know Ghazy was an active protester. Do not glorify him. Do not teach me about individuals, do not teach me about my country. Most of all, do not breach your professionalism by spreading rumours and lies about Bahrain.

@cloudwarrior:

Very well said. In this day and age, nobody should be subject to the whims of one king/family/sheikh. Bahrain will, hopefully soon, be free so people can exchange ideas freely, without fear of persecution....and Doctors can treat injured people without fear of persecution(protestors injured as a result of their governments violence against them)....a government that is supposed to ensure the safety of their population. There is no place for that kind of Gov in the 21st century.

@Cloudwarrior
Ok then, I don't know what more to say if you admit that you only trust one source/side of the story...
I am sure you meant protests WITHIN THE LAW, protests that won't interfere with the public's benefit. That is not the case with Bahrain Feb 2011 opposition protests... They restricted access of many citizens to the major hospital (SMC) & main dynamic road in Bahrain... NO COUNTRY WILL ALLOW THAT, including Australia...
And from now on, after the undesirable events in Bahrain, you will notice many of us who will defend Bahrain and it's truly our will to do so...

@FatimaAli5

I'm sorry you believed that I was looking at both sides of the story. I believe The Economist, not the posters that have filled this forum.

My entire post was a subtle way of criticising the trolling by what would seem to be the Bahraini government.

I guess I was more subtle than their blatant bulldozing.

I come from a country that values free speech, the right to demonstrate, the right to change (or support) the government at regular intervals and the right to not have the government KILL me.

"Which country in the world would allow that kind of illegal protest?"
My country has put up with a demonstration/protest in front of our parliament house for most of the past 39 years:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aboriginal_Tent_Embassy

Last time I checked the government didn't shoot them.... it was set up BECAUSE our government once did shoot people - but we learnt and evolved.... unlike Bahrain.

You and I have nothing in common.

The Bahraini government has lost all legitimacy and disgusts me.

@Cloudwarrior
I am glad that you look at both sides of the story... I wish that's the case for most others...
I commented to clarify things mentioned in the article and to reply @Moe Bardastani's comment...

Wow, six new commentators on TE! Lamsat, M.Ghayyath, Ahmedakbar, AmootFelBahrain, Bahraineh and FatimaAli5.

Never posted on here before. Never commented on any other forum. All replying about how bad the protests are and how false the media portrayal is and how good the Bahraini government is!

First off. READ THE ARTICLE. It is entitled Repression in Bahrain: Ghazi Farhan.

It is not written by Ghazi Farhan - two of you made this mistake - it was using this person as an example.

I had always believed that the Chinese and Indian posters on these forums were delusional when they complained about countries paying people to post in their defence...... I am now starting to believe them.

It is always interesting to see how some people that have never been fully exposed to a free press or political system think that their voices don't sound hollow and out of touch when they attempt to enter a free-speech arena.

A word to the wise Bahraineh - succinct posts get attention.... long posts such as that are skipped over by most (including me) as we soon realise the point of the post.

Some of my favourite quotes:
"protestors taking over the major public hospital in Bahrain & exploiting this noble place for a political cause!"

"it is true that most ministers are from the royal family, but they are efficient at their work and deserve their positions."

"Where is their humanity, they are doctors"

"the anti-govt protestors had hidden agendas and a plan which became very clear during their failed pop-corn revolution"

"who went to the Pearl roundabout (now a traffic light to keep up with modernization) "

The fact that many of these poster all use the same language and all make the same point...... hhhmmm mysterious!

But we let all voices be heard in the west, whether we like or or disagree. So please first time posters, find this article and let us hear your voice. Please don't complain if we don't always believe you.... after all, we are used to hearing both sides of the story..... you perhaps are not!

@Moe Bardastani
Protesting in front of the White House for several hours, not continuos days! And you said it, the government ALLOWED them, that means that protestors should notify the Ministry of Interior (MOI) (which is the protesting rule in Bahrain) & that's something opposition protestors didn't do. After two days the MOI had to do something against this illegal act.
The website you are relying on has the unemployment rate of the year 2005! We are now in 2011! Lots of things can change in 6 years! If you searched the unemployment rate in 2010 you will find that it dropped to 3.7% which is a really good rate.
As for the Shites percentage, the US always mentions in its reports that the majority of Bahraini people are Shites, but when Sawsan Al Shaer interviewed Stephanie Williams, Deputy Chief of Mission, she herself admitted that this is based on merely historical information and not proofing statistics. It was also mentioned in the interview (link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI1OlBCtySY ) that no sectarian statistics what so ever were done in Bahrain and so I don't know were do the websites you rely on get their information from.
If protestors really wanted living changes, then their political leaders should have gone with the Crown Prince's suggestion of National Dialogue without any wondrous in advance conditions!
As for Ministers' efficiency, this is reflected by the Kingdom's advancement in many areas.
Unfortunately let me say that this "revolution" is sectarian (most opposition protestors are Shites) and it really makes me sad that Bahrain is going through this... You might say it's not, protestors chant "Siblings we are, Shites & Sunnis" but that's exactly what happened in Iraq and after that many Sunnis were killed and these chants were forgotten...
And concerning the events in the University of Bahrain, please look at this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCs9IehDPu8
In conclusion, I hope everything gets back to normal, especially between Bahrainis themselves.

@FatimaAli5:

The US allows its people to demonstrate in front of the white house itself. And please, even the Crown Prince himself stated that every citizen has the right of expressing his opinion peacefully. And for your claim about Salmaniya hospital, we all know what happened in the roundabout on the 17th where security forces ruthlessly cleared the roundabout using excessive force, which in turn resulted in 2 deaths and countless injuries among protestors.

The Unemployment rate is 15% and you can check CBSnews or CIA factbook, the same for Shias’ percentage in Bahrain, check these websites please and other international agencies that account Shia in Bahrain to more than 65%. I’m not throwing numbers.

So you admit most of the ministers are from the royal family? and on what basis did you say they are “efficient” what about the rest of the population, are we having shortage in qualified human capital to only appoint persons from the royal family?

There was a civil disobedience, what do you think, most of people left their jobs to express their opinion against the regime. And yet the government re-appointed 571 of the dismissed, which if proves anything, the illegitimacy of dismissing them.

And for the most preposterous claim about protestors attacking University of Bahrain. I will post some links which clearly shows who attacked UOB - thugs and mercenaries militated by the government “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SLjp8duoPU”. Just open your eyes and stop believing lies.

Finally, I agree protestors made several wrong moves, however, this is a civil movement led by people, mistakes are inevitable. Also, your claim about the protests paralyzed the economy, all revolutions have downside, and this is a price we had to pay for a better future. Also, how about the corruption, how about the financial harbor that is valued more that 2 billion dollars, yet the prime minister exploited his position and bought it with almost 3 dollars - document proving this “http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/619/iwfwl.jpg/sr=1”! I don’t see you objecting against these things?

Bahrain needs change, and it is coming with god’s will.

@Moe Bardastani
Starting from Feb 14 2011 to March 13 2011, anti government protestors illegally protested in the former GCC roundabout. Just for the audience's information, the GCC roundabout is one of the largest roundabouts in Bahrain and is located in a very sensitive area: the heart of our capital Manama. The protestors camped there 24 hours for more than 20 days continuously. Which country in the world would allow that kind of illegal protest? In addition they also camped in Salmaniya Medical Complex's parking lot for more than 20 days! Can you imagine! protestors taking over the major public hospital in Bahrain & exploiting this noble place for a political cause!
The Ministry of Interior staff had to defend themselves against any danger, and undesirably we lost 30 souls because of these events. These 30 include protestors, policemen and innocent citizens who were either attacked because of their sect (like the Sunni Mozen) or because the ambulance was not sent when needed!
The employment rate is not 15% anymore. It has dropped to about 4% in the past 10 years with the leadership of his majesty King Hamad Al Khalifa. Yes it is true that most ministers are from the royal family, but they are efficient at their work and deserve their positions.
Shites are not 65% of the population. No one has statistics & no one can tell whose the majority... If you have proof of what you say then show us...
The ones who were dismissed from their jobs deserve it. Do you know why? because during the date interval I above mentioned they ditched their work & honorable volunteers did their job, especially in teaching... They were not sick, they were doing this chanting "sit-in until the regime falls"...
Protestors also attacked the students in the University of Bahrain and ruined the campus. The teaching process had to stop there for more than 2 months! Protestors did not only aim to paralyze the education they also wanted to paralyze the economy. After they have realized that they are the minority of people, they blocked the main road in Manama in front of the economically important Bahrain Financial Harbor just to forcefully stop peaceful people from going to their work.
In conclusion, they started off peacefully until 2 days later their masks fell off & true intensions showed of collapsing the regime. They hit health care, education & economy (forcefully) and call this "peaceful protest"...
P.S. Kingdom of Bahrain's government had to spend $5,303,632 just to repair the all damages of the University of Bahrain and resume the second semester safely.

The terrorists in Bahrain worked hard to collapes Bharin"s economy by killing the Asian labour, try hard to cancell F1 and stop transaction and more, how they now complaining of economy collapes, Almost 99% if not more participated in this
shameful act, because they just follow their religious leader.this is the truth......

The terrorists, agents of Hezbollah's largest terrorist organization,(who claims that they are anti-government peaceful protestors) present "just people who are An inhumane, they have been carrying out all of these crimes on the basis of sectarian and racist, they killed an elderly man taxi driver with no reason, also the killing, Tortured and arrest of Asian workers in Bahrain with no reason, they refused to provide medical assistance to a girl suffering from diabetes until she died, also can you believe how they treat cancer’s patients when they tortured and threw them outside from the only center tumors in Bahrain later on they died due to complications of the disease on . Also don’t forget when they applied Hizballah way by ran over by cars and killed many security men,and more crimes, After all of this crimes, do you think they belong to humanity and deserve to call them as friends and how can we deal with them??when will be the next crimes toward us???, please all of you just judging this crimes by your conscience and your mind before your emotions and remember victims's souls and families.Many thanks again

Those calling themselves "average Bahraini" need to open their eyes to what the world sees. I do recommend the approach suggested by Straighttalkfromroger

Dear Ghazi and all SHiites,Please Stop the lying to the world We can not refute all this lying to the people and government of Bahrain in all social networks, newspapers and television stations be honest for once with yourselves, you are Shiites Hizbollah agents in Bahrain the most terrorist, bloodthirsty people in the world. Did you Forgot your crimes in the peaceful people of Bahrain, God knows what will happened in the authentic, peaceful people of Bahrain if Iran’s and Hizboallah’s terrorist scheme was successful. God save us we can not

Please tell me the difference between the Khalifas and the Gaddafis, besides their abilities for writting funny books.

The very fact that these widespread political upheavals are occuring in Bahrain, is clearly indicative & proof of the disgruntlement & disparities being experienced by a substantial crossection of the Bahraini citizens.

All those responders who deny any wrong-doings by the powers-that-be, need to remove the blinkers they are wearing & face the truth staring them in their transfixed faces.

Blind denial, will not help solve anything..

It´s pathetic to read the long comments of members of the Bahraini establishment. Obviously every word they write is a lie, no matter if they can mobilize a few of their lot to reccomend each others´ comments. Mr. Obama and the US and UK administrations would do well to recognize the shame due to them for what is happening in Bahrain. I can however understand that the Military Industrial Complex of the US and UK would eagerly support anything done by one of their largest and most powerful cronies, the theocratic leaders of Saudi-Arabia.

Dear all, let me first introduce myself as an average Bahraini who loves his country and I shall be speaking as so.
I have gone through the article of "Regression in Bahrain" written by Mr. Ghazi Farhan, and I found it very odd and unfair to Bahrain and its people (among whom is myself) in many ways:

(1) When he started the tale of (Torture,Dump Hose & Suntan lotion), it is always easy to claim and accuse, proof is needed and that is a well known Judicial rule. Not to forget the amount of false claims and fabricated lies placed by opposition in Bahrain, a close example was the number of deaths exceeding 230 they supplied to the CNN and was falsified later, as the deaths never exceeded 30 (among which policemen, Bahraini citizens and expat by violent protestors), which led CNN to place an apology later on. If any is interested I can expand on the lies placed by the opposition in a full report.

(2) If we assumed Mr. Ghazi was really captured; why him and not the other hundred thousands of Shiites in Bahrain? Why even more active opposition leaders like Mr. Nabeel Rajab or Miss Maryam Al Khawaja are still free and were never taken into custody. As a matter of fact, all those undergoing trials are receiving fair prosecutions, the courts being open for human right organizations and foreign embassy representatives. Does not that prove the fair treatment the suspects are receiving? and is not it the right of any government to investigate any suspect, which is taking place in all over the world, even in some civilized regions people would get imprisoned without fair trials, needless of examples.

(3) The issue of Shiites being the majority in Bahrain, said whom?? and on what basis?? you are economic people and believe in numbers. What is his reference and what are the figures?? what we know that Sunni's resemble the majority according to national figures. To emphasize this point more, when the U.S deputy ambassador in Bahrain "Stephanie Williams" was interviewed live at Bahrain TV and was questioned about the source the US embassy relying on to state Shittes are being the majority, she was embarrassed and replied "it is from unofficial resources!". As a matter of fact the whole world saw when the genuine people of Bahrain (among whom Sunnis and Shittes) gathered at Al-Fateh to say "NO" to the Protestors and their offensive acts in Bahrain, how their number exceeded 400,000. So who are the Majority??

(4)Regarding Boycotting: Yes we do boycott all those who traded our land and followed the Iran agendas to threaten our peace and national security, and destroyed our economy (not a far example the way they fought against holding the GP F1 in Bahrain, would anybody of you do that if you are loyal to your country ??!! .. Did not that harm Bahrain economy??) ..On the other hand, he claimed that Boycotting is causing harm to their businesses , does not that back-fire on him and contradict what he claimed earlier that they are the majority?!

Dear all, I am a Bahraini who is loving Paradise we always lived in as one family (never bothered about religion or ethnicity, till they started flaming it, and wish to have it extinguished soon), and having the agony when I find my country being insulted by some of its own people and its image being mutilated by their own hands.
I hope what I wrote did not insult anybody, as never had any such intentions and forgive me if I did.

Bahrain live Long.