On Tuesday, the Shiites of Bahrain ‘celebrated’ the annual revolution of their rebellion. On February 14, 2011 thousands of protesters gathered on what we have started calling the Pearl Square, but what in reality is no more than a glorified roundabout. In the weeks that followed, the Emir’s security forces dispersed those that were protesting - in a rather brutal manner.
According to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, there were 72 deaths, most that of these were shot by security forces. Injured protesters that were hospitalized were later visited by the secret service and then tortured. The doctors who had treated the wounded were prosecuted and put in prison for “aiding the rebels.”
One month after the start of the protests, dozens of tanks from Saudi Arabia drove across the bridge to the capital of Bahrain to the Pearl Square in order to ‘sweep it clean’. The call for more rights for the poor Shiite majority, was suppressed with violence.
Ever since that display of violence, Emir Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has been busy trying to improve his reputation as much as possible with a remarkable public relations blitz. He spends millions of petrodollars on Western public relations companies to create a favorable image of him and he constantly talks about reforms. These reforms supposedly consist of the creation of a commission of national dialogue, which suggests that the Shiites would in fact be involved in the political process.
However, this is nothing but smoke and mirrors. The absolute power when it comes to decision-making still remains with the Emir instead of with the parliament. The Shiites, despite their numerical majority have little or no influence in Bahrain. These supposed reforms of the Emir appear suspiciously similar to the reform of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Both insist that the only solution is dialogue with the opposition yet display very little desire to do so.
Are you starting to ask yourself some questions? The Syrian atrocities of the corrupt regime have dominated the front pages of our websites and newspapers for months, as has the Russian support of the Syrian regime. However, we focus on condemning Assad. Rightly so mind you - but why are we reading so little about Bahrain?
The first reason has to do with the fact that Bahrain is a relatively small nation. Bahrain has only half a million citizens and when compared to most states it appears to be but a little spot on the map. Moreover, the riots in Bahrain, unlike the riots in Syria, were successfully stifled by the ruling regime. Both with the help of Saudi army and with the approval of the United States.
The fact that few people are losing their life anymore though does not diminish the discrimination in Bahrain against the Shiites. Hundreds of political prisoners are still in jail and two days ago, excessive force was once again used against the opposition. The wounded from these protests will undoubtedly have avoided hospitals for fear of also falling into the hands of the secret service.
The question now is what we in the West can do. It is impossible to invade any and every country that suppresses its citizens. Yet it is important to take the situation in Bahrain into account when we talk about Syria. Bahrain is in fact a miniature version of Syria.
In both countries, the minority oppress the majority. In Syria, the Sunni are oppressed just like the Shiites in Bahrain. Both countries are ruthless when it comes to using their security forces to stifle any call for democracy and reforms. Both countries are also provided support by super powers.
Whereas Syria is a strategic partner for Russia, Bahrain is a strategic partner to the United States. The Syrian port of Tartus houses a part of the Russian fleet; the American Fifth Fleet is stationed in Manama.
If we criticize Russia for the supply of arms to the dictatorial regime in Damascus, then we must also criticize Western countries for supplying arms to the dictatorial regime in Manama. If we do not, then the Middle East will once again see us as those “hypocritical Westerners” who talk a lot about democracy, but when it suits them are only too happy to do business with all sorts of unsavory dictators as long as it means making money.
Blogger: Joost Doevelaar |
