News / Persian Gulf

Bahrain summons Iraqi envoy over criticizing crackdown on dissent

Monday, 24 December 2018 1:59 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 24 December 2018 7:46 PM ]

This file picture shows the entrance of the building of Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry in the capital Manama.

Bahraini officials have summoned the deputy charge d'affaires of the Iraqi embassy to condemn the latest remarks by former Iraqi premier, Nouri al-Maliki, who criticized the Al Khalifah regime’s crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners and political dissidents.

Maliki, who now heads the State of Law Coalition in the Iraqi parliament, attended a meeting organized by the February 14 Youth Coalition — an opposition protest movement named after the date of the beginning of a popular uprising against the Manama regime – last week.

“Discrimination, marginalization ... have reached a severe limit on the people of Bahrain,” Maliki said according to footage from the event published by Iraqi media outlets.

He then advised the Manama regime to engage in dialogue with those “demanding freedom and justice” to protect Bahrain and Bahraini people.

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The health conditions of Bahraini political inmates Naji Fateel and Ali Haji have been worsened due to hunger strike in Bahrain’s Jaw prison.

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry described Maliki's statements as “blatant and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain.”

“(A Bahraini official) described Maliki’s attitude as a clear solidarity with those who seek to spread chaos, violence and terrorism and exhibit hatred,” Bahrain’s state-run news agency BNA reported.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.

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Dozens of human rights groups have urged the Manama regime to release top opposition leader Nabeel Rajab, who is due to stand trial in December 31.

They are demanding that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.

Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a result of the Al Khalifah regime’s crackdown.

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Bahraini courts have sentenced two political dissidents to life in prison and handed down jail terms to four others.

On March 5, 2017, Bahrain’s parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3 last year.

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