Only three weeks following the release of the Bahrain Independent Commission Report, that highlighted the systematic cruel oppression faced by Bahraini protesters, hundreds have again flooded the streets of Bahrain in a peaceful attempt to showcase their anger and frustration towards the continuing abuses drowning the nation.

The hash tag #OccupyBudaiyaSt has taken over our social networking timelines, symbolising the latest attempt at organising a large scale protest, which has been a difficult task since the crackdown on occupants of the notable revolutionary point; Pearl Square. The move comes following a visit from a mission’s team of the United Nations Office of High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) to the tiny Gulf Kingdom for a ‘follow up’ on the recommendations of the BICI report.

However, neither report nor visit seems to have had any indications of positive reformation as protesters are continuously facing brutal crackdowns. Today images and videos have surfaced depicting the inhumane attacks on protesters in their peaceful attempt to voice their concerns on the major highway; Budaiya, in the presence of the UN missions team in the country.

Forces that have been largely successful in ruthlessly preventing large-scale protests have once again stifled the protesters attempts of peaceful assembly. In describing the attacks on Thursday, an online activist under the name @MohmdAshoor wrote: You’d think Bahrain is a foggy country, but the only fog we have is from their tear gas covering up our freedom!

Reports have also surfaced on the increasing number of arrests taking place. Maryam Al Khawaja head of the Foreign Relations Office of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights confirmed that her sister, prominent online activist Zainab Al Khawaja, has been amongst those arrested. It is evident and fearful that most of the arrests that have taken place in Bahrain have been violent and with little respect for human dignity.

This is a video appearing to show women protesters fleeing while they are shot at Women Thursday 12/12/2011

This does not represent new revelations in the Kingdom where attempts at protests take place nightly in villages and are met almost immediately with suppression. Concerns have surfaced around the world at the muted position taken by the worldwide governments during these crackdowns. The media have also approached the situation cautiously in Bahrain, as opposed to other uprising nations, in their reports. Time Magazine has recently placed the Bahrain Uprising fourth in their “Top 10 List of Underreported Stories” where they wrote that: “Nowhere was the backlash more brutal than in the tiny Kingdom of Bahrain”
The European Parliament have recently spoken out to highlight some of the abuses taking place in the country but have also been reluctant to condemn the government of Bahrain, which is headed by the worlds longest serving Prime Minister, as they continue to defy calls for resignation.

The King of Bahrain was in London this week in an acutely advertised meeting with British PM David Cameron. It was reported that the King and David Cameron discussed trade negotiations alongside reformation strategies. This was an opportunity for the UK to exemplify a firm stance in favour of the respect of human rights, which has unfortunately, not been taken. The opposition in Bahrain is increasingly confronting neglected attempts at support, which has been the conveyed result of this meeting.

With depleting hope and silent voices, the people of Bahrain have been filled with spirited courage throughout the crackdown and have shown no signs of retreat. It is imperative that their universal human rights and freedoms are respected, which has not been evident throughout the uprising. The silent voices of protesters must be empowered and the world must join their calls for freedom as the violent backlash of government forces continue to escalate in the fearful and bloodied island of Bahrain.

Ahmed Ali
HumanRights TV
15/12/2011