MIXED REACTIONS TO ARREST OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001501 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2014 TAGS: KDEM PHUM PGOV KJUS ASEC BA SUBJECT: MIXED REACTIONS TO ARREST OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST REF: A. MANAMA 1489 ¶B. MANAMA 1482 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The arrest of prominent human rights activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja continues to dominate the public's attention in Bahrain. Some oppositionists and NGO representatives who support Al Khawaja have been cautious in their public statements for fear that outspokenness could work against him. Privately, they appreciated that Al Khawaja said what he did regarding the Prime Minister's mismanagement of the economy. Other civil society advocates, intellectuals and businessmen felt that Al Khawaja went too far in his personal criticism of the Prime Minister and supported the government's action. Many organizations have taken out advertisements in the official press lauding the accomplishments of the royal family, the Prime Minister, and the government. A palace source told us that Al Khawaja's statement on poverty in Bahrain caused tension between the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince, who had just launched a labor reform initiative characterized as a step in addressing Bahrain's economic future (Ref A). The international human rights community has shown strong support for Al Khawaja as evidenced by the public statements. However, a demonstration September 28 attracted only a modest turnout of some 100 people and a second demonstration has been called for October 1 following Friday prayers. END SUMMARY. -------------- Update of Al Khawaja's Case -------------- ¶2. (C) On September 27, the Public Prosecutor's Office announced that human rights activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja was charged with Article 165 of the penal code, public incitement against the regime, and Article 168, for spreading rumors that could disrupt national security. If found guilty, these charges carry two and three year prison sentences respectively. Al Khawaja's attorney Ahmed Al Arayed told PolOff on September 26 that the Public Prosecutor decided to detain Al Khawaja for the full 45 days, allowing the GOB ample time to develop a case against him and to transcribe audiotapes of Al Khawaja's speech on poverty at the Aruba Club on September 24. On September 28, Arabic daily Akhbar Al Khaleej stated that a Ministry of Justice official refuted 
Al Arayed's claim he had been denied access to Al Khawaja. -------------- Al Khawaja Supporters Cautious in Public... -------------- ¶3. (C) Civil society activists are disassociating themselves from Al Khawaja's criticism of the Prime Minister and instead are focusing on the issues he raised, poverty and equitable economic development. In a September 27 article in London-based Arabic daily Al Hayat, lead opposition society Al Wifaq President Shaikh Ali Salman clarified that calling for the Prime Minister's resignation is not part of Al Wifaq's agenda and has no impact on the dialogue between the opposition societies and the GOB. He echoed these sentiments at the September 26 National Democratic Action Society (NDAS) seminar on the political societies law. In his opening remarks Shaikh Ali motioned to an empty chair at the head table with Al Khawaja's picture mounted on it. Shaikh Ali said it was unfortunate that a colleague had been detained because he would have been a valuable contributor on this topic, but said nothing more. -------------- ...And Private Commentary is Mixed -------------- ¶4. (C) Some Sunni and Shi'a civil society contacts are privately critical of the PM's management of the economy and are concerned about Al Khawaja's status. In a series of private conversations, PolOff learned the following. NDAS Board Chairman Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Noaimi said that it is a sad day when a human rights activist gets jailed for speaking his mind. Al Noaimi fears that the GOB will make an example of Al Khawaja and prosecute him to the fullest extent. President of Mustaqbal Society Shoala Shakeeb supported Al Khawaja's statements, saying that any action to publicize society's ills is good. Secretary General of the GCC Arbitration Center Dr. Aziz Abul stated that Al Khawaja finally said out loud what many had been thinking for years, that the PM had failed in managing the economy and should leave office. Al Wifaq Human Rights Committee Chairman Adel Al Abbasi said plainly that the Prime Minister is to blame for Shi'a poverty and unemployment. ¶5. (C) At the same time, other Embassy contacts have said that Al Khawaja knowingly crossed a red line, personal criticism of the Prime Minister. One Shi'a contact who comes from the same village as Al Khawaja criticized his use of a fragment from a Shi'a prayer calling for the removal, widely interpreted as death, of someone harming or interfering with the progress of the Shi'a community. Others have said that Al Khawaja unnecessarily introduced sectarianism into the issue of poverty, distribution of income and wealth, and economic development. Another perspective we have heard from numerous Embassy contacts is that people are angry with Al Khawaja because his statements provoked a response by the government that could lead to a lessening of political space for everyone. ¶6. (C) The national press during the past few days has repeated the King's calls for national unity and rejecting divisiveness. The official press has filled page after page with descriptions of the accomplishments of the King, the Prime Minister, and the government. In the September 29 editions of leading papers Akhbar Al Khaleej and Al Ayyam, 18 clubs and organizations sponsored a full-page ad lauding the Prime Minister's leadership role in the government. (Comment: Many of these entities may have been encouraged to participate in the ad by the government body responsible for their registration, the General Organization for Youth and Sport. End Comment.) -------------- Tension at the Palace -------------- ¶7. (C) A palace insider told us privately that the King, Crown Prince and Prime Minister had a heated discussion on September 26 about the Crown Prince's labor initiative and participants' criticism of the state of the Bahraini economy. They report that the Prime Minister felt that the Crown Prince's remarks failed to recognize the achievements of the economy during the Prime Minister's 30 years in office and had created an atmosphere that emboldened an "Al Khawaja" to criticize the Prime Minister. Following a "closing of the ranks," the King uncharacteristically presided over the Cabinet's weekly meeting and paid rich tribute to the role the Prime Minister has played in realizing the GOB's economic, social and political achievements. In turn, the Prime Minister hailed the Crown Prince's effort in identifying labor market issues. On September 27, daily Al Ayyam featured photos of the threesome together smiling. -------------- International Community's Reaction -------------- ¶8. (U) Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued statements of concern for Al Khawaja. On September 26, the Arab Program for Human Rights issued a statement of solidarity with him. On September 27, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defense, the Federation for International Human Rights and the World Organization Against Torture issued a joint statement in support of Al Khawaja. -------------- Peaceful Demonstration -------------- ¶9. (C) On September 28, about 100 people gathered in front of the Bahrain Center shopping mall to protest Al Khawaja's arrest. Speakers emphasized the importance of freedom of speech and expression. The crowd chanted, "Free Al Khawaja" and "Free speech is now a crime." Another demonstration in support of Al Khawaja is scheduled October 1 after Friday prayers starting at the Shi'a Ras Ruman Mosque and proceeding four blocks to the Prime Ministry. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) While opinion is mixed about Al Khawaja and what he said, many of our Bahrain contacts are saddened that the GOB felt the need to silence him by putting him in jail. Al Khawaja's supporters meanwhile are calibrating their public comments so as not to harm his legal status. They therefore now are speaking publicly about the issues - poverty and economic development - but not the personalities - Al Khawaja and the Prime Minister. ZIADEH