Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1501
2004-09-29 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

MIXED REACTIONS TO ARREST OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

Tags:  KDEM PHUM PGOV KJUS ASEC BA 
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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).

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