In Bahrain, Jailed Blogger Ali Abdulemam Free
Written by Amira Al Hussaini
Jailed Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam is finally free. The news was welcomed by netizens from around the world, as tweeps posted pictures of a smiling Ali being greeted by family and friends.
Ali, the administrator of a popular online forum Bahrain Online (blocked in Bahrain) was arrested at the beginning of September, during a crackdown on opposition figures, which saw up to 250 people arrested, starting from August. Charges against them kept changing as the government tried to pin them down for crimes ranging from terrorism to plotting to overthrow the regime. Finally, a group of 25, including political and human rights activists, were rounded up as the main cell and put on trial - a saga which continued to be discussed everywhere, except local newspapers, which were banned from reporting the court proceedings.
Yesterday, Bahrain King Hamad ordered the release of around 100 prisoners, including political prisoners, among them Ali.
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The figure of 100 prisoners released has since been raised to 300 (Voice of America). See also: refWrite page 1 "Anti-govt protesters hit Bahrain streets" (VOA) and "Opposition lists demands" (IANS).
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Update:
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The figure of 100 prisoners released has since been raised to 300 (Voice of America). See also: refWrite page 1 "Anti-govt protesters hit Bahrain streets" (VOA) and "Opposition lists demands" (IANS).
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Update:
Bahraini blogger urges opposition to unite
MANAMA |
(Reuters) - A popular Bahraini blogger, released from six months' jail after being accused of trying to topple the government, said Wednesday opposition groups and activists must agree quickly on their demands.
Ali Abduleman was among 23 Shi'ite activists arrested in August and charged with plotting the violent overthrow of the government. They were freed as part of what the government said was a release of 308 prisoners on the orders of the king.
Abduleman said it was important for first-time activists and established opposition parties to have a clear goal.
"Do you want the royal family out of this country or not?" he asked. "If we manage these different opinions in our opposition we will get what we want."
The prisoner release was seen as a further government concession after seven people were killed and hundreds wounded last week in the bloodiest unrest in Bahrain since the 1990s.
The king and crown prince have already promised to allow peaceful protests and offered a dialogue with opposition groups, which have been trying to coordinate their position.
After his release, Abduleman went straight to Manama's Pearl Square, which protesters, mainly from Bahrain's Shi'ite majority, have turned into a symbol of their movement.
He was speaking as Shi'ite clerics who were also among the 23 accused in the alleged coup plot were accompanied to the square by about 1,000 protesters.
Opposition parties such as the Shi'ite Wefaq and the secular Waad demand a constitutional monarchy and an elected government, but many youth activists who used social media to help organize the protests that began last week want to oust the royal family.
The Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty, now backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States, has ruled Bahrain for 200 years.
Abduleman is the founder of bahrainonline.org, a website on which Shi'ites discuss politics. The government has at times blocked it, saying it is used to organize violent protests.
Abduleman said he and other detainees had been mistreated in prison. "In the first week they tortured us to pick up the information" he said. "(Once) I had to stand for five days."
The government said those of the 308 released prisoners who made allegations of mistreatment would be contacted immediately for investigations into the claims.
"The Government of Bahrain takes allegations of mistreatment extremely seriously and is committed to thoroughly investigating all and any claims made," it said in a statement.
The government and its supporters, thousands of whom have also taken to the streets in recent days, deny discrimination against Shi'ites and say reforms launched by King Hamad a decade ago have resulted in freedom and democracy rare in the region.
