Germany Condemns Saudis as Bahrainis Commemorate Martyrs Day

The charge that Saudi Arabia has funded mosques with links to Islamist terrorism in the West is not new.

Courtesy: studywesterneurope.eu

(BERLIN) - On 6th December, Germany’s vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel asked Saudi Arabia to stop supporting religious radicals amid growing concern among some legislators in Berlin about the funding of militant mosques by the world’s biggest oil exporter.

The unusual criticism of the Gulf state follows a report by Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, which suggested that Saudi foreign policy was becoming more “impulsive”.

Sigmar Gabriel said that the Saudi regime is funding extremist mosques and communities that pose a danger to public security.

“We have to make clear to the Saudis that the time of looking away is over,” Mr Gabriel told Bild am Sonntag newspaper in an interview.

He added: “Wahhabi mosques all over the world are financed by Saudi Arabia. Many Islamists who are a threat to public safety come from these communities in Germany.”

The charge that Saudi Arabia has funded mosques with links to Islamist terrorism in the West is not new. But it is highly unusual for a Western leader to speak out so directly against the West’s key Arab ally.

It shows a gradual shift against the Saudis. Toby Mathiesen, author of “Sectarian Gulf” says in an article published yesterday by the New York Times that “The West's alliance with Saudi Arabia fuels Islamism”. But in another article published in The Financial Times today Kenneth Ruth says “The Rise of ISIS, decline of oil, may finally be leading to tougher response to Saudi repression”.

Meanwhile Alkhalifa regime has intensified its repression ahead of the Martyrs Day commemoration on 17th December. Dawn raids on homes, torture and outrageous trials and sentences have exposed a weak tribal regime that cannot tolerate dissent.

Native Bahrainis will mark the occasion with protests and calls for ending the culture of impunity that has facilitated torture. Yesterday, Saudi police detained a native Bahraini at the causeway.

Sayed Sadiq Sayed Hussain AlMosawi, from Bani Jamra, was snatched and taken to secret torture houses. Also the veteran activist, Hajji Majid, was detained for participating in the peaceful anti-regime protests.

Being in his seventies, he has become an inspiration to the youth and those seeking justice and democracy in the country. On 7th December regime’s Death Squads raided the family home of Hussain Mohammad Antar and arrested him.

The day before the Hussaini orator, Mohammad Saeed (Abu Muntadhar) was arrested at the causeway on his return from a religious trip to Iraq. On 2nd December Ali Abdul Jalil was arrested from his home and taken to the CID headquarters where torture is routinely administered on detainees. Mohammad Redha Taqi, from Barbar Town, was arrested from the market and taken to one of the secret torture chambers.

Ibrahim Al Adhem was arrested in a raid on his home at JedAli Town. The attack was led by plain-clothed members of Alkhalifa Death Squads. From Al-Eker Death Squads also detained Abdulla Abdul Aziz.

For the sixth time, Alkhalifa court has renewed the custody of the leading AlWefaq official, Sheikh Hassan Isa for no reason except revenge and hate. On 3rd December three Bahrainis from Sitra Town were given harsh sentences for taking part in anti-regime protests.

Qassim Abdul Nabi Umran Khudair and Yousuf Ahmad Umran Khudhair were sentenced to three years jail. Yesterday the trial of woman activist, Jalila AlSayed Amin was postponed until 31stDecember. She has been languishing behind bars since 10th February without a fair trial.

On 7th December an Urgent Action update was issued by Amnesty International on behalf of Zainab al-Khawaja whose one-year sentence for speaking out in defence of another prisoner while she was in prison in June 2013, and her four-month sentence for ripping up photos of the King of Bahrain in May 2012 have been upheld on appeal.

She has been sentenced to a total of three years and one month and is at risk of immediate re-arrest. Ali Isa Al Tajir, brother of the prominent human rights brother, Mohammad, has been charged with terrorism offences after one month of horrific torture.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights issued a statement in defence of Mr AlTajir and called on the authorities in Bahrain to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Ali Isa Al-Tajir and drop all charges against him.
2. Immediately grant him access to a doctor, lawyer and to his family
3. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigations into the torture of Ali Isa Al-Tajer with a view to bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

Sources include: Bahrain Freedom Movement