Witnessing Revolution #252

You are in the 252nd Witness Revolution diary, bearing witness to pro-democracy movements in North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. We aim here to simply report, from as many reliable worldwide resources as possible, on the successes, challenges or failures of the brave people striving against oppression for representative democracy with civil and human rights. One small bit of assurance that they do not strive in obscurity. Please see the 200th edition where participants shared what this series means to them.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

BAHRAIN



Prominent Rights Activists are in Hunger Strike in detention Protesting against the Brutal crackdown and arbitrary arrest

In solidarity with the Medical Staff and detainees on hunger-strike in Bahrain’s Dry Dock Prison, Prominent Human Rights activists Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and Dr. Abduljaleel Alsingace today announced an open hunger-strike from their prison in Gurayn (Military Prison).

In a letter, they said that it was also in protest to the arbitrary detention, unfair trials of the detainees and Brutal crackdown

The Bahrain ministry of interior has offered 10,000 Bahraini Dinars to anyone with information on the death of 14 year old Ali AlShaikh. They announced that the death was not the doing of the riot police.

This picture twitpic.com/6e7awy shows the similarity between the tear gas canister Ali was hit with and the wound on his neck which caused his death according to the Cause of Death yfrog.com/nxa6cj.

Sameera Rajab, a member of the Shoura council, said on BBC discussion show that a serial killer was on the loose and was responsible for these deaths. At least four people have given their testimonies to the police on the involvement of the riot police in chasing and hunting Ali AlShaikh and shooting him from a very close range. Father of Ali Almoamen is one of these witnesses and he also gave his testimony on BBC (Arabic) in addition to registering it at the police station.

Yemen Silent Protest Speaks - 'How Many of Us Should Die for the World to Pay Attention of Us?'

On the first day after Eid holidays in al Thawrah general hospital in Taiz, first I was met at the gate of the hospital members of the Republican Guard with their suits dusty as usual. It was the first time I did not walk in front of them speeding, but stood by observing the faces, perhaps I could find something different [from the public] that would give them permission to desecrate the sanctity of [Friday] prayer (Revolution Escalation Friday [September 2nd]). I continued searching them for anything different from us, but my eyes rebounded: same grim faces and the bodies of poor people like us, no difference. I said to comfort myself: No, not those who snipped worshipers in the Square on Friday. Surely, whoever carried out that act were other individuals from inside the building and their qualities must have something different from us in order to possess the courage to dare against their Creator.

And, I continued to walk in the courtyard of the hospital to be received by concrete columns and walls glaring at me and saying: It is not for this we were built. How was this place that was founded from the first day to preserve life into a place to distribute death free of charge?
After all this, I was supposed to be put a smile on my face and echo the words of each year: Happy Eid for everyone I would meet on my way, but soon I was suffocated by my tears, no longer the muscles of my face were able to continue stretching the lips [for smile], no longer vocal cords could go along with me in falsehood and lies and quackery phrases. Noooooooo, I'm not okay, the hospital is not okay and homeland is not okay.
We were robbed of our Eids, joys, wishes and hopes. We are only left with a single hope- to see you free our homeland.
I will continue but we will continue, but for you Yemen to see light.

SYRIA



Hamza Shamsi Basha

"And reckon not those who are killed in Allah´s way as dead; nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord; Rejoicing in what Allah has given them out of His grace and they rejoice for the sake of those who, (being left) behind them, have not yet joined them, that they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve." (Quran 3: 169, 170)

Fallen Hero, Hamza Shamsi Basha, killed by Assad's thugs on 3rd day of Eid (09.02.2011) - Homs \ Syria

Thank you for bearing witness.