The Torture of Al Khawaja and Obama’s Powerlessness over a “Piss Ant” Tyrant

The Torture of Al Khawaja by American-Backed King of Bahrain
By: Siun – 9 April 9, 2012 – FireDog Lake

Update: Zeinab AlKhawaja (@angryarabiya) reports that her father has been moved to the hospital where the abuse described below took place last summer. His attorney and family have not been allowed to visit or speak to him for more than two days leading his attorney ‘to fear the worst.” Additional reports suggest he is on some type of IV fluids and the possibility of forced feeding but details are unclear. Zeinab is “on her way” to a further interrogation by the public prosecutor. This new questioning follows an additional arrest and release when she went to the hospital and asked to see her father.

Last summer, the King of Bahrain funded the “independent” Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry to review human rights issues in the country. The report was praised by the King’s American friends – and presented as justification for continued American support of the monarchy.

This past November the BICI commission’s final report included the following description of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja’s arrest and detention as one of 60 case studies of “alleged victims of torture or mistreatment.” (see page 430 and following of the full report, available for download at the commission site here )

As readers here know, Al Khawaja, is close to death this weekend as he continues a hunger strike as his only remaining way to protest the monarchy’s abuses. …more