Bahrain Silences Student Voices
\nJune 20th, 2011 at 7:33 pm<\/p>\n
University of Bahrain students \u2014 who now face expulsion if they don\u2019t sign a loyalty pledge to the embattled regime of King Hamed ibn Isa Khalif \u2014 are appealing to human rights groups to take up their cause.<\/p>\n
Not only does the university require students to sign the pledge \u2014 which states \u201cI acknowledge that not signing this document means I do not wish to continue my education in the University of Bahrain\u201d \u2014 but the kingdom\u2019s Education Ministry has also adopted a \u201czero-tolerance policy\u201d to any sort of political discussion or activism at the school.<\/p>\n
The crackdowns on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly on the campus come on the heels of ongoing anti-government protests in Bahrain as well as escalating tensions between the Gulf state\u2019s Sunni and Shiite Muslim populations.<\/p>\n
Described by Human Rights Watch in 2005 as \u201ca poster child for political reform in the Middle East\u201d, Bahrain has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent since the civil unrest began earlier this year. Newspapers and the Internet are now being routinely censored by the regime and since February more than 60 journalists have been arrested, threatened or fired because of their work.<\/p>\n
The loyalty pledges and the ban on student activism were introduced following a violent campus altercation between Shiite protestors and Sunnis in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany friends of mine had to drop the school because they could not sign this pledge,\u201d said a source familiar with the University of Bahrain who spoke with FrumForum on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
One student said his family wants him to sign the pledge because \u201c\u2019there are no other universities who will accept me if they kick me out.\u201d<\/p>\n
He went on to describe the consequences for refusing to sign the pledge: \u201cIf we decide to not sign it, they call us to go to the police station and we can\u2019t get out from there except if we sign it. That has happened to some other students \u2014 they were at the police station seven hours until they signed.\u201d ..more<\/a><\/p>\n