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It is being reported that a member of the Bahraini royal family took part in the beating and torturing of doctors who were arrested during the protests that shook the tiny Gulf nation earlier this year.
Sheikha Noora bint Ibrahin al-Khalifa, who works as a narcotics cop, is said to have beat the detained doctors with sticks and a rubber hose, and gave electric shocks to the face with a cable.
One doctor, Nada Dhaif, 36, accused the Sheikha of beating her during her interrogation. “She slapped me, beat me and called me a Shia pig. She put a cable in my ears and gave me electric shocks.”
Dhaif said she was blindfolded during the beatings and when her blindfold was removed, she recognized Noora.
Another detainee, Fatima Haji, 32, said Noora, who is believed to be a cousin of Sheikha Sabeeka, a wife of King Hamad, searched her Blackberry and found e-mails from the Human Rights Watch.
“She shouted, ‘How dare you destroy the image of my country?’ Then she gave me electric shocks to my face,” claimed Haji, who briefly lost her sight as a result of the shocks.
The doctors who were arrested worked for Salmaniya Hospital in Manama, Bahrain’s capital. It is where the casualties from this year’s protests were treated. Many Bahrainis were demonstrating against the Sunni Al-Khalifa family who run the country. Most people in Bahrain are Shia Muslim and felt they were denied rights because they were different Muslims than the royal family.
Several Bahraini prisoners have died under torture.
Source: The Australian, Press TV
The King of Bahrain declared Tuesday a three month martial law style order to tackle the pro-democracy uprising that the tiny Gulf nation has been experiencing for a month. King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa also gave Bahrain’s military chief the authority to combat the protesters.
 AP Photo/Hasan Jamali It is being reported that on Monday, a parliamentary bloc urged King Hamad to enforce the state of emergency. The bloc also asked the King to set a curfew and ban all illegitimate acts which may instigate violence, terrorize people, create sectarian strife, endanger social peace and security.
The martial law will be enforced by the army, police forces, units of the National Guard and “any other force” if necessary, Bahraini state TV said.
The “any other force” might be referring to the 1,000 Saudi troops that entered the country yesterday. One soldier was shot and killed by a protester in Manama, according to a Saudi security official. If true, that means the demonstrators have taken on new tactics, whereas their slogan was “peace” and never before used weapons.
Bahrain’s opposition party, Wefaq, strongly condemned the martial law imposement.
“There is nothing you can do. The army is in control of society now,” said Jasim Hussein, a Wefaq politician.
“We condemn this and call on the international community to live up to its responsibilities.”
Sources: AP, Xinhua, Reuters
King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa dismissed four members of his cabinet Saturday while an opposition leader returned to Bahrain to join the thousands still protesting for the removal of the royal family.
 KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images/FILE The King removed the ministers of housing, health, and cabinet affairs. He even expanded the portfolio of the oil and gas minister to include electricity and water, and he appointed a new minister of labor. However, these new ministers have held other government positions before.
King Hamad also announced all government housing loans would be reduced by 25%
This is a similar act done King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia earlier this week. The Bahraini King personally welcomed his Saudi counterpart home after months abroad for back surgery. Upon his return, King Abdullah gave out benefits to Saudi citizens to quench any uprising that is sweeping across the Arab world.
King Hamad also pardoned Hassan Mashaima, an oppositional leader who was in exile in Great Britain for a year. Mashaima was charged by the government for illegal organization, engaging in and financing terrorism and spreading false and misleading information. He stayed in the U.K. until he was pardoned Friday.
“The time has come for true unity and our priority today is for the opposition to sit down with the protesters at Pearl Square and clearly set our demands,” Mashaima told reporters at his home.
 AP Photo/Hasan Jamali As for the King’s urging for dialogue on Tuesday, telling the Bahraini people “to engage in this new process” and “move away from polarization”, Mashaima doubts his words.
“They are always lying — they are promising to do something and they don’t do it,” he said about the monarchy.
“We talked about dialogue for a long time. Nobody listened, nobody heard us,” he said. “They are just listening now because of the pressure. If the pressure will finish, they will not listen again.”
Mashaima is the leader of the Haq movement, which is more hard lined than the Wefaq political party. The Haq party is against the Sunni monarchy.
Meanwhile, Pearl Square in Manama has become a makeshift camp for protesters to do their daily rallies.
On Saturday thousands began their demonstration at the Square and went on to march along a major highway chanting “leave Hamad, leave Hamad,” blocking traffic.
They then went to the the walled compound where the foreign ministry is located, chanting “Down, down Hamad!”
Then the crowd proceeded up the street, which is flanked by towering buildings housing banks, to the cries of “the people want to topple the regime!”
Sources: AFP, CNN
The King of Saudi Arabia returned to the desert kingdom Wednesday after a three month absence. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud was recuperating in Morocco for about a month following back surgery in New York. He was welcomed with open arms by male members of the Saudi royal family. He also ordered handouts to citizens in attempt to prevent any uprising currently being seen across the Arab world.
 REUTERS/Saudi Press Agency/Handout The octogenarian King descended from the plane on a lift before taking to a wheelchair at a Riyadh airport. Numerous male dancers doing a traditional Bedouin sword dance performed as part of the welcome-home ceremony.
Saudi Princes, such as Crown Prince Sultan, himself in poor health, hugged and kissed monarch.
Also in attendance was King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain. It is interesting to see him out of his Gulf country, which has seen demonstrations by its majority Shiite population, demanding for governmental reform and even removal of the monarchy.
King Hamad has close ties with his Saudi counterpart, and Saudi Arabia was concerned that what is occurring in Bahrain would spread to its country because of its Shiite minority on the east coast.
 REUTERS/Saudi Press Agency/Handout But King Abdullah is back in Saudi Arabia to prevent such an uprising from happening. He ordered a $37 billion handout to help lower- and middle-income people in his country which included rises to offset inflation, unemployment benefits and affordable family housing.
Saudi analyst Turad al-Amri welcomed what he called “a nice gesture” from the King, but other Saudis were not so impressed. “We want rights, not gifts,” said Fahad Aldhafeeri in one typical message on Twitter.
On Facebook, which has helped organize the demonstrations in the Mideast and North Africa, disgruntled Saudis are setting up a “Day of Rage”, scheduled for March 11th. They will call for an elected ruler, greater freedom for women and the release of political prisoners.
There are reports that King Abdullah will organize a new cabinet in order to install reforms.
“They are under pressure. They have to do something. We know Saudi Arabia is surrounded by revolutions of various types, and not just in poor countries, but in some such as Libya which are rich,” said Mai Yamani, at London’s Chatham House think tank.
“Basically what the King is doing is good, but it’s an old message of using oil money to buy the silence, subservience and submission of the people,” she said. “The new generation of revolution is surrounding them from everywhere.”
Ahmad al-Omran, who runs the popular Saudi Jeans blog, had this to say about the King’s handouts and reforms: “People don’t revolt because they are hungry. People revolt because they want their dignity, because they want to govern themselves. Money won’t solve our issues. We need true political and social reform. We need freedom, justice and dignity.”
Source: Reuters
As brutal crackdowns continued in Bahrain Friday, its Crown Prince took to the airwaves to call for calm and dialogue. His father, King Hamad, was the one who charged him with being an olive branch.
 REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/FILE “The dialogue is always open and the reforms continue,” Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said on TV. “This land is for all citizens of Bahrain … All honest people at this time should say ‘enough’.”
“We need to call for self-restraint from all sides, the armed forces, security men and citizens,” he said. “I urge you, there should be calm. Now is time for calm.”
“What is happening today in Bahrain is not acceptable… We have reached a dangerous stage that necessitates that each of us acknowledges the responsibilities… Bahrain today is divided.”
Salman mentioned the Shiite political group, Wefaq. “I respect Wefaq, as I respect others. Today is the time to sit down and hold a dialogue, not to fight.”
Lawmakers from Wefaq, which has 17 of 40 assembly seats, all resigned from parliament on Thursday in protest at the police raid on Pearl Square, in which four were killed. Salman did not mention the violence.
Bahraini troops continued to shoot at demonstrators and 23 were wounded near Manama’s Pearl Square.
The Crown Prince is seen as a reformer in the Khalifa royal family, Sunnis who have ruled a mostly Shiite country for nearly two centuries.
Source: Reuters, AFP
As thousands of Bahrainis mourned the death of five protesters after security forces crackdown on the anti-government rallies, many began to call for an end to the monarchy. Before, the protests were for political reform, but now they have turned to removing King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa and his family from power.
 AFP/Joseph Eid “The regime has broken something inside of me. … All of these people gathered today have had something broken in them,” said Ahmed Makki Abu Taki at the funeral for his 23-year-old brother, Mahmoud. “We used to demand for the prime minister to step down, but now our demand is for the ruling family to get out.”
“The government has shaken something inside us all and we have lost all trust in it,” Mohamed Ali, 40, a civil servant, said as he choked back tears. “Our demands were peaceful and simple at first. We wanted the prime minister to step down. Now the demands are harsher and have reached the pinnacle of the pyramid. We want the whole government to fall.”
 AP Photo/Hassan Ammar These were such words being cried out at a Shiite mosque. Across Manama, however, at a Sunni mosque, there were rallies in favor of the al-Khalifa family, who are Sunni Muslims and have ruled Bahrain for two hundred years. Flags were being waved and portraits of King Hamad were being being held up.
“We must protect our country,” said Adnan al-Qattan, the cleric leading prayers. “We are living in dangerous times.”
Some Sunnis are concerned that if Shiites succeeded in their demands, influences from Iran would penetrate this tiny Gulf nation.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Khalid Al Khalifa made the first comment on the violent crackdowns, saying it was necessary because the demonstrators were “polarizing the country” and pushing it to the “brink of the sectarian abyss.” He went on the call the deaths, “regrettable”.
Bahrain is 70 percent Shiite and 30 percent Sunni. In the 1990s, the Shiites held similar demonstrations, demanding more rights.
Source: AP
As anti-government protests continue in North Africa and the Middle East, the tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain has been no exception.
 AP Photo/Bahrain News Agency/FILE On Tuesday, two Shiite protesters clashed with police in Manama and died. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa went on television to express his condolescences.
“In light of the incidents that took place yesterday and today… There have been sadly two deaths. I express my deep condolences to their families,” he said.
The King then added: “Everyone should know that I have assigned Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al-Orayedh to form a special committee to find out the reasons that led to such regrettable events.”
Hamad went on to insist Bahrainis about their freedoms.
“We have viable constitutional institutions and laws endorsed by the elected parliament, on organisation of peaceful protests,” he said.
 AP Photo/Hasan Jamali “Freedom of expression is an inalienable right guaranteed by the National Action Charter and the Constitution.”
“Ten years ago, on February 14, we opened all the doors of freedom and responsibility, as a token of love and dignity for our loyal people,” the King said.
“We will continue to work together, God willing, for brighter days to come.”
Despite the constitutional efforts in 2001, Bahrain’s Shiites felt it didn’t give them a say in the country’s affairs and improve their access to government jobs.
“We’re not looking for a religious state. We’re looking for a civilian democracy … in which people are the source of power, and to do that we need a new constitution,” Wefaq, the main Shiite opposition group’s general secretary, Sheikh Ali Salman, told a news conference.
In Bahrain, Shiites make up 70 percent of the population, while the 30 percent of Sunnis get the more political power.
The government is appointed by the King while two-thirds of the ministers come from his al-Khalifa family. Parliament is based on elections, but has limited powers because an upper house is also made up of al-Khalifa kin. Wefaq has only 18 seats in Parliament.
Source: Gulf Daily News, Reuters, Foreign Policy
Thursday morning saw Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa al Khalifa welcome Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and her husband, Prince Henrik, for a state visit to the tiny Gulf Kingdom in hopes of tightening bilateral links.
 Hanne Juul/Billed Bladet During the welcoming ceremony outside the royal palace in Manama, the band playing the national anthems were shaky with the Danish anthem, but were able to play it in such a way that the regent couple could recognize it.
Afterward, the King, the Queen and the Prince went indoors for some coffee. The Bahraini King and the Danish Queen then held talks. It was then King Hamad praised Denmark’s ties with Bahrain.
“Your Majesty’s landmark visit reflects the importance of building strong relations, based on mutual respect and historic ties,” he told her.
Medals were then exchanged. His Majesty bestowed the King Hamad First Class Medal for Development in recognition of Queen Margrethe’s efforts to promote bilateral relations. A Bahrain First Class Medal was conferred on Prince Henrik.
Queen Margrethe then gave the Grand Cross of Dannebrog to King Hamad.
Margrethe and Henrik were then introduced to members of Bahraini parliament.
Following that, the royals lunched with King Hamad in a dining room decorated floor to ceiling with gold.
In the afternoon, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik received a tour of two museums which were designed by Danish architects.
Source: Billed Bladet, Gulf Daily News
The tiny Gulf nation of Bahrain entered a seven day period of mourning Friday, with the death of King Hamad’s brother, Sheikh Rashid bin Issa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
The Sheikh was the third brother of the King. He held no political position in Bahrain, and was chairman of the equestrian and horse racing club.
The funeral will take place Saturday and condolences will be accepted for the weekend.
Sheikh Rashid will be buried in Riffa, south of Manama.
Flags will be flown at half-mast for the seven day mourning period and all national events are postponed.
Source: Gulf News
The Queen of Jordan finished up a two day visit to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain on Monday. She was there to promote her Madrasati Palestine initiative, and also on behalf of the non-profit organization inJAz, which Queen Rania is patron of. 
During Monday, Rania was at a special students’ assignment organized by inJAz Bahrain as part of the “Banks in Action” program at the Citibank headquarters in Bahrain. She was joined by Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is the inJAz Bahrain Executive Director.
About the “Banks in Action”event, Queen Rania said this: The ‘Banks in Action’ competition shows INJAZ at its best. Teaching our children the value of money, the spirit of business, and the rewards of hard work improves not only their future prospects as job seekers but our future prosperity as a region. I want to thank INJAZ and the Kingdom of Bahrain for their inspiring example, and all the competitors for their impressive skills.”
Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed her satisfaction with the event, stating “We are very delighted and grateful for Her Majesty Queen Rania’s attendance, a gesture which exemplifies her personal involvement and caring passion for the development of youth across the Arab world. We also thank Citibank for providing this unique, innovative learning experience and for the ongoing support of its employees who volunteer their time to mentor young Bahrainis students and provide them with valuable work-readiness and financial literacy education.”
Teams from three boys’ and three girls’ schools took part in the competition. The students take roles of being managers to learn how to work through a successful bank simulation program.
Queen Rania congratulated the winning team and wished the others all the best.
 INJAZ was started as a project by Save the Children with funds from USAID. In 2001, it spun off to become an independent not-for-profit organization. INJAZ is an International Member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the leading global youth organization.
Monday evening saw the Queen take part in a dinner to raise money for Madrasati, which is Arabic for “my school”. It is meant to improve schools and education in the Palestinian Territories.
Sitting with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman, Rania saw a few auctions take place in order to raise funds for the initiative, as well as a Bahrain charity, Alia School for Early Intervention.
Tomorrow, Queen Rania will go to Kuwait for a one day visit.
Sources: Bahrain News Agency, Ammon News, INJAZ
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