Bahrain Mirror: The American for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain called on US President Joe Biden to announce practical steps to end all types of oppression in Bahrain in the speech he will deliver on Tuesday in the "Summit for Democracy".

Husain Abdulla, Executive Director of ADHRB that defends rights and freedoms in Bahrain, said in a written letter to president Biden "On the eve of the Summit for Democracy, I am writing this open letter to you to propose a new and transformative path forward for the United States and all countries that value and seek to advance democracy and human rights.  I commend you for putting democracy and human rights at the forefront of US rhetoric when talking about international relations and there is no better time than now to address this critical issue head on." 

"Authoritarianism, corruption, and human rights violations are increasingly prevalent around the globe. I encourage bold, innovative, collaborative, and decisive action by the US and its allies who value living in a world where freedom and liberty are realities for citizens, not just memories."

"Based on its [Bahrain] demonstrated lack of commitment to human rights and democratic principles, I urge you to announce a five-year plan to disentangle the United States from its relationship with Bahrain, starting immediately," Husain said in his letter.

He explained that "The plan would include removing all US security forces from Bahrain, suspending all weapons sales to Bahrain, suspending the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, and commencing rigorous investigations into Global Magnitsky Act enforcement focused on Bahraini officials at all levels of government."

"These actions are entirely appropriate and even overdue given the callous and notorious abuses perpetrated by the Government of Bahrain, and authoritarian dictatorship, against its own people."

Abdulla spoke about the tyranny committed in Bahrain which he could document through his experience as the Executive Director of Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain. He applauded the fact that the Government of Bahrain was not invited to participate in the Summit for Democracy and demanded the US Administration to take Bahrain as a test case for a new approach to promoting democracy and human rights globally.

He reminded Biden that the successive US Administrations have repeatedly and consistently described in stark terms the egregious violation of the human rights of the people of Bahrain at the hands of their government, the last of which were stated in the State Department's 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

He also tackled restrictions imposed on restrictions on freedom of expression, the press, and the internet, including censorship, site blocking, criminal libel, and arrests stemming from social media activity; substantial interference with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; overly restrictive laws on independent nongovernmental organizations; restrictions on freedom of movement, including revocation of citizenship; restrictions on political participation; and significant restrictions on workers' freedom of association.

He noted that "Despite indisputable evidence to the contrary, at his Senate confirmation hearing on October 5, 2021, Steven Bondy, your nominee to be ambassador to Bahrain, responded to a question by Senator Tim Kaine about the Bahraini government's human rights record by saying, "If we were to rewind ten years ago, as you said, when there was quite a bit of strife in the [Bahrain], we would have to say that the trendlines since then have been exceedingly positive."

Husain Abdulla denounced that the person nominated to be the US top diplomat in Bahrain would publicly state that anything about the Government of Bahrain's human rights record is "exceedingly positive."  He said "It is precisely this kind of signal given to the Government of Bahrain by Mr. Bondy that emboldens anti-democratic behavior and human rights violations against peaceful civilians."

"The type of ambivalent approach to fundamental rights and freedoms articulated by Mr. Bondy must be abandoned and replaced with a coherent and effective US strategy," Abdulla added. He further stated that the US has failed to exercise potential points of pressure available to it to affect change.  The US continues to sell the Bahrainis arms, Bahrain enjoys a free trade agreement with the US, and no Bahraini official has been sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act.   

According to his letter "The US has created a scenario that has made it dependent on Bahrain as a base for the US fifth fleet and other military assets. Thus, the solution I propose is that you proactively and consciously reduce US dependency on Bahrain by removing the elements in the relationship that lead the US to compromise our principles and turn a blind eye to clear and obvious human rights violations, anti-democratic actions, and blatant corruption."

The executive director reminded the US Administration with its announced principle that "Democracy doesn't happen by accident".

"Now is time to defend, fight for, strengthen and renew Bahraini democracy and human rights."

He clearly mentioned the demands of Bahrainis to put an end to the blatant violations practiced against them, indicating that, at a minimum, they include: release all political prisoners and do not arrest any more people for peaceful political activity, permit the political opposition to exist in Bahrain, begin a dialogue with the political opposition, permit the media to operate freely in Bahrain, hold perpetrators of torture and other human rights abuses accountable regardless of how high in the Bahraini government they are, repeal laws that perpetuate the repressive police state in Bahrain, and permit United Nations and other neutral observers unfettered access to the country.

Husain Abdulla said in his letter that "the optimal outcome of this policy in relation to Bahrain would not be US disengagement from Bahrain, but rather a shift to democracy and human rights by the Government of Bahrain that results in strengthened relations between the two countries and enhanced security for both the US and Bahrain. However, the US must be genuine and resolute in its commitment to fully enforce the policy of disentanglement if the Government of Bahrain does not fully meet all of the established human rights and democracy benchmarks.  I believe that this approach could be a model for US relations with numerous other countries."

Arabic Version