Mahmood's Den

In a surprise move, the US handed over sovereignty to Iraq two days before the previously announced date of June 30th!

The US has formally handed over power in Iraq, two days ahead of schedule.

In a low-key ceremony in Baghdad, US administrator Paul Bremer gave legal documents to an Iraqi judge at 1026 local time (0626 GMT).

Iraq’s interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who also took part in the ceremony in the heavily-guarded Green Zone, said it was “a historic day”.

source:

CONGRATULATIONS IRAQ!

Now let’s see if those bastards stop their killings and beheadings. Now they don’t have a shred of an excuse to continue their reign of terror.

I’m now officially on holiday, the first one since 1986!

So expect email replies and posts to be intermittent at best until my return on Aug 8th!

arrivederci

woohooooo!!

Seven Bahrainis detained and later released on suspicion of plotting terrorism yesterday denied any links to Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organisation.

Speaking at a Press conference at the Bahrain Human Rights Society’s premises in Adliya, they said that none of them were militants nor did they have military backgrounds.

It’s reported on the front page of Al-Ayam today that whoever wishes to marry a second wife must now prove that he can take care of the first wife and her children before he will be allowed to marry a second, and only after approval from the higher casation shari’a court!

This is a major development and a great boon for the women’s movements in Bahrain who have been struggling since the 70′s for a “Personal Law” and is great for the Bahraini man as well.

It is unfortunate however that this ruling, if true, is limited only to the Sunni sect and not the Shi’a. I doubt very much that our exalted Shi’a leaders and judges would accept such a ruling into law however because probably every single one of them has several wives, being old randy goats that they are. But pressure should certainly be put on them to accept it or move on from the bench.

We have many more divorce cases than marriage in Bahrain, and taking a second wife is all in a day’s work and a very simple process, yet it’s effects are huge in that it splits families apart and leads the first family to destitution and neglect by the husband.

So Muslims CAN make their feelings shown!

I’ve written before about a mosque care-taker using a mosque in Tubli as his personal brothel where he lures children into his room within the mosque, molests and rapes them about a year ago. He was prosecuted, had a sentence of 10 years in jail thrown on him and then deported to his native Pakistan once the sentence completes. We later heard that some judge found that the sentence “too harsh” and reduced it to 3 years.

What about the so called Imam who was responsible for that mosque? Some said that he knew of the happenings in the mosque and the “deviations” of the care-taker, but it was left at that as the mosque was closed for a year until the trial went through.

The mosque was re-opened last Thursday and the same Imam walked up to lead prayers, only to get the people of the village refuse to accept him as Imam and gave him his walking papers. His relatives and friends of course felt incensed by this and got into a fist fight with the opponents!

The dickhead Imam (Mousa Al-Uraibi) didn’t get the message and had the temerity to try to lead Friday prayers and of course by Friday the number of protesters increased several fold which prompted the police to take Mousa Al-Uraibi into protective custody as the gathering was felt to go even more violent than Thursday night.

The official body over-seeing the mosques (the Shi’a Endowment Board) “advised” the so called Shaikh not to lead any prayers, while the “Hawza” which is the supreme Shi’a authority in Bahrain said that it “doesn’t want to meddle” in the case. Both of these bodies are cowards in this situation. They should both fire his ass and get it over with, or is it that if you wear that turban then you are inviolate?

My advise to this dickhead is the following: unwind that turban a bit so your blood starts circulating and hopefully makes the connections between your neurons, maybe then you will understand that YOUR people don’t want you. I would rather see a pipe shoved up your ass, but then I’m not of that village and would tend to leave that pleasure to your own flock.

This is people power in action. If we as Muslims can stand up to injustice, and recognise that some of our religious leaders are corrupt and are not above questioning, why shouldn’t we take this a step further and condemn the violence, injustice and barbaric acts of other so called Muslims? Maybe this is the first step that we see here and it is significant as we have not heard of outright refusal of a turbaned one before. There is hope in that people are thinking properly and are demanding that their religious leaders are accountable.

update: The caption on this picture says “We appeal to His Majesty the King to immediately interfere to solve the problem of our mosque to save our village” Why the King? Do they think that he’s got nothing better to do than micro-manage every single situation? What about the legal process, the parliament, etc? Obviously they don’t give these bodies any weight whatsoever, or that if their problem is not solved, then the world will collapse? Or is it that the general population believe that only the King has the power to solve every issue be that a minor or major thing? He does, but they’ve demonstrated that they can solve their own problem, but have also shown that they’re being very naive or at least that guy who put that banner up there is.

Bahrainis took to the streets yesterday to demand that torturers and human rights violators be brought to justice.

Around 400 people took part in the rally held next to the United Nations House in Hoora to mark the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

“We are here to honour and pay tribute to those people who sacrificed their lives for the fundamental rights of the citizens of this country,” said Al Wefaq National Islamic Society head Shaikh Ali Salman.

A statement distributed at the rally demanded that the Bahrain Government “bear the legal and humanitarian responsibility … of compensating the martyrs and victims of torture”.

The rally was organised by 11 civil societies, including political and human rights organisations.

The importance of bringing torturers and human rights violators to justice, promoting fair national reconciliation, and compensating and rehabilitating victims of torture were highlighted by the societies.

“It is indeed a great national and international day when people around the world express their appreciation for torture victims’ sacrifices in their struggle for noble goals – freedom, justice and happiness,” the statement said. “As much as we take pride in their sacrifices for their nations, we condemn all sorts of systematic torture, killings and genocide that were committed by torturers.” The day marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture on June 26 1987 and is commemorated by governments and civil society organisations.

source: GDN

Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) has officially announced that ‘The Financial Centre’ component of the development is officially ‘open for sale’ – offering local, regional and international financial institutions and related businesses freehold ownership or lease options within the region’s first world-class financial centre. At this stage, 35 per cent occupancy rate has already been confirmed.

Bahrain last night released without charge six Bahrainis detained on Tuesday on suspicion of plotting terrorism in the kingdom, the attorney general said. “No charges have been pressed against any of the accused. They have all been released without charge,” said Sharif Shadi, after a 45-minute hearing.

Counsel for one of the accused, Abdullah Hashim, said that the decision followed the failure of the prosecution to turn up any evidence of wrongdoing.

“No weapons and no dangerous materials were found either in their own homes or those of their friends or relatives,” he said.

Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa had announced the arrests on Tuesday, saying the men had planned to carry out “dangerous acts targeting citizens and property by using dangerous materials”.

source: GDN

The last month has been hectic, we have looked at tens of houses and plots of land all over Bahrain, but I can finally and happily say that we have today signed the papers and paid the money for a new house. The very first we have ever owned! This after 14 years of trying to squeeze blood from various stones, it has finally happened.

It’s almost sad that we have to go on holiday rather than start moving! But my plan is that we’re coming back on August 7th, and the BBQ is declared for August 8th, by the pool! Frances and the kids can do the moving part, I’ll just sit around the pool, sipping some amber liquid, smoke a Cuban or two and give instructions!

I haved been thoroughly warned however that I do not post pictures, talk about it, declare its address or anything connected with it under pain of death. That house will remain private! (let’s see how long this lasts!! )

Oh, it’s in an area that I can never win should I ever consider to represent that area in parliament! That seals it!

Thirty English teachers from Bahrain’s government schools received certificates yesterday after taking part in a quality teacher development programme at the British Council.

The course, sponsored by HSBC, began in September and was designed to improve the quality of English language teaching at intermediate schools by training teachers in the latest techniques.

It covers topics such as how to cope with different types of learners in large classes, the best ways to develop students’ language skills, using computers and the Internet and developing as a teacher.

The participants received their certificates from programme co-ordinator David Parker at the British Council.

The event was also attended by HSBC corporate banking manager Peter Boland, HSBC marketing officer Juden Braganza and HSBC bank corporate affairs representative Judith Karam.

A peaceful rally will be held next to the United Nations House, Hoora, on Friday starting at 5pm.

Eleven civil societies, including political and human rights organisations, will take part in the rally marking the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

The objective of the rally is to make people aware of the importance of bringing torturers and human rights violators to justice, promoting fair national reconciliation, compensating and rehabilitating victims of torture.

Taking part in the rally are Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Bahrain Human Rights Society, Bahrain Society for Freedoms and Support of Democracy, the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, Islamic Action Society, National Democratic Action Society, Islamic Arab Democratic Society (Al Wasat), Progressive Democratic Forum Society, Pan Arab Democratic Society and the Bahrain Bar Society.

source: GDN

Bahrain’s infatuation with “nice” numbers continues unabated. Now we have Abdulla Al-Hammadi offering the ultra-sexy 9111119 for an ultra-cheap price of only BD 5,000 (US$ 13.2k)!

Any takers? Fools need to remember that they’ve got to add a number 3 in front of that number which destroys it doesn’t it? I mean it’s not symetrical any more, so the new price must be substantially less, right?

His Majesty King Hamad yesterday sent a cable to US President George W Bush offering his condolences and sympathy following the murder of Paul Marshal Johnson.

He sent a similar cable to the victim’s family.

The King said Bahrain rejected all forms of terrorism and criminal activity.

Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa sent similar cables.

The King also telephoned Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and denounced Johnson’s killing. He hailed the efforts of the Saudi security forces in fighting the group responsible.

The King also made a similar telephone call to Saudi Second Deputy Premier, Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud in which he hailed Saudi efforts to combat terror.

He also inquired about Prince Sultan’s health.

source: GDN

Rising Bahraini driver Hamed Al Fardan won the first rookie cup race in the Formula BMW Asia Championship held in Malaysia.

Representing Belgravia Motorsport, Al Fardan won the first race and finished runner-up in the second to improve his overall standing to sixth position.

In the first race, Al Fardan finished ahead of Chinese driver Han Han of Team E-Rain who came second and third was Robert T Boughey of Thailand and Minardi Team Asia.

Al Fardan maintained his momentum in the second race, but was narrowly beaten by Moroccan driver Mehdi Bennani of Team Meritus while Boughey was third.

Other Bahraini drivers in Al Fardan’s team were Shaikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa and Mohammed Al Baharna who are presently seventh and 10th overall.

source: GDN