Archive | October, 2011

Free Ebrahim Sharif

One Bahraini politician whom I really respect is Ebrahim Sharif.

Ebrahim Sharif is the secretary general of the secular National Action Democratic Society, acronymed Wa’ad – which translates from Arabic to “promise”. I believe with his tenacity and steadfastness to the truth and his passion to get this country to a better plane on which all are equal under the law and everyone is held responsible for their actions is the salvation that this country is in dire need of.

Unfortunately, he currently languishes in prison with a bevy of his compatriots for what some have determined to be politically motivated charges.

I also admire Ali Salman, the general secretary of Al-Wefaq¹ and some of his colleagues like Khalil Al-Marzooq for I believe that they too are sincere in their efforts to achieve the same ends that Sharif aspires to. I know that this concept might be very difficult for those who’ve put on the sectarian shades on and see Wefaq as being necessarily beholden to the Iranian Ogre – due to Wefaq’s membership being overwhelmingly Shi’a. I on the other hand don’t have those preset views to encumber my deductions and do see beyond a person’s chosen confessional beliefs and evaluate positions exclusively with what is good for Bahrain metric.

Ebrahim Sharif is spending his first of five years in prison for his beliefs amongst others of his compatriots who have been accused of similar offenses and have had sentences levied against them from five to life. I can’t do much about those sentences other than to hope that they know that they will for ever be remembered for their sacrifices, and hope too that they continue to stay true and strong. There is every chance that they will be exonerated soon.

Until then, please show your support by visiting a blog that has been especially created to support Ebrahim Sharif at http://freesharif.wordpress.com.

Stay well Bahrain.

Ed: typo corrected, was Wa’ad, now Wefaq – 11:52
“Bahrain demonstrates in solidarity with Egypt – Feb 4th, 2011 – with a quick interview with Ebrahim Sharif added at 17:22

Selective security

While I abhor the Molotov cocktail attack on Samira Rajab’s residence and regard it as a heinous crime not to be condoned at all, especially when consideration is given that this attack was most probably undertaken due to Ms Rajab’s opinions and political position, I am left at a loss as to how the security services can find and apprehend the perpetrators within a day of the incident and those even more severe attacks on the two Wa’ad HQs in both Manama and Muharraq, the attack on the Wefaq Secretary General’s residence and countless opposition MPs, doctors, journalists and writers are still at large!

What gives?

REPENT!

Christ’s Blood & Bank of America, originally uploaded by malyousif.

I was just looking through my Flickr stream and came across this recent picture I took in Manhattan, NY. Was reminded of the place and its hodgepodge of cultures and people from all corners of the world, yet, they mostly live in peace with each other and even enjoy each other’s company. Even with the presence of some who could be classified as crackpots. Yet, they just live… and let live.

I just hope that this spirit of coexistence returns back to this fractious country soon with the establishment of a better democracy and better respect for human rights.

Here’s to hope.

Congratulations Libya…. Next?

The pictures speak for themselves.

The question that wise “leaders” should ask themselves is: “Do I want to end up like any of these?”

I suppose not.

So what they need to do is relax that grip of power, give people the chance to live with dignity, treat them as equals and that will undoubtedly prolong their rule.

But who’s listening?

Congratulations Libya. Now please work hard at demolishing the idolization of persons and establish laws that apply to all and institutions to run the affairs of the country transparently and forge the future that was stolen from you for over 40 years.

Now. Who’s next?

Think Pink and Sectarianism

I was gutted that I could participate in this year’s RCA Pink Walkathon as I was still working in Kuala Lumpur at the time, and I couldn’t support this charity this year as much as I wanted to other than to do the easiest thing and donate a bit of money, which I know will help them get closer to their goal of purchasing the life saving machinery which they will be donating to Salmaniya Medical Complex to help the whole of Bahrain. Women of all ages, creeds and races would benefit from their efforts without distinction whatsoever.

However, what pained me even more than not being able to participate in the activities this year, is an article by Maryam Al-Sherougi in Al-Wasat in which she shocked me by stating that this year the foundation found it much harder to raise funds not because of the unavailability of funds, but because of people refusing to donate without knowing first whether their donations would benefit Shi’a or Sunna!

Here’s an excerpt and you can read the full article here:

إلا أن الأحداث الأخيرة جعلت الناس تتشكك في ريع البيع، وما إذا كان يذهب الى فئات لا تتوافق معهم فكريا أو أيديولوجيا، وبات الجميع يسأل، أين مصدر القناني؟ ومن هو المستفيد من المال؟ وهل هو من هذه الفئة أم تلك؟! وتراجع التنوير شيئا فشيئا بسبب مزجه مع الفتن التي تحدث في مجتمعنا، ما أثر تأثيرا سلبيا على هذه الحملة.

Translation:
However, recent events have made people skeptical about the proceeds of the sale, and whether it would go to groups which do not correspond with them intellectually or ideologically, and now everyone is asking, where is the source of the water bottles? And who is the beneficiary of the money? Whether it is from this sect or that?! And the enlightenment regressed gradually due to the various misdeeds that occur in our society which had a negative impact on this campaign.

How utterly disgusting is this? Is this really the Bahrain which we know and love? What happened to the hundreds of years of living side-by-side in harmony? Is being one sect or another really that relevant? Is it reason enough to withhold donations which should always be given with the only thought that it might benefit someone less fortunate than us based on the eventual beneficiary’s sect?

What a shame…