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

Comments

  1. Pingback: Bahrain: Free Ebrahim Sharif · Global Voices

  2. Hamad

    I used to think the same of wefaq until they refused to enter into Dialouge with the crown prince because they didnt get the religious blessing of Isa Qassim. With all due respect to their beleif and way of operation but I can’t accept that a political decision is tied to one man choice whither hes the religious leader or the ruler. both are forms of dictatorship to me..

    As for sharief, I still respect the man but don’t have full evidence to judge whither he is in prison for legitimate reasons or not. I used to be a Waad supporter but not anymore. I don’t see any party that represent me in bahrain anymore. Waad was the closest until they decided to follow wefaq and almost leave their secular beliefs…

    1. Post
      Author
      mahmood

      I think you’re mistaken. It was 7 (seven) political opposition societies who did NOT refuse to enter into a dialogue called for by the crown prince. Wefaq was just one of them and as far as I can tell, they were NOT beholden to Isa Qassim’s whims in that case. All opposition societies wanted guarantees that the dialogue will have weight of law to be enacted and that was not forthcoming, or if it were (as I believe they were) others had other ideas an the Saudis trundled in.

      Further, I don’t think that anyone has the luxury of having the “full evidence” – what wise men would do though is use precedent and logic and evaluate whatever “evidence” there is and based on those factors I fail to see any reason for Sharif and many others to languish in jail. If anything, they are all imprisoned for their expressions. A tenet that is ironically guaranteed by the constitution.

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