Injustice for women is the law of the land
BY AMIRA AL HUSSAINI
Published: 17 May 2004It really is a national disgrace that an MP can literally walk away from serious criminal charges – thanks to a law which grants him immunity.
How long will this farce go on? What do we tell all those women out there about democracy and upholding the civil rights of individuals, when women cannot speak up about being harassed by men in power.
A Syrian woman has been wronged – just because she did not have the backing of the law. Perhaps, if it was another woman with a social standing and the backing of an influential family, the case may have differed.
Her case against an MP, accused of pestering her for sex and making lewd suggestions was thrown out of the Lower Criminal Court – because he has immunity.
Do you know how difficult it is for a woman – any woman – to stand up for her rights in this society, which is controlled by men who indulge in their own petty, selfish, embarrassing pleasures?
I am sure that this woman thought a million times before speaking to anyone about the harassment she has allegedly endured from this respectable MP. She then had to go through the humiliation of explaining to one man after the other about how he fondled himself in front of her. She had to re-tell the story and re-live the horror and shame over and over again.
When the case went to court, she finally took a breath of relief. Justice will be seen to be done at last. But she sure was wrong.
Let’s just look at the hundreds of cases in court involving women for a proper definition of the word justice.
Back to our respectable MP. How could a 47-year-old man be elected to public office despite being accused of fondling himself in front of a woman, repeatedly pestering her for sex and making lewd suggestions on a number of occasions.
How could he be let off the hook, just because he has become an MP since it all allegedly happened in 2001.
Why hasn’t Parliament met and discussed lifting his immunity in a session and passed a decision on it?
Isn’t this part of the democratic process we have been churning out front page after front page on?
Or is the role of MPs, who promised their constituents 101 things before their election, restricted today to flexing their muscles at the government?
Next time I am in parliament, I wouldn’t want to cross paths with this MP nor with all the others who covered up for him and brushed away this woman’s complaints, just because she was a woman.
Had he not been an MP, what would the punishment have been like?
I will recount to you a personal horror story which happened to me and my sister one night not in the too far past.
We were chased by five Saudi thugs, who pulled my sister out of the car and started hitting and biting her. When passers-by stopped to rescue her, they escaped. We filed a case at the Hoora Police Station, the culprits were arrested, rushed through court on a Thursday and released on BD 40bail each.
The follow-up to the case? My lawyer cannot do anything because the case papers have disappeared.
Will anyone respond to my queries and complaints for justice? No.
Me, my sister, the Syrian woman and all the other women out there should just swallow their humiliation and accept the fact that if they want to live, go out, drive, go to college or go shopping, they have to put up with harassment and shut up.
There is no one to hear their complaints and no one to stand up for them. Bravo, Bahrain. Welcome to the new era of democracy and reform.
sorry I couldn’t post a direct link to Amira’s comment on the GDN because their website is totally useless (crap in other words). I’ve done a story about the right honourable gentleman a few days ago…
It is really surprising that the Editor allowed this article to be printed ‘as is’ so now I’m waiting for Anwar Abdulrahman to be dragged into court again under the even crappier press laws we have here.
All in all, thank you Amira for speaking out so courageously, you have my sympathy and support. I do hope that you can convince more women (regardless of nationality) in Bahrain to NOT shut up about the humiliation they go through here, the more you speak, the faster the authorities will (hopefully) change their ways. Especially against ‘learned’ people like that dickhead Ammar who said that women are to blame for being raped just because they’re not dressing “appropriately’ for this country, ie, he wants all women to represent Guinness bottles, and his letter was in response to a 12-year-old kid being hounded, harassed and wolf-whistled at while walking her dog…
Now we know why. If MPs themselves condone male sexual transgressions, then women can never be safe in this country.
Comments
Way to go Amira!
well .. lets look at the bright side. the right honorable MP has his name all over the papers. the media is being used to highlight an issue and gavanize public opinion. now, all we need is to put enough pressure on our beloved bearded boys realize that the friday sermons should be tackling issues such as these as opposed to what is happening in palestine.
Way to go Amira!
Let’s hope she fairs better than in a previous column on Islamist influence at the University of Bahrain, after which she was denounced in the letters page of the GDN as an “opponent of God”.
In the earlier column she specifically raised the issue of security guards/Islamist thugs in uniform forcing girls to cover up on campus. I see that Al-Wefaq’s boys have triumphed again in the student elections this week, so we can expect more of the same.
Way to go Amira!
Very disheartening yet at the same time my up-most admiration for Amira to speak out. Until there are enforced laws in place to protect women, I’m afraid this won’t change even with social awareness and moral outcry. The only unknow variable (for me) is the effects of this scumbags’ name in the papers in Bahrain. Unfortunately, having experienced this, I urge all women to carry mase, and get a blackbelt in Karate. Let the bastards explain why they got their injuries in the light of day. When on the job, document everything, very small hidden cameras/recorders might help as well. Shame them, expose them. Other men need to understand. …but as I write this I’m afraid that some men may use this as an excuse to imprison their women. What a dilema!
Women are strong, now they must show it, the fight will be tiring, exhausting, and frustrating. The painful part will be women who won’t or can’t support out of fear, retribution or blind faith. The rewards will be worth it. As predators will be exposed in the hall of shame, or better, jail.
My husband thinks my words are rather harsh, but he is not of the predatory type, and he was raised in an environment where gender was not an issue and to treat all people with the respect they command. So I shall submit and hope I don’t get too lambasted, (it’s ok I do have thick skin) or the postings off on a rant about feminists, it’s about sexual harassment and silencing women whose lives are threatened or those with a valid legal charge or complaint.
Way to go Amira!
These are the issues about which people should be taking to the streets, and not stupid things like Big Brother, etc… Does anyone know if there are any political or humanitarian agencies out there that would be willing to organize a protest march over this immunity law? Has the Bahrain Human Rights Committee said anything about this yet (I know they’re already in a separate pickle of their own)… what about the political groups? What are their stances if any. I really think we should organize something so that people know that something like this cannot be overlooked.
– Chan’ad
Way to go Amira!
Chan’ad: I was wondering the same thing after my last post, would outside protests help? I really have no idea if it would be covered in Bahrain. There are a few groups that I would like to pass this information on to; just not sure about how to go about it. Asking Mahmood’s permission to link his site would be the first obvious step, but how to get the information back to Bahrainis? Please understand I do not support ‘men bashing’ venues they are counter-productive if not damaging. Will check back. Best regards.
Bahrain’s Benny Hill
This sex mad MP’s been chasing girls round Bahrain like a salivating Benny Hill. If he had any honour he’d voluntarily revoke his own immunity so that he could clear his name.
Instead, he’s being protected in his bid to dodge the law by Speaker Khalifa Al-Dhahrani – no stranger it seems to this website himself – who refuses to counternance even discussing the case.
Way to go Amira!
I hesitate to comment, because I don’t know the way your country works, but I am curious. Is it safe to assume women cannot vote and therefore have no political clout. Or can they vote? If one brave soul went to the press like the lady is SA that was beaten by her husband, would that do any good if the country’s dirty laudry were aired for the world to see? It still might take some time, but it might move the process along.
We certainly have sexual predators in the US, but someone using their position of power, be it government officials, teachers, police etc., just doesn’t happen often because no woman would stand for it.
Re: Way to go Amira!
yes, women can vote and run for parliament in Bahrain. In fact, it is said the main reason Islamists won the elections in parliament and city councils is because of the women vote. People don’t hear it very often, and they definitely don’t mention it, but women are much more conservative than men in their outlook in Bahrain.
Way to go Amira!
I would agree with the post above. I think it will be interesting to see how the personal effects law plays out though – and what will happen in round 2 or round 4 of parliament once people start voting on issues and not just allegiances. will women galvanize into a voting block??
(implicit here, of course, is the assumption that people will start running on campaigns and issues)
Trackback :: Human Rights Watch Protests Treatment of Pro-Democracy Petitioners in Bahrain
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Beards sex mania
Women can vote in Bahrain, but their avenues for greater equality are limited by the heavy handness of the clerics represented by parties such as the salafist Esalah and Shia fundamentalist Al-Wefaq. The only thing these parties hate more than each other is the modern world and in particular notions of women’s social equality, and they’re absolutely sex obssessed – even more so than the randy MP. They can’t stop talking or thinking about sex, or to use their euphemism, “public morality”, often using it as a rally point to send their thugs out on to the streets to enforce their views on the subject.
Re: Trackback :: Human Rights Watch Protests Treatment of Pro-Democracy Petitioners in Bahrain
Hi Rosenblog,
Thanks for covering this issue. It seems Westerners are more interested in this than Bahrainis themselves. I cant understand Mahmoud’s stoicism and the fact that he has raised every event OTHER than the political detainees in this blog. Mahmoud can ignore it, the media can ignore it, but for how long? It cant just be swept under the carpet. It has been 10 days now since they were arrested, protests calling for thier release have been forced to stop. I agree with the earlier post, these prisoners are akin to HOSTAGES, and the government is demanding that the societies drop the petition. Tomorrow the society leaders will be meeting with the King. God knows what he has in mind.
My prayers are for the prisoners lingering in Bahraini jails trying to defend the freedom of our beloved country.
No immunity for them though
They dont have immunity though do they. And none of them have ever been accused of such things, or taken to court where they would be tried under the rule of law. The issue is the immunity of MPs here.
Re: News Release by Human Rights Watch
Yes you’re right. I should have covered the issue of the prisoners in my blog also. I have been intending to do so since the issue began, however I was hesitant because I still do not fully understand the details of what happened and why. I read in the newspaper a few days ago that they were arranging a rally from Ras Ruman Mosque, so I went down over there so that I could speak to them in person and find out what’s been going. When I got there the place was empty, and it was only the next day that I found out that it had been called off at the last minuted.
The problem is that I do not have a good grasp of Arabic, and therefore do not have access to the information printed in Al-Wasat, or al Ayam, or the numerous websites,… so I have to rely on the very meager information available in the GDN.
More generally, not being a Bahraini citizen, there don’t really seem to be that many avenues available for expats become involved in many local issues. Are there any english language mailing lists that I could join that would let me know what’s going on? I go to many of the political rallies, but most of the time I end up being an observer rather than a participant because most of the Bahrainis don’t really take me seriously.
Okay, enough of my rant. thanks.
– Chan’ad
News Release by Human Rights Watch
News Release by Human Rights Watch:
[url]http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/05/17/bahrai8588.htm[/url]
[quote][b]Bahrain: Pro-Democracy Activists Detained[/b]
The government of Bahrain should immediately release 20 individuals arrested for collecting signatures on a political petition, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should also end the criminal investigations against them.
” [i]This blatant suppression of freedom of speech and association flies in the face of the government’s proclaimed commitment to democratic change. The right to petition peacefully is fundamental, and this petition addresses an issue that lies at the heart of democratic reforms.[/i] ” Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Division
The petition for constitutional amendments would give greater legislative authority to the kingdom’s elected assembly. Addressed to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, the petition reportedly has tens of thousands of signatures.
“This blatant suppression of freedom of speech and association flies in the face of the government’s proclaimed commitment to democratic change,� said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Division. “The right to petition peacefully is fundamental, and this petition addresses an issue that lies at the heart of democratic reforms.�
On April 30, authorities arrested 17 Bahrainis at several public signature-collection stands. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Shinaishin stated then that they faced “charges of calling for change to the political system, provoking hatred and trying to destabilize public security.� Three of the 17 were released on May 2 without charge.
On the morning of May 6, according to the independent Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), security forces raided the homes of five other petition activists, confiscated computers and documents and took the five into custody. Authorities also detained and charged the spokesman for a defense committee for the detainees. He and several others have been freed on bail, but 11 remain jailed, many of them now in their third week of detention.
On May 16, the BCHR received a letter from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs threatening to withdraw the center’s license if it did not end unspecified “political activities.� The center has been active in a campaign to secure the release of the arrested petitioners.
BCHR president Nabeel Rajab told Human Rights Watch that officials in the Public Prosecutor’s office asked the organizers of the petition to pledge in writing that they have called off the public effort to gather petitions and that only persons who were
members of the societies prior to April 21, when the campaign started, would be eligible to sign. The officials said that would be necessary before the government would release and drop charges against those arrested.
Bahrain does not permit political parties, but the government has tolerated limited political activities by several “societies.� Four of these, including Al-Wifaq, which has a substantial following among the country’s majority Shi`a population, began the petition effort as part of a campaign to modify the constitution issued by royal decree in February 2002. Under the constitution, limited legislative authority is shared by an elected national assembly and an appointed consultative council of 40 members each.
Political liberalization efforts have not included reform of numerous laws restricting basic political freedoms. The government has threatened “legal actionâ€? against the offending societiesâ€â€Âand now the Bahrain Center for Human Rightsâ€â€Âon the grounds that they have violated the restrictive 1989 decree governing associations. Those arrested reportedly face charges of instigating hostility to the government, publishing false information and violating the prohibition against gatherings of five or more persons without authorization.
“The government’s response to the peaceful efforts of citizens to petition their government highlights the pressing need to reform the old decrees that were issued precisely to suppress any exercise of basic civil and political rights,� Whitson said.
[/quote]
Although this immunity law is unfortunate, I think there are more pressing issues, like freedom of speech and basic human rights. How about law 56 which gives immunity to torturers?? Torture was rife in Bahraini jails in the 90s – makes Abu Ghuraib look like a fun day out at the playground, yet the torturers have not only been given immunity but protection!!
Why are you guys not supporting these 20 prisoners who are more like hostages that the government has taken in order to force the opposition to end the protests and calls for political reforms?? Is this the democracy we were struggling for years for??
Re: Way to go Amira!
Hi leap frog,
Im sure Mahmoud has his reasons and he is a very busy man. “They’ve lost the plot” is referring to the main issue of the petition but not specifically what happened AFTER the petition was launched…ie the detaining of signature collectors.
Sorry if I sounded disdainful, however I can’t stop thinking of these prisoners of conscience rotting in the scorching heat of the non air-conditioned Alqal3a prison in Manama for 45 days, whilst being powerless to do anything. The media is concentrating on Iraq whilst an inadvertant local media follows governmental orders not to cover the issue at all! Every Arab country has its own Abu Ghuraib including Bahrain.
Re: No immunity for them though
What about MP’s in other countries? Do they have immunity as well?
Re: News Release by Human Rights Watch
Sweetheart .. you are obviously a man.
As a woman – I am more interested in Amira’s article.
Re: Way to go Amira!
It is crucial to have enforceable laws in place to punish sexual predators and to protect their victims and potential victims. But that is only a first step. It is equally important to change people’s attitudes about these types of crimes and about women.
In my home state in the USA, the laws on the books are excellent BUT ultimately it is up to the jury. As a criminal prosecutor, I have discovered all sorts of misogynist attitudes among my fellow citizens, burbling just below the surface, and these attitudes will often affect the outcomes of sexual assault trials — i.e. the man who was acquitted of raping a former girlfriend at gun point, not because the jury had any doubt that the man forced this woman to have sex against her will but because she had had sex willingly with him in the past. In another case, a juror told me that he believed the victim had lured her assailant into her “web” — notwithstanding a complete lack of evidence that she had done anything to provoke this attack other than just having the misfortune to be alone and vulnerable at the wrong time.
Re(1): Way to go Amira!
I simply did not have time to cover the story of the detainees in more details. I’ve just come back from a trip abroad as well and am a bit swamped. Rest assured that I shall however. Briefly I agree with you, these boys were pawns in the battle between the government and the societies. This tactic has been used before and probably will continue to be, unless of course our beloved MPs actually get their fingers out and do something about this situation, and they’re at pains NOT to in this situation because they’re simply jealous!!
Anyway, what I tried to highlight in this post is really Amira’s courage and coming out and shaming this jerk in a national newspaper and to bring attention to the suffering of some women in Bahrain. Hang on until I post something about the detainees specifically to comment about that subject, or better still, comment on “They Lost the Plot” post as it is more appropriate there than here… just to keep things tidy.
Way to go Amira!
Hello Insurgent: Thanks for the reply, does help clear it up for me. See you over at “They Lost the Plot”.
Sincerely, yours. LF
Re(2): Way to go Amira!
Hi Mahmoud, welcome back.
Just to update, and since I started, so I will finish. ALL the detainees have been released today. It is not clear however if they’re release is just on bail, or all charges have been dropped. It is obvious though that the King had a role to play since he had a meeting today with the heads of all the societies. No prizes for guessing what tomorrow’s headlines will be. Lets see if they surprise us though by NOT declaring that their release was somehow a ‘makrama ameeria’ (Amiri handout/clemency/gift). Lets now all bow down to the King in gratitude as our hero has come to save the day.
It is really sad that we have to live in a country in which the threat of persecution of our beliefs still exists, and it seems we will have to keep watching over our shoulders for a long time as clearly the authorities are playing with the laws.
Ok where were we. Oh yes Amira, you go girl …
Re(1): News Release by Human Rights Watch
Darling, dont make assumptions, Im a women too!
Im not saying Amira doesnt have a point…all im saying is where should reform start!! There must be some sort of taxonomy of rights, and i would hav though human rights come first! Then the issue of immunity in general… but didnt that Shuwaikh guy get prosecuted and his immunity was lifted? Im totally confused… As for sexual harrasment and molestation, that is against the law everywhere and it is not just a phenomenon specific to Bahrain, it happens everywhere…
Re(1): News Release by Human Rights Watch
Chan’ad,
I commend you for your pro-active approach and intrigue regarding the culture and politics of your host country. I understand the language barrier that you face. It also seems that there is not much going on at the moment overtly, but alot of talk behind closed doors. If I find out about anything I will post it up here, the information is mostly from Bahraini arabic web forums such as http://www.Bahrainonline.org which is the biggest one around with over 15,000 members, but I think it maybe blocked from Bahrain and you need a proxy. Maybe http://www.bahrain4u.com works but im not sure as Im not in Bahrain. Its a bit of a cat and mouse game with batelco which keeps blocking the site and the admins find a proxy.
Way to go Amira!
Dear Insurgent: I’m just not sure I understand you correctly, if Mahmood’s article “They’ve lost the Plot”, was not about the same thing, please enlighten me. I mean no disrespect I’ve read Rosenblogs link and found a link back to Mahmood’s article as quoted above. I thought it was about the same event, please correct me if I’m wrong.
Also, he is a husband, father, business owner, and manages a very dynamic blog, not to mention a recent loss of a loved one. Perhaps a little more understanding would be warranted.
Re: Way to go Amira!
Good evening gentle folk!,
It’s my second time here – and I have been intrigued by the postings I’ve seen. I’ll be returning!
Re(1): Way to go Amira!
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Re(1): Way to go Amira!
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