US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1501

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001501 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI 
LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2014 
TAGS: KDEM, PHUM, PGOV, KJUS, ASEC, BA 
SUBJECT: MIXED REACTIONS TO ARREST OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 1489 
     B. MANAMA 1482 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  The arrest of prominent human rights 
activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja continues to dominate the 
public's attention in Bahrain. Some oppositionists and NGO 
representatives who support Al Khawaja have been cautious in 
their public statements for fear that outspokenness could 
work against him.  Privately, they appreciated that Al 
Khawaja said what he did regarding the Prime Minister's 
mismanagement of the economy.  Other civil society advocates, 
intellectuals and businessmen felt that Al Khawaja went too 
far in his personal criticism of the Prime Minister and 
supported the government's action.  Many organizations have 
taken out advertisements in the official press lauding the 
accomplishments of the royal family, the Prime Minister, and 
the government.  A palace source told us that Al Khawaja's 
statement on poverty in Bahrain caused tension between the 
Prime Minister and the Crown Prince, who had just launched a 
labor reform initiative characterized as a step in addressing 
Bahrain's economic future (Ref A). The international human 
rights community has shown strong support for Al Khawaja as 
evidenced by the public statements. However, a demonstration 
September 28 attracted only a modest turnout of some 100 
people and a second demonstration has been called for October 
1 following Friday prayers.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Update of Al Khawaja's Case 
--------------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  On September 27, the Public Prosecutor's Office 
announced that human rights activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja was 
charged with Article 165 of the penal code, public incitement 
against the regime, and Article 168, for spreading rumors 
that could disrupt national security.  If found guilty, these 
charges carry two and three year prison sentences 
respectively.  Al Khawaja's attorney Ahmed Al Arayed told 
PolOff on September 26 that the Public Prosecutor decided to 
detain Al Khawaja for the full 45 days, allowing the GOB 
ample time to develop a case against him and to transcribe 
audiotapes of Al Khawaja's speech on poverty at the Aruba 
Club on September 24.  On September 28, Arabic daily Akhbar 
Al Khaleej stated that a Ministry of Justice official refuted 
Al Arayed's claim he had been denied access to Al Khawaja. 
 
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Al Khawaja Supporters Cautious in Public... 
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3.  (C)  Civil society activists are disassociating 
themselves from Al Khawaja's criticism of the Prime Minister 
and instead are focusing on the issues he raised, poverty and 
equitable economic development.  In a September 27 article in 
London-based Arabic daily Al Hayat, lead opposition society 
Al Wifaq President Shaikh Ali Salman clarified that calling 
for the Prime Minister's resignation is not part of Al 
Wifaq's agenda and has no impact on the dialogue between the 
opposition societies and the GOB.  He echoed these sentiments 
at the September 26 National Democratic Action Society (NDAS) 
seminar on the political societies law.  In his opening 
remarks Shaikh Ali motioned to an empty chair at the head 
table with Al Khawaja's picture mounted on it.  Shaikh Ali 
said it was unfortunate that a colleague had been detained 
because he would have been a valuable contributor on this 
topic, but said nothing more. 
 
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...And Private Commentary is Mixed 
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4.  (C)  Some Sunni and Shi'a civil society contacts are 
privately critical of the PM's management of the economy and 
are concerned about Al Khawaja's status.  In a series of 
private conversations, PolOff learned the following.  NDAS 
Board Chairman Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Noaimi said that it is 
a sad day when a human rights activist gets jailed for 
speaking his mind.  Al Noaimi fears that the GOB will make an 
example of Al Khawaja and prosecute him to the fullest 
extent.  President of Mustaqbal Society Shoala Shakeeb 
supported Al Khawaja's statements, saying that any action to 
publicize society's ills is good.  Secretary General of the 
GCC Arbitration Center Dr. Aziz Abul stated that Al Khawaja 
finally said out loud what many had been thinking for years, 
that the PM had failed in managing the economy and should 
leave office.  Al Wifaq Human Rights Committee Chairman Adel 
Al Abbasi said plainly that the Prime Minister is to blame 
for Shi'a poverty and unemployment. 
 
5.  (C) At the same time, other Embassy contacts have said 
that Al Khawaja knowingly crossed a red line, personal 
criticism of the Prime Minister.  One Shi'a contact who comes 
from the same village as Al Khawaja criticized his use of a 
fragment from a Shi'a prayer calling for the removal, widely 
interpreted as death, of someone harming or interfering with 
the progress of the Shi'a community.  Others have said that 
Al Khawaja unnecessarily introduced sectarianism into the 
issue of poverty, distribution of income and wealth, and 
economic development.  Another perspective we have heard from 
numerous Embassy contacts is that people are angry with Al 
Khawaja because his statements provoked a response by the 
government that could lead to a lessening of political space 
for everyone. 
 
6.  (C) The national press during the past few days has 
repeated the King's calls for national unity and rejecting 
divisiveness.  The official press has filled page after page 
with descriptions of the accomplishments of the King, the 
Prime Minister, and the government.  In the September 29 
editions of leading papers Akhbar Al Khaleej and Al Ayyam, 18 
clubs and organizations sponsored a full-page ad lauding the 
Prime Minister's leadership role in the government. 
(Comment:  Many of these entities may have been encouraged to 
participate in the ad by the government body responsible for 
their registration, the General Organization for Youth and 
Sport.  End Comment.) 
 
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Tension at the Palace 
--------------------- 
 
7.  (C)  A palace insider told us privately that the King, 
Crown Prince and Prime Minister had a heated discussion on 
September 26 about the Crown Prince's labor initiative and 
participants' criticism of the state of the Bahraini economy. 
 They report that the Prime Minister felt that the Crown 
Prince's remarks failed to recognize the achievements of the 
economy during the Prime Minister's 30 years in office and 
had created an atmosphere that emboldened an "Al Khawaja" to 
criticize the Prime Minister. Following a "closing of the 
ranks," the King uncharacteristically presided over the 
Cabinet's weekly meeting and paid rich tribute to the role 
the Prime Minister has played in realizing the GOB's 
economic, social and political achievements. In turn, the 
Prime Minister hailed the Crown Prince's effort in 
identifying labor market issues. On September 27, daily Al 
Ayyam featured photos of the threesome together smiling. 
 
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International Community's Reaction 
---------------------------------- 
 
8.  (U)  Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch 
issued statements of concern for Al Khawaja. On September 26, 
the Arab Program for Human Rights issued a statement of 
solidarity with him. On September 27, the Observatory for the 
Protection of Human Rights Defense, the Federation for 
International Human Rights and the World Organization Against 
Torture issued a joint statement in support of Al Khawaja. 
 
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Peaceful Demonstration 
---------------------- 
 
9.  (C) On September 28, about 100 people gathered in front 
of the Bahrain Center shopping mall to protest Al Khawaja's 
arrest.  Speakers emphasized the importance of freedom of 
speech and expression.  The crowd chanted, "Free Al Khawaja" 
and "Free speech is now a crime."  Another demonstration in 
support of Al Khawaja is scheduled October 1 after Friday 
prayers starting at the Shi'a Ras Ruman Mosque and proceeding 
four blocks to the Prime Ministry. 
 
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Comment 
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10.  (C)  While opinion is mixed about Al Khawaja and what he 
said, many of our Bahrain contacts are saddened that the GOB 
felt the need to silence him by putting him in jail.  Al 
Khawaja's supporters meanwhile are calibrating their public 
comments so as not to harm his legal status.  They therefore 
now are speaking publicly about the issues - poverty and 
economic development - but not the personalities - Al Khawaja 
and the Prime Minister. 
 
ZIADEH