4 years on, where does the Bahraini Revolution stand?

With the fourth anniversary of its popular uprising fast approaching, tensions are simmering in Bahrain. The main opposition Al-Wefaq Islamic Society has called for a three-day public strike, boycotting all transactions with government institutions, along with the continuation of protests.

The Bahraini revolution, which began on February 14, 2011 as part of the so-called Arab Spring uprisings, has received the least amount of media coverage, international concern and remains forgotten by most.

Is this because Bahrainis have tried revolting against their ruling monarchs in the past too and failed, or are there other factors at play here?

Uprising and suppression

From the onset of the uprising, the British-imposed monarchy of the Al-Khalifa family has deployed its forces to come down harshly on the people and any symbol of resistance. Numerous mosques have been bulldozed as they were becoming important hubs perpetuating the ideology of resistance, prominent human rights and democracy activists were imprisoned, a siege was laid upon the capital's main hospital that was treating the wounded protesters in direct defiance of the regime, and the iconic Pearl roundabout was demolished into nonexistence.

The Pearl roundabout today exists only as an idea, a dream that symbolizes the essence of this very uprising and the aspirations of the people. Since 2011 and running up to the end of 2014, there have been 166 reported civilian deaths, almost 3,000 cases of ill-treatment, 400 cases of religious freedom violations and over 8,800 cases of arbitrary arrests, many resulting from raids of homes of peaceful Bahrainis.

The numbers are staggering when you factor in the indigenous population of the kingdom stands at just over 6 hundred thousand or so. Among these numbers are many forgotten names and faces of a people who dared to peacefully rise up as one against a brutal dictatorship and demand their rights.

Among these numbers are figures like Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, who despite his failing health remains locked up for life along with numerous others, including, most recently, a minor. Among these are men like Al-Wefaq's leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, who was arrested last December for demanding democratic reforms. Among them are names like Saeed Al Shahabi who have been stripped of their nationality but have more Bahraini blood in their veins than the ruling despots.

Forgotten are names like Hussain Ghazi Al Halwachi, a 17 year old who was subjected to enforced disappearance has never been heard from since. Forgotten are babies like the son of Zainab Al Khawaja who has been refused a birth certificate. Left out are those Bahraini youth who cannot go to hospital to get the bird shot pellets removed from their bodies out of fear of arrest. Alone are those Bahrainis who have suffered mass lay-offs and denied their right to education because they chose not to bow down anymore.

Despite nearly daily protests across Bahraini cities and villages, and continued repression, this narrative remains missing from the mainstream media's headlines, and the situation has never been afforded any sort of international urgency. There have been no emergency UN Security Council meetings to discuss the brutality of the Bahraini regime, no halt in arms sales to a government that will use them against its own people, and no international investigations to document the systematic abuse, torture and murder of Bahraini citizens at the hands of security forces.

International conspiracy of silence

Indeed, Western ties with the despotic regime continue. Arms contracts are still written, specially with made-in-US tear gas canisters suffocating the life out of the revolution. The US has benefitted from its cozy relationship with the monarchy, and the Al-Khalifas have served the Americans well. Bahrain is home to the US navy's fifth fleet. The presence of this military base gives the US a strategic advantage in a region so tumultuous and currently the focus of American foreign policy agenda. Business contracts and opportunities have been open for American businesses in the oil-rich kingdom as well.

Worse still, is the role of Britain. It also plans to put in place a military base in the kingdom. The decision to do so came very recently and was seen as a green light being given to the Al-Khalifa's brutal repression. Stability will always take precedence over democracy, freedom and human rights when lucrative contracts and military prowess are concerned. Or perhaps it is a special bond between one monarchy and another?

It remains in the West's interest that things remain business-as-usual for Bahrain. It continues to benefit off of the regime's compliance and cooperation in achieving Western objectives in the Middle East in exchange for Western silence over the rife human rights violations that have become a daily norm in the kingdom.

Foreign intervention

But this is not the only form of foreign intervention Bahrain has seen. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were quick to deploy their soldiers at the request of the Bahraini regime, and have played an active role in the suppression of the peaceful uprising. The lighting up of Dubai's landmark Burj Al Khalifa in the flag of Bahrain during New Years celebrations this year was just a small example of what is at stake here. Persian Gulf monarchies and dictatorships cannot afford a popular revolution in their backyard. It loses them strategic friends and makes them feel insecure on their lofty thrones.

Meanwhile, the regime has been bringing in foreign mercenaries to continue to crackdown. Governments of Pakistan and Jordan most particularly have played an active role. Bahrainis are being subject to daily abuse and humiliation at the hands of foreigners in their own land. But ironically, the regime continues to stand by its claim that the peaceful Bahraini protesters are the ones colluding with foreign governments.

The regime has also been working continually to change the demographics of the kingdom. Naturalized citizens are being brought in from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen and Pakistan, while indigenous Bahrainis are being stripped of their nationalities. Through the practice of naturalizing foreigners, the regime wants to create a strong base of loyal citizens, who will lend the ruling monarchy both political and ideological support. In return, they get economic perks and a clear distinction above the average Shia Bahraini citizen.

A Sunni-Shia struggle?

The Al-Khalifa monarchy has actively tried to portray the popular uprising as a Sunni-Shia conflict. The Bahraini regime has carefully crafted a system in  which the Shia majority is kept subjugated to a ruling elitist class that is made up of Sunnis. It is natural when a system of Apartheid exists in a country that the subjugated majority rise up as one against the ruling elites. However, the aspirations of the people of Bahrain lie beyond sectarian lines. It is a movement based on democratic ideals, that calls for equal rights for all citizens regardless of faith. The uprising is a human rights movement which knows no color, creed, tribe or faith.

As the revolutionary movement continues, and protests are still rife, it is easy to see the differences between this movement and that of the other failed revolutions of the Arab Spring. The movement is structured, organized and focused. It has a leadership with a vision. It isn't centered around the economic realities (and disparities) of the people alone. Rather, it is a rejection of humiliation - politically and socially. It is a call for the restoration of lost dignity - which means foreign interests will no longer take precedence over national obligations.

Victory?

This Bahrain is still a dream, still an aspiration. When will it come true? Will it be today, next week, next year? It will not suffice to give it a time line, to give it an expiration date. It is not about removing a despot, but overhauling an entire system. The fight is probably going to be long, for the other side has much lose.

But for as long as the people continue to say no, to refuse to bow down, to reject a life of oppression, this movement is alive. Victory is in their presence on the streets. Victory is when they march through clouds of tear gas. Victory is when they choose a life of freedom, of resistance. All else is fleeting.

It is up to us and our leaders now to decide which side of history will we be on. For in the end, the unjust always fall, and will of people always prevails. No matter how long it takes.

KF/KA

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