Amnesty Seeks Release of Canadian National in Bahrain
Amnesty International has requested the “immediate and unconditional” release of Naser Bader Al-Raas - citing him a “prisoner of conscience” – from the Bahrain government. Al-Raas was charged in October with illegal assembly, rioting and incitement, and his sentence of five years in prison was recently upheld. Throughout Al-Raas’ intermittent detention, he has alleged torture from security forces while in custody. ”Canadian officials will continue to raise Canada’s concerns regarding Mr. Al-Raas’s situation with the Bahraini government and will urge that his case be resolved expeditiously, particularly in view of his serious health issues,” said Diane Ablonczy, Canadian minister of state for Foreign Affairs, while referencing Al-Raas’ pulmonary hypertension.
Meanwhile, Cherif Bassiouni, a professor at DePaul University in Chicago, who lead an investigation last year regarding Bahrain’s crackdown against pro-democracy protest, will return to assess the extent the government has implemented the reforms he recommended. The Bahrain government has dedicated a website to demonstrate the steps that have been implemented from Bassiouni’s report. Bassiouni said he is returning at King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa‘s invitation, and will finish his review by early March. At that point, “I will be issuing a report on the status of implementation of the [Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry's] recommendations,” said Bassiouni.
Naser Bader Al-Raas was accused by government officials of Bahrain of making trouble while visitng this very restrictive society. Now, he wants the Canadian Government to somehow hold the King of Bahrain responsible for the treatment he recieved. Thanks to the Canadian Government this ungrateful person was set free. Guess what, Naser Bader Al-Raas should not expect the taxpayers Canada to foot the bills for personal choices, disastrous as they may be. Maybe this experience will make the Naser Bader Al-Raas’ of the world to realize not to go to these unstable countries unless they wish to stay there. Whiners like Naser Bader Al-Raas are far too plentiful in our blessed democracy of Canada. To all of the ilk of Naser Bader Al-Raas, please go away and don’t come back!