Among those artists is Cartoonist Ali Shehab who is known as “Ali Cartoon”. Ali explained the transformation of his art post 14Feb by saying: “There are no redlines in my paper anymore, my pen is finally liberated.”

Before the crackdown Ali and his fellow artists were able to communicate their art via a direct contact with protestors at the Pearl Roundabout but today, it’s an entirely different situation. Ali explains: “The security situation today does not allow artist to have a safe platform to exhibit their art or form a group and our only way to communicate with the public is via social media.”

Social media became the main source of communication for the revolution’s activities something that kept the government clueless on how to handle it especially with no clear rules and regulations in the judiciary system.  Ali continues: “Last month, the President of Bahrain Human Rights Center, Nabeel Rajab, was arrested because of a tweet criticizing the Prime Minister. I bet the blunt cartoons I create and post on my twitter have already put me on the target list. My arrest could happen any moment using any of my tweeted cartoons.”

In spite of the security threats Ali did not change the topics he draws about yet he became selective, he explains: “The big picture about this brutal regime is already known to all, this is why I started to choose stories and cases which requires more attention. Some organizations send me requests to draw a cartoon that they will be using in a campaign or during a protest, this puts my art for a greater cause.”

The latest cartoon Ali made was to support a Bahraini, Jaffar Salman, who is in prison for protesting and almost blind after police fired directly at his face. His cartoon was printed and used during a protest.

Ali Shehab’s cartoon for prisoner Jaffar Salman

The shift in mentality due to the excessive use of social media inspired Ali to plan an artistic project, he elaborates: “People are now more interested in flashy news in 140 characters and visuals like photos or videos. They don’t read long posts or blogs as before. This has inspired me to work on a new project, an art book. I am planning to write a book explaining the events happened in Bahrain since 14Feb till date not by using long paragraphs but by using sketches and cartoons.”

The planned book as Ali explained, will use less words and more visual to attract international attention by breaking the language barrier. He seemed very excited about the book yet he finished his sentence by saying  something all Bahraini activists say: “… unless I get arrested.”

The most famous flag, which was on the Pearl Roundabout written on it “Martyr Square”, is calligraphed by Ali Shehab.

MORE LINKS

Hidden stories about Bahrain – Follow Ahlam Oun on her blog

Follow Ali Shehab on Twitter : @AliCartoon

Ali Shehab’s blog

Ahlam Oun is a Bahraini youth activist and a blogger. She is involved in the society by initiating youth development projects on volunteerism; public speaking and leadership. She is the founder of “Mumayaz, Inspiring Youth” and she worked at “Search for Common Ground” at the Partners in Humanity department.

After the 14Feb Revolution in Bahrain, Ahlam started blogging under her real name after being anonymous since 2008. She mainly writes in English with primary interest on issues related to youth rights, stories of the injustice and Human Rights violations.

Ahlam’s blog Making Noise
Ahlam’s Twitter Account: @AhlamOun

Sabeeka, who last year bought a Paris mansion for € 66M from the Catholic Church, said during the event: “Religious tolerance is a right that must be sacred throughout the world”, yet Bahrainis who witnessed their mosques being demolished by the regime know that what is preached by it’s members internationally is not at all practiced domestically.

After the protests were brutally crushed upon the entering of the Saudi troops to Bahrain the government wanted to strike fear in the majority Shia community by destroying their mosques as revenge for participating in the pro-democracy protests. More than 35 mosques and religious institutes located inside Shia villages got demolished. Police and Army personals representing the regime were on location to facilitate the demolishing.

Video: showing the demolition of mosques by Bahrain Police and Army, Before/After pictures and legal documents extracted for each mosque.

In spite of the horrific experience for Shia Muslims in Bahrain and the security lockdown during marshal law, Bahrainis vowed to volunteer and rebuild their historic mosques and to continue praying on the ruins with no roof above them nor walls sounding them.

Video of an old man in spite of his health condition and during the peak of the crackdown, praying on the ruins one of the Mosques in Bahrain.

A Sunni praying in solidarity next to a Shia on the site of demolished mosque.

The calls to pray on the ruins and to rebuild the demolish mosques were not welcomed by the regime who pledged to fight back using it’s legal and security measures. Weeks after the people started rebuilding the mosques, a warrant and a lawsuit was issued against them. In addition, security forces were sent to throw teargas and sound bombs on peaceful crowds during their prayers.

Government warring volunteers who are rebuilding the mosques.

Video of Bahrainis praying on the site of demolished “Kuwaikibat Mosque” while Police tear gas, and people chanting “God is the greatest” and “It is prayer time. It is prayer time”.

Historic “Burbogy Mosque” while being rebuilt, written on it’s wall  “Long Live the King”.

The continuous harassment and systematic discrimination against the freedom of religion by the Bahraini regime fails to destroy the will of the people who vowed to rebuild what is rightfully theirs in spite of all risks.

    Hidden stories about Bahrain – Follow Ahlam Oun on her blog

Caption of the first picture : Bahrainis praying on the ruins of a mosque which was destroyed by the regime

LINKS:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights Report: “Discrimination and deprivation of religious freedom in Bahrain”
Description and details of some demolished mosques
Demolished Mosques in Bahrain from the BICI Report Section 1313
Facebook page: Bahreïn Libre! Paris Sit-in – Denouncing Queen Sabeeka in Paris

Photo: Bahreïn Libre! Paris Sit-in – Denouncing Queen Sabeeka in Paris

Ahlam Oun is a Bahraini youth activist and a blogger. She is involved in the society by initiating youth development projects on volunteerism; public speaking and leadership. She is the founder of “Mumayaz, Inspiring Youth” and she worked at “Search for Common Ground” at the Partners in Humanity department.

After the 14Feb Revolution in Bahrain, Ahlam started blogging under her real name after being anonymous since 2008. She mainly writes in English with primary interest on issues related to youth rights, stories of the injustice and Human Rights violations.

Ahlam’s blog Making Noise
Ahlam’s Twitter Account: @AhlamOun

(Video of a peaceful protest on 6th June 2012 being attacked by police for “illegal gathering” which was announced later my Ministry of Interior)

 
As per the Bahrain Penal Law Article 178 and 179 “A group of 5 people” in a protest is considered an “illegal gathering” and based on that law thousands of Bahrainis were jailed. Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, received a letter dated 28/2/2012 ordering him to summon in front of Public Prosecution for “inciting illegal protests”. Mr. Rajab was arrested in May 2012 and jailed or 3 weeks then released for 9 days and arrested again, he is still in prison till date.

(Photo: At a protest, a woman holding a poster including Nabeel Rajab’s photo demanding to release him from jail.)

(Photo: Summon letter he received from Ministry of Justice)

Among the arrested were children caught playing in the streets. Ali Hassan, 11 years old, was arrested in May 2012, facing charges relating to illegal protesting. Hassan is expected to appear in court Monday 11th June.

(Photo of Ali Hassan, 11 years, who is in prison for more than 20 days for illegal gathering.)

This law was not applied to “illegal gathering” when it was in favor of the regime. In the contrary, those who gathered were celebrated and organizers were handsomely rewarded.

The report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI Report), which was commissioned by the regime itself, stated that:
“292. Despite the fact that this gathering was not authorized, there was no record of attempts by the police or government security services to disperse the crowds gathered at the Al-Fateh Mosque. “

In spite the biased law applied against them and the risk of being attacked, arrested or even killed by police, pro-democracy protestors in Bahrain on daily basis remain determent to stand strong on their grounds the voice demanding for democracy is still very high.

  Hidden stories about Bahrain – Follow Ahlam Oun on her blog

LINKS

Article: Bahrain: Ongoing detention of 11 Year old child without a crime (Bahrain Center for Human Rights Statement ) 

More details about BICI Report and the Full Report

Ahlam Oun is a Bahraini youth activist and a blogger. She is involved in the society by initiating youth development projects on volunteerism; public speaking and leadership. She is the founder of “Mumayaz, Inspiring Youth” and she worked at “Search for Common Ground” at the Partners in Humanity department.

After the 14Feb Revolution in Bahrain, Ahlam started blogging under her real name after being anonymous since 2008. She mainly writes in English with primary interest on issues related to youth rights, stories of the injustice and Human Rights violations.

Ahlam’s blog Making Noise
Ahlam’s Twitter Account: @AhlamOun

Since the crackdown, Bahrain’s regime strived to whitewash their image in front of the international community hence many international journalists were banned from entering the country and some were sent back from once they reached the airport. For Example, Nick Kristof who is a New York Times columnist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner is still not allowed in Bahrain. He tweeted 2 weeks ago saying:

@NickKristof: “Bahrain denies me a visa, but you can read @nazihasaeed‘s timeline to see how they tortured a female reporter.“

To cover their stories, a number of journalists come to Bahrain undercovered going inside villages and interacting directly with the protestors to witness the vicious face of the regime hidden behind tall buildings, 5-star hotels and private beaches!

Being a journalist and underovered comes with a high risk of being attacked by the Police, jailed or immediately deported if caught. Yet a number of journalists are willing to take the risk. Protestors are not obligated to ask for journalists have the proper credentials, frankly they won’t even care as long as there is a possibility that their voice will be heard somewhere.

Protestors assisting unauthorized journalists are carrying the risk of being attacked and arrested. A recent example was the deportation of a group of Channel 4 News journalists and the foreign affairs correspondent Jonathan Miller after being arrested while covering a protest during the Formula 1 Grand Prix in April 2012. Bahrainis assisting the journalists, driver Ali Al Aali and activist Dr. Ala’a Al-Shehabi, were caught and arrested then released.

Journalists following the legal channels were not treated fairly either. An European Network applied to enter Bahrain for 3 days to prepare a documentary about the 14Feb Revolution, they were granted the visa but their cameras and equipment were confiscated from the airport telling them: “It’s a normal procedure, we will give them back after we finalize the paperwork.” There was a major Pro-Democracy Protest planned by the opposition hence government officials deliberately delayed them till the protest was over.

After one month, the documentary was aired showing video clips of the confiscating of cameras at the airport and how they had to hide on rooftops to cover protests and interviews inside closed doors using iPhones and small cameras. But when they had appointments with pro-government officials everything was smooth and easy. It was a vivid testament of how biased the regime is.

What international journalists faced and are still facing in Bahrain is not comparable with what happened to local Bahraini journalists who protested for democracy. More than 70 Bahraini journalists are sacked from work like journalist Ali-Bazzaz, severely tortured and jailed like TV presenter and reporter Faisal Hayat and tortured like journalist Nazeeha Al-Saeed.

Esmat Al Mosawi, a veteran Bahraini journalist, once tweeted: “I go sacked from my work for demanding democracy and I have never thought that 140 characters on twitter will give me so much more liberty to express my views than a full column on a government censored newspapers.”

It is no surprise for local and international journalists to find Bahrain ranked No. 173 and on the bottom of the list followed by China, Iran and Syria in the Reporters Without Borders Index for Press Freedom 2011/2012.

Photo : Bahraini Journalists who were targeted by the Bahraini Regime holding a banner “Media and Journalists Group” during the Opposition Societies Rally entitled “Democracy Unites Us”- 27th April 2012

Ahlam Oun is a Bahraini youth activist and a blogger. She is involved in the society by initiating youth development projects on volunteerism; public speaking and leadership. She is the founder of “Mumayaz, Inspiring Youth” and she worked at “Search for Common Ground” at the Partners in Humanity department.

After the 14Feb Revolution in Bahrain, Ahlam started blogging under her real name after being anonymous since 2008. She mainly writes in English with primary interest on issues related to youth rights, stories of the injustice and Human Rights violations.

Ahlam’s blog Making Noise
Ahlam’s Twitter Account: @AhlamOun

FILM and exclusif web bonus!

BAHRAIN, DIVING INTO A FORBIDDEN COUNTRY, Documentary directed by Stéphanie Lamorré (On air on ARTE on Tuesday, 12th June, 22.15 pm)