TEHRAN (FNA)- Former Bahraini MP Jalal Fairooz says the Manama government wants to show to “its masters” that it acts in their interest by following their deceptive policies.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FNA, Mr. Fairooz made comments on the execution of two Bahraini political activists delivered in July, saying, “The regime wants to send a strong message to the people in Bahrain that in case there are some problems in the Persian Gulf countries and if they take to the streets, they will be smashed. The regime uses such harsh verdicts to threaten the Bahrainis to death… They just want to take the control of the situation, at any costs.”
Jalal Fairooz is a former member of Bahrain’s parliament. He was a member of the main opposition party al-Wefaq. He is a Bahrain rights activist based in London, after he was stripped of Bahraini nationality by a court verdict for his opposition to the government.
Below is the full text of the interview.
Q: Why does the regime issue the harsh verdict of execution against political activists?
A: The regime wants to send a message to the West and misrepresent it the way that it is facing some people who are called terrorists by the Western definitions. The regime claims that it is being targeted by some people who are using force. Also, the regime wants to show to its masters, like Trump, that it is in-line with them to smash any people who might be in any sense pro Iran. Furthermore, the regime wants to send a strong message to the people in Bahrain that in case there are some problems in the Persian Gulf countries and if they take to the streets, they will be smashed. The regime uses such harsh verdicts to threaten the Bahrainis to death.
Q: Then why do people continue their protests when they are faced with such heavy handed reactions by the regime?
A: Right after the execution, people poured into the streets, and there were scuffles between people and the regime’s forces. The anti-riot forces killed another person, Mohammad Meghdad, and injured so many others. Still people are demonstrating and there are some clashes as the regime uses excessive force against the people. They just want to take the control of the situation at any costs.
Q: Does the nation demand anything which cannot be addressed by the government?
A: The initial condition is a legitimate dialog on a clear agenda between the government and opposition. People are concerned that certain points should be included in the agenda, and they should be discussed in a very serious way, without being overlooked by international accredited bodies. The demands of the Bahrainis have been drafted by the main opposition group, al-Wefaq, along with other major political parties with the vast majority of the representation of people. The main demands include full democracy restored, free and fair elections for a democratic parliament and a legislative branch, an elected government, independent judiciary branch (unlike the present judiciary branch which is totally administrated by the regime), freedom for all (not to prosecute people who are critics of the government) and security for everybody in the country with no political activists in jail. One of the major demand is to stop stealing from people’s wealth, which has gone now much worse than any kind of corruption. There is overwhelming control of the Royal family on Bahrainis’ wealth. This has to be stopped, and all the stolen lands and properties must be returned to the people.
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