Revolution from exile

Revolution from exile

Talking to Bahraini activist Lameess Dhaif

Mona Alami , June 12, 2012

Abu Dhabi- Over a year has gone by since the beginning of the Bahraini uprising, pitting a Shia-led opposition calling for democratic reforms against the Sunni Khalifa monarchy. The intervention of Gulf Cooperation Council troops sent many activists such as Lameess Dhaif fleeing the country. NOW Lebanon speaks with the young activist about exile, the strength of the opposition’s movement, and threats to their cause.
How did you join the ranks of the opposition movement?

Lamees Dhaif: I worked as an investigative journalist and columnist covering mostly corruption and mismanagement cases for various publications in Bahrain and the Gulf countries. When the protests started, I felt I had to fight the rampant injustice, which is why I joined the movement.
How difficult has this been on you?
Dhaif: Most people involved in the protests and who were identified have lost their jobs and were persecuted. The newspapers I worked for in the Gulf countries had to let me go because of political pressure. As a result, I lost four jobs in less than two days. I survive because I am lucky enough to come from a wealthy family.
The [Cherif Bassiouni] Fact-Finding Commission advised the king to review government decisions to fire people involved in protests. This has only been applied to a few cases in which individuals were rehired in lower positions.
Becoming an activist has had several repercussions on my family: My brother, a businessman has lost several company bids. Every government procedure is hampered by administrative obstacles. Being an activist is also more difficult on women in our conservative societies because of the personal attacks aiming at ruining their reputation. Some women simply can’t deal with the situation. My house was also attacked by thugs using Molotov cocktails.
About six people died from torture and 65 people were killed during the demonstrations. My sister Nada Dhaif, a doctor who treated injured protesters, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on treason charges, while similar sentences were applied to some 48 members of the medical staff.
How does your family view your activism?

Dhaif: It is a source of a lot of anxiety for them. Some of my family members approve of what I do, others do not. I made a choice to sacrifice myself for this cause, but they did not; they were just drawn into it. To a certain extent my family is a victim of my choices.
Are protesters in Bahrain members of the elite or the disenfranchised?

Dhaif: The movement actually started among the most impoverished classes, drawing in at a later stage the upper class.
 What is the state of the opposition today?

Dhaif: The opposition is divided today into two factions. The first prefers the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, the second wants to remove the king from power because it feels that the repression has shown that he is not willing to reform.
Do you believe that you can fulfill your role as a member of the opposition as effectively from outside the country?

Dhaif: Some of us have chosen to stay in exile in order to raise awareness about the Bahraini cause. I visited the United States four times in the last year, speaking in front of Congress as well as the media about the situation in Bahrain. I have also been travelling around Arab countries.
Do you find yourself under pressure in the Gulf?

Dhaif: Our situation is somewhat tricky because of the obvious political ties linking the countries with the Bahrain Kking. I am afraid to be extradited every time I enter an Arab airport.
Do you believe that repressive measures against the Shia community are fueling sectarianism and radicalism in Bahrain?

Dhaif: We were never a sectarian population. But since the king came to power, he has tried to restore the demographic imbalance in favor of the Sunni community, from which his family hails. Bahrain is a country with access to limited riches and its policy of nationalizing [Sunni] foreigners has resulted in more privileges to people who are not original citizens. In addition, Shia can’t access certain positions, namely in the Defense and Interior sectors, with the exception of 20 families or so, among which my family.
Do you believe Iran to be exploiting your cause?

Dhaif: Iran is exploiting our cause, like Saudi or Turkey and the United States. All of these countries are trying to make use of the instability in the region.
How do you view Bahrain’s plan to join the GCC Union?

Dhaif: The union will be only with Saudi Arabia, as most countries have rejected the idea. Clearly the Bahraini government prefers to unite with Saudi Arabia instead of granting people their basic rights.  

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