• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

2 American women arrested during protest in Bahrain

MustafaHH

New member
Joined
Dec 31, 2011
Messages
26
Reaction score
4
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
(CNN) -- Two American women were arrested during a demonstration Saturday in the capital of Bahrain, with state news and one of the women's husbands offering divergent accounts as to whether they were then deported.

Huwaida Arraf and Radhika Sainath arrived in Bahrain several days ago and obtained tourist visas, reported the state-run Bahrain News Agency .

They were arrested Saturday afternoon by authorities in Manama, the news agency and the advocacy group Witness Bahrain both said.

Adam Shapiro, Arraf's husband, told CNN late Saturday from Ireland that the two have been charged with being at an illegal gathering -- because the protest they were at was not considered legal -- as well as giving false reasons for entering the county. He based his account on talks with U.S. embassy officials, though he hadn't talked with his wife directly.

He denied that the women had been deported back to the United States, as the Bahrain News Agency reported.

Rather, Shapiro said the women spent part of what was early Sunday morning at a Bahraini court hearing attended by a prosecutor, their lawyers, a judge and two U.S. embassy officials.

U.S. State Department spokesman Harry Edwards confirmed the American embassy was aware and engaged in the case, noting that consular officials had visited the pair.

Arraf gave a statement to police in English that was written down in Arabic, her husband said. She refused to sign the statement because it was not translated back to English, according to Shapiro.

Neither woman appeared to have suffered any sort of injuries, U.S. embassy officials told Shapiro.

The advocacy group Witness Bahrain said both Arraf and Sainath are human rights lawyers. They were in the Middle Eastern country as part of an effort to have more civilians from different nations on the ground to monitor the situation.

Sainath wrote a piece Friday for Witness Bahrain, saying, "Surely, the government would behave differently if Americans and Europeans were watching."

"Our team came together: attorneys, human rights activists, social workers, journalists and others who had experience with nonviolent resistance and democracy movements in Mexico, Palestine, Pakistan and the United States," she said.

The Bahrain protests began February 14, 2011 -- following popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. But they failed to gain the traction of other Arab Spring uprisings following a crackdown that first month and then again in mid-March by Bahraini authorities -- backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Demonstrators and Bahraini authorities have continued to clash, with the opposition accusing the government of being heavy handed in its crackdown on protests.







Bahrainis are demanding democracy, constitutional kingdom or republic, YOU PEOPLE all over the world should support them...

On 2/14 the Bahraini revolution will complete a year. And the protesters are promising a big demonstrations, while the regime there is not giving permissions for the press to enter Bahrain.
 
Last edited:
(CNN) -- Two American women were arrested during a demonstration Saturday in the capital of Bahrain, with state news and one of the women's husbands offering divergent accounts as to whether they were then deported.

Huwaida Arraf and Radhika Sainath arrived in Bahrain several days ago and obtained tourist visas, reported the state-run Bahrain News Agency .

They were arrested Saturday afternoon by authorities in Manama, the news agency and the advocacy group Witness Bahrain both said.

Adam Shapiro, Arraf's husband, told CNN late Saturday from Ireland that the two have been charged with being at an illegal gathering -- because the protest they were at was not considered legal -- as well as giving false reasons for entering the county. He based his account on talks with U.S. embassy officials, though he hadn't talked with his wife directly.

He denied that the women had been deported back to the United States, as the Bahrain News Agency reported.

Rather, Shapiro said the women spent part of what was early Sunday morning at a Bahraini court hearing attended by a prosecutor, their lawyers, a judge and two U.S. embassy officials.

U.S. State Department spokesman Harry Edwards confirmed the American embassy was aware and engaged in the case, noting that consular officials had visited the pair.

Arraf gave a statement to police in English that was written down in Arabic, her husband said. She refused to sign the statement because it was not translated back to English, according to Shapiro.

Neither woman appeared to have suffered any sort of injuries, U.S. embassy officials told Shapiro.

The advocacy group Witness Bahrain said both Arraf and Sainath are human rights lawyers. They were in the Middle Eastern country as part of an effort to have more civilians from different nations on the ground to monitor the situation.

Sainath wrote a piece Friday for Witness Bahrain, saying, "Surely, the government would behave differently if Americans and Europeans were watching."

"Our team came together: attorneys, human rights activists, social workers, journalists and others who had experience with nonviolent resistance and democracy movements in Mexico, Palestine, Pakistan and the United States," she said.

The Bahrain protests began February 14, 2011 -- following popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. But they failed to gain the traction of other Arab Spring uprisings following a crackdown that first month and then again in mid-March by Bahraini authorities -- backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Demonstrators and Bahraini authorities have continued to clash, with the opposition accusing the government of being heavy handed in its crackdown on protests.


Bahrainis are demanding democracy, constitutional kingdom or republic, YOU PEOPLE all over the world should support them...

On 2/14 the Bahraini revolution will complete a year. And the protesters are promising a big demonstrations, while the regime there is not giving permissions for the press to enter Bahrain.

I have American friends living in Bahrain for well over a decade.. They say this is media nonsense..

They tell me the protests are quite small and localized and that it business as usual in Bahrain.

In fact, on the day of their "biggest protest".. 300 Americans arrived fron Saudi Arabia and played golf.
 
Being an activist going to a middle-eatern country to participate in their protests is asking for trouble.
 
Being an activist going to a middle-eatern country to participate in their protests is asking for trouble.

Yep... These women should have been quick walked to the airplane and deported instantly.
 
I have American friends living in Bahrain for well over a decade.. They say this is media nonsense..

They tell me the protests are quite small and localized and that it business as usual in Bahrain.

In fact, on the day of their "biggest protest".. 300 Americans arrived fron Saudi Arabia and played golf.


What you call small and localized protestors, have been estimated to be more than 150,000 protesters (considering the small population of Bahrain plus the politically nationalised), and it is increasing. in the past weeks the protests are taking place in the capital city "Al-Manama",the other villages and the second main city Al-Muharraq. take a look on these links: [1], [2], [3]

In fact, on the day of their "biggest protest".. 300 Americans arrived fron Saudi Arabia and played golf.

Big protest does not mean no body can enter Bahrain.
 
What you call small and localized protestors, have been estimated to be more than 150,000 protesters (considering the small population of Bahrain plus the politically nationalised), and it is increasing. in the past weeks the protests are taking place in the capital city "Al-Manama",the other villages and the second main city Al-Muharraq. take a look on these links: [1], [2], [3]


Big protest does not mean no body can enter Bahrain.

A few hundred in a group..

This doesn't involve all Shia in Bahrain.. and I have far more reason to trust old friends who are there every day, than the media and instigators.
 
A few hundred in a group..

This doesn't involve all Shia in Bahrain.. and I have far more reason to trust old friends who are there every day, than the media and instigators.

We do not know you, and we don't know your friends, so media is more trust able than you.

Here is some pictures for you, of a "going now" protests:

430003_281499805248481_150213768377086_735179_2059060046_n.jpg

you see the smokes? this is from the condemnation of the protest, and here is another one:
430608_292796504117160_151079694955509_829370_1659153191_n.jpg




this pictures are captured by the protestors not the press.
 
Last edited:
We do not know you, and we don't know your friends, so media is more trust able than you.

Here is some pictures for you, of a "going now" protests:

View attachment 67122353

you see the smokes? this is from the condemnation of the protest, and here is another one:
View attachment 67122354

.




this pictures are captured by the protestors not the press.

There is no way to tell if ALL those people in the street want to overthrow the government or not..

And if you are correct in your numbers... 150,000 people is ten percent of the Bahraini population.
 
There is no way to tell if ALL those people in the street want to overthrow the government or not..

And if you are correct in your numbers... 150,000 people is ten percent of the Bahraini population.

almost 50% of the announced population of Bahrain are politically naturalized, just to change the demography of Bahrain. And by the way 150,000 are the least estimations.

I'll try to provide you for this day 13/2 huge protest.

and for mentioning the political naturalization you should watch the video in this link:
Video: Political Naturalization in Bahrain | Bahrain Center for Human Rights



Just living near by Bahrain and visiting it, does not mean you know everything.
 
Last edited:
Being an activist going to a middle-eatern country to participate in their protests is asking for trouble.

Yes - I'm very tired of being wandering into harms way and then calling home, crying, when they're in poor favor all of a sudden.

THINK BEFORE YOU JUMP IN THE POOL - dip****s.
 
almost 50% of the announced population of Bahrain are politically naturalized, just to change the demography of Bahrain. And by the way 150,000 are the least estimations.

I'll try to provide you for this day 13/2 huge protest.

and for mentioning the political naturalization you should watch the video in this link:
Video: Political Naturalization in Bahrain | Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Just living near by Bahrain and visiting it, does not mean you know everything.

Yes, I know about their naturalized population.. and I am not in Bahrain.. I am telling you what my American friends who have lived there for decades are saying.

The young Shia want free housing and jobs they are not qualified for...

Since 1950 they periodically break out in strikes and riots.

I don't want to see Bahrain crash and fail.. Its as simple as that.

Even now.. their economy is suffering and the GCC is bailing them out AGAIN.
 
A few hundred in a group..

This doesn't involve all Shia in Bahrain.. and I have far more reason to trust old friends who are there every day, than the media and instigators.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess your friends live in the sheltered ex-pat communities. Their version of events is probably not all that accurate. I've lived in similar communities in some third world countries and I know how out of touch the people who live in them are with the actual local population. I also know people who've moved to Bahrain for extended periods of time. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But I really doubt that any Westerners live among the local population in a place like Bahrain.
 
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess your friends live in the sheltered ex-pat communities. Their version of events is probably not all that accurate. I've lived in similar communities in some third world countries and I know how out of touch the people who live in them are with the actual local population. I also know people who've moved to Bahrain for extended periods of time. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But I really doubt that any Westerners live among the local population in a place like Bahrain.

A lot of people have that sort of concept, but I don't know any Americans who are not out in the broader community every day.

Let me try here..

Not all Shia are underclass, but the underclass is mostly Shia..
 
Yes, I know about their naturalized population.. and I am not in Bahrain.. I am telling you what my American friends who have lived there for decades are saying.

The young Shia want free housing and jobs they are not qualified for...

Since 1950 they periodically break out in strikes and riots.

I don't want to see Bahrain crash and fail.. Its as simple as that.

Even now.. their economy is suffering and the GCC is bailing them out AGAIN.

When your friends come back ask them what happened this day and on 14/2.
They will not fail. Even if they would not have a constitutional kingdom or republic, the housing, jobs and the sectarian discrimination will be solved.
Some say the UK does not want an unstable country with every decade protest, and thinking to solve the problem.
The biggest problem that the Bahraini people facing is the Saudi intervention. Which, I think, neither USA nor UK like it.

Here is some videos of what you call them some hundreds demonstrations, these videos captured today, so it is fresh videos:

Huge crowds of protesters

crack down of a protest

Watch the over use of tear gas what have done, this is just a sample:
 
Last edited:
When your friends come back ask them what happened this day and on 14/2.
They will not fail. Even if they would not have a constitutional kingdom or republic, the housing, jobs and the sectarian discrimination will be solved.
Some say the UK does not want an unstable country with every decade protest, and thinking to solve the problem.
The biggest problem that the Bahraini people facing is the Saudi intervention. Which, I think, neither USA nor UK like it.

Here is some videos of what you call them some hundreds demonstrations, these videos captured today, so it is fresh videos:


Always blaming someone else...

Bahrain isn't about democracy.. Its about the have nots wanting more and dominating those who have achieved something.

I have been caught up in an hysterical Shia riot and I will NEVER forget it.
 
There is no way to tell if ALL those people in the street want to overthrow the government or not..

And if you are correct in your numbers... 150,000 people is ten percent of the Bahraini population.

10% is huge.
 
10% is huge.

Not if you are familiar with the Shia underclass...

They will riot at the drop of a hat.. and its sexually charged hysteria.

Most Shia are not like that.. they are busy working and raising families.. Its not about democracy.
 
Not if you are familiar with the Shia underclass...

They will riot at the drop of a hat.. and its sexually charged hysteria.

Most Shia are not like that.. they are busy working and raising families.. Its not about democracy.

that sounds somewhat elitist? sexually charged? what does that mean?
 
that sounds somewhat elitist? sexually charged? what does that mean?

It means they start jumping and ululating and have erections poking up the cloth of their clothing when they attack your car with rocks and brickbats.
 
before I say anything, I have to make sure and ask, Are you joking?!
if you are, it is not a funny joke.
 
before I say anything, I have to make sure and ask, Are you joking?!
if you are, it is not a funny joke.

No its not funny joke.. Our driver was cut very badly.

Its really no different than Rock Wednesday in Arabia when Shia decided to attack American homes and were only stopped by Sunni civilians.
 
Last edited:
No its not funny joke.. Our driver was cut very badly.

Its relly no different than Rock Wednesday in Arabia when Shia decided to attack American homes and were only stopped by Sunni civilians.

and it was the erections you noticed?
 
and it was the erections you noticed?

I was 9 years old and being shoved down in the back seat but I remember it vividly .. especially when they smashed the windshield and cut our driver..

If you are trying to turn this into some problem in my mind.. you are outta luck.
 
Code:
[SIZE=4](CNN) -- Two American women were arrested during a demonstration Saturday in the capital of Bahrain, with state news and one of the women's husbands offering divergent accounts as to whether they were then deported.

Huwaida Arraf and Radhika Sainath arrived in Bahrain several days ago and obtained tourist visas, reported the state-run Bahrain News Agency .

They were arrested Saturday afternoon by authorities in Manama, the news agency and the advocacy group Witness Bahrain both said.

Adam Shapiro, Arraf's husband, told CNN late Saturday from Ireland that the two have been charged with being at an illegal gathering -- because the protest they were at was not considered legal -- as well as giving false reasons for entering the county. He based his account on talks with U.S. embassy officials, though he hadn't talked with his wife directly.

He denied that the women had been deported back to the United States, as the Bahrain News Agency reported.

Rather, Shapiro said the women spent part of what was early Sunday morning at a Bahraini court hearing attended by a prosecutor, their lawyers, a judge and two U.S. embassy officials.

U.S. State Department spokesman Harry Edwards confirmed the American embassy was aware and engaged in the case, noting that consular officials had visited the pair.

Arraf gave a statement to police in English that was written down in Arabic, her husband said. She refused to sign the statement because it was not translated back to English, according to Shapiro.

Neither woman appeared to have suffered any sort of injuries, U.S. embassy officials told Shapiro.

The advocacy group Witness Bahrain said both Arraf and Sainath are human rights lawyers. They were in the Middle Eastern country as part of an effort to have more civilians from different nations on the ground to monitor the situation.

Sainath wrote a piece Friday for Witness Bahrain, saying, "Surely, the government would behave differently if Americans and Europeans were watching."

"Our team came together: attorneys, human rights activists, social workers, journalists and others who had experience with nonviolent resistance and democracy movements in Mexico, Palestine, Pakistan and the United States," she said.

The Bahrain protests began February 14, 2011 -- following popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. But they failed to gain the traction of other Arab Spring uprisings following a crackdown that first month and then again in mid-March by Bahraini authorities -- backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Demonstrators and Bahraini authorities have continued to clash, with the opposition accusing the government of being heavy handed in its crackdown on protests.[/SIZE]



Bahrainis are demanding democracy, constitutional kingdom or republic, YOU PEOPLE all over the world should support them...

On 2/14 the Bahraini revolution will complete a year. And the protesters are promising a big demonstrations, while the regime there is not giving permissions for the press to enter Bahrain.

With Americans getting into trouble in middle eastern countries and being charged with spying why would any American in their right mind go to a middle eastern country.
 
it i impossible for and angry man to have an erection.
If a man have an erection and his mode turned to anger, he will lose his erection.

If you are not making this up, Either the vividity made you see things that does not exit or Bahrainis are another human species.





Again, we do not know, why would we believe you?
liblady in the post no. 16 commented on something, and your answer was on another thing. Why the jumping?!


i think it was we should have ignored you from the beginning.
 
Back
Top Bottom