'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
The Persian Gulf state of Bahrain — home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet — on Thursday began the trial of 25 activists from the country's Shiite opposition who were arrested several months ago in a wide-ranging crackdown by the Sunni-dominated government.
Eid ul-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is supposed to be a joyous occasion. But in the U.S.-allied Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, where the Sunni-dominated government has arrested scores of Shi'ite opposition activists in recent weeks, many celebrated in fear.
Gunmen robbed four commercial ships anchored near the southern oil hub of Basra in a rare attack off the Iraqi coast, the U.S. Navy said Sunday.
"He has been beaten to the point that he has almost lost his ability to hear," Ms. Al-Singace said. "They took his glasses and crutches, which he can't walk without, and blinded his eyes for more than two weeks. They also used electricity shocks on his nipples and ears."
Three of the men were arrested Sunday, while the fourth — Abduljalil al-Singace, a leading figure in the Shiite opposition association Haq — was detained late Saturday, said the official from Bahrain's National Security, cited by the BNA state news agency.
