Joy as Bahraini teachers freed
MANAMA: Families of eight Bahraini teachers were overjoyed at their release after more than four months in a Saudi prison yesterday. They will be home within days, once formalities have been dealt with, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Nazar Al Baharna told the GDN.
“They will be coming back after the procedures are completed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the GDN broke the news to some of the families, while the others said that they were very happy about the news but would be happier once they had their loved ones back in Bahrain.
Mohammed Abdulrasool Al Ghasra, whose brother Majeed, 28, is one of the detainees, said he had had not been told about the release - despite being in Riyadh to visit his brother in jail.
“I did not know that they have been released and I am so happy about this news,” he said.
“I do not care when they come back as long as they are released.”
Sayed Hussain Alawi has also gone to Riyadh to see his 29-year-old brother Sayed Ahmed in jail.
When he heard about the release he immediately phoned home to share his joy with his wife Fatima.
“Everyone is happy at home and we will be happier when we see them in Bahrain with us again,” said Fatima.
“We were not told when they will be back, but hopefully within the next few days.”
Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa urged Saudi authorities last week to charge the eight or release them.
But freedom came thanks to the intervention of His Majesty King Hamad, during talks with Deputy Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, during the King’s visit to Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
Bahrain government officials told the GDN earlier that inquiries into why the men strayed into a restricted area were almost over.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz dismissed last month reports in the Saudi media that the detainees were being questioned over alleged links to Iran as “exaggeration”.
A news website, www.elaph.com, quoting Saudi sources, said that the teachers were detained after being suspected of spying for Iran at a prohibited military zone. Bahrain’s government had denied any such connection.
They were detained on February 29, while travelling to Saudi reportedly on a day trip.
Suggestions that the men had been questioned over alleged political affiliation with foreign powers surfaced in a report by the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights last month.
The other six detainees are: Mohammed Hassan Ali Marhoon, 30, Mohammed Mahdi Khalil, 30, Ebrahim Al Haddad, 28, Abbas Ahmed Ebrahim, 31, Mohammed Abdulla Al Momen, 32 and Isa Abdulhassan Ahmed, 26. rasha@gdn.com.bh
July 13th, 2008 | Category: Detainee, Released, Yemen
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