Jan Fermon is a Belgian lawyer who works at Progress Lawyers Network. He is Deputy Secretary General at International Association of Democratic Lawyers and lives in Brussels. Hawzah News interviewed him about the Bahrain revolution, the situation of its people according to international law and the hazards of foreign interventions:
What is your opinion about the revolution in Bahrain?
I think the people of Bahrain have been requesting respect for fundamental rights in a peaceful way, they have been facing brutal repression and foreign intervention which I think is unlawful and against international law. It is unlawful to send troops to oppress people that are peacefully protesting to get their basic rights, so I think there is a double problem there. The foreign intervention should immediately stop, and sovereignty of the Bahraini people should be restored. Secondly, the Bahraini authority should respect, fully, the fundamental rights of the Bahraini people.
What do you think of the silence in the media concerning the revolution of Bahrain? What is the reason for this silence?
I think part of the problem is that the situation of Bahrain is not well-known, I might say the European Parliament for example has adapted resolutions condemning repression in Bahrain and also Saudi intervention in Bahrain, I think there is some support there but there is also a lack of knowledge of the situation so we have a difficult time informing the public about the situation.
On the other hand, I think it is important to know for the Bahraini people that we also see quickly growing criticism of the role of Saudi Arabian in that region, criticism of Wahhabism, criticism of Saudi support for terrorism, criticism of the attempt of Saudi Arabia to influence the Muslim community in our countries in Europe and spread Wahhabism in these communities and off course criticism regarding their policies in Bahrain, Yemen and the aggression against the people there.
You have been studying Bahraini judicial system and the quite partial verdicts given by the judges Bahrain.
I’ve been in the emirates conference in Geneva, I’ve been speaking at events and some of that for the people of Bahrain because it is clear to me that what is happening in Bahrain is a complete violation of international laws, both regarding the sovereignty of the people of Bahrain and the violation of basic human rights which are the foundations and missions of the United Nations.
SH/PR