Your rights will be protected, Interior Minister tells fishermen

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa today received fishermen who were targeted by the Qatari authorities, putting their safety and livelihoods at risk.

The minister conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the fishermen.

He said that the meeting was part of the royal directives to continuously interact with the citizens and assist them in solving their issues to promote community partnership.

He said that the main point of today’s remarks of HM the King to fishermen was to highlight that “your rights are protected, we will fulfil the duty, and by the grace of God you will be compensated.”

The Interior Minister highlighted part of Bahrain history, about the pearling areas, in which their names are historically linked to Bahrain, including “Niwah Al Rumaihi”, “Niwah Al Muawda”, “Niwah Al Mimaari”, “Hair Bal-Kharb”, “Hair Um Al Arshan” and “Hair Bin Zayan”, in addition to “Fashat Al Deebal” which was sought by Bahraini diving boats to get sweet water.

He said that fishermen had been fishing in those areas for centuries without any violations, as it is well known that those areas are part of Bahrain.

He said that it was a usual practise until Qatar adopted its border expansion move by targeting Bahrainis fishermen. He indicated that over the past ten years, Qatar has stopped 650 boats and 2153 fishermen with official Bahraini IDs, stressing that those targeted were not traffickers or vandals; only fishermen running after their livelihoods.

The Interior Minister said that they were arrested in a hostile and humiliating manner, stressing that Bahrain does not accept such practices against its citizens.

“According to Bahraini fishermen, they were stopped in Bahrain’s water, and we won’t accept this.”

He called upon fishermen to ensure that they have communication and tracking devices to receive protection.

He highlighted some death and injury cases among fishermen, including Bahraini fisherman Mohammed Abdulwahab Hayan who was chased and shot by Qatari patrols while fishing. The patrols crashed into his boat, exposing him to fatal injuries. His body was found on the following day, the boat was confiscated, and others onboard were tried.  

Another case was of a Bahraini Adel Abdulwahan Al Taweel in 2010, who was also chased by Qatari authorities while fishing. He sustained gunshot injuries, taken to Qatar, tried and his boat was confiscated.

“From today, we will follow the same procedures to protect you,” he said, asserting that one of the reasons for boycotting Qatar is its interferences in Bahrain’s internal affairs and hostile and aggressive procedures against Bahrain’s fishermen. “These practices are unacceptable, because they are against human right

The minister pointed out that the sea is an essential element in the life of Bahrainis, as pearling and fishing are inherited occupations in the community from the era of the founder Isa bin Ali.

He expressed thanks and appreciation to heads of fishermen societies for reporting complaints to the Coast Guard to take legal procedures and to protect their rights.

The heads of fishermen societies expressed thanks and appreciation to HM the King, HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister for their constant keenness to follow up on their affairs and address them. 

They valued highly the Interior Minister’s care and keenness to solve problems they are facing with the Qatari authorities.