Bahrain minister talks to opposition on Twitter

In an unprecedented step that seems to herald the end of political negotiations behind closed doors, Bahraini Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ali al-Khalifa engaged in a dialogue with one of the opposition leaders on the social networking website Twitter.

The dialogue started when opposition leader Nabil Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, posted a tweet to express his objection to the punishment of protestors: “Political solutions are the way out, not starving the people.”

Al-Khalifa responded to Rajab’s tweet, “The people of Bahrain will never accept that one of them starves.” To this Rajab replied, “I am accusing the regime and not the people of Bahrain. International laws take precedence over local ones and punishment should go through steps. You start with several warnings then take measures. However, it was revenge that took place.”

Al-Khalifa replied that staging strikes is not an open right in international laws and that it is regulated by the local laws of each country. He also argued that Bahrain’s laws are in line with human rights.

“Laws do not necessarily protect human rights and are in many cases tailored for the interest of the regime,” Rajab replied.

“Give me one international treaty that does not give local authorities the right to regulate strikes,” al-Khalifa tweeted. “And do not try to make it seem like our laws violate human rights.”

Al-Khalifa also pointed out the damage that results from open strikes.

“Do you think that ruining the economy or making people lose their jobs is a simple thing? It is a sad thing for those who were harmed and a shameful thing for those who inflicted this harm.”

Give me one international treaty that does not give local authorities the right to regulate strikes

Bahraini Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al Khalifa

Rajab expressed his respect for al-Khalifa for his willingness to engage in a dialogue with the opposition and said he hoped that all leaders would do that same.

“I hope all officials would talk to the people instead of killing and humiliating them for demanding their rights.”

To this al-Khalifa replied, “I will always dream of a better tomorrow and I will do my best to make it happen. Have a good night.”

Commenting on the tweets between al-Khalifa and Rajab, legal expert Farid Ghazi argued that virtual dialogues are binding for parties involved in them and this includes social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook.

“If a statement is made by an official anywhere, it becomes an official statement,” he told AlArabiya.net. “The Justice Minister speaks for the government, so his statements are considered official.”


(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)

I hope all officials would talk to the people instead of killing and humiliating them for demanding their rights

Bahrain Center for Human Rights president Nabil Rajab