On November 23rd, 2011, I went on a hunger strike in protest to human rights violation and to support the reform demands in Bahrain. I abstained from food and spent my time blogging, talking to people, meeting with people from Bahrain and attending general meetings to promote for the hunger strike as well as focusing on spreading the word on Resolution 80 and Resolution 28 of the Congress to block a $53 million Arms Deal to Bahrain that a Bahraini delegation introduced me to not too long ago.
The situation in Bahrain now is very critical and after the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inqury's report which was released on day one of the Hunger Strike Chain, November 23rd, and that requires that any international pressure be projected now towards the Bahraini government and officials as they are more inclined to cave in as they are trying to wrap up the report and claim that the period of unrest is over with, once again.
Day Zero: 23 NOV 2011
I was very much excited and energized to start this and was fully motivated to pursue engaging as many people come my way and show interest in Bahrain or even share a simple thing about this small nation and the role the United States plays in Bahrain. My roommate Dana, who is from Saudi Arabia and have been learning about Bahrain, has joined me on hunger strike for the first day protesting what her Saudi government and what is the Bahraini government doing to the protesters in Bahrain.
Day Two: 24 NOV 2011
Today was not so hard as well as I was still strong, fully charged and inspired by the newly released report and its content. The report incriminates government officials and condemns human rights violations. It accuses the Bahraini government of excessive use of power, too. Having learned that helped me better direct my focus for the day toward spreading the videos, link and news of the reactions to the BICI report and the public statements of government officials to international media. I got thirsty pretty quick so I had water and juice but no food.
Day Three: 25 NOV 2011
Day Seven: 29 NOV 2011
The situation in Bahrain now is very critical and after the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inqury's report which was released on day one of the Hunger Strike Chain, November 23rd, and that requires that any international pressure be projected now towards the Bahraini government and officials as they are more inclined to cave in as they are trying to wrap up the report and claim that the period of unrest is over with, once again.
Day Zero: 23 NOV 2011
- Setting up a new blog and my online pages to begin the hunger strike.
Day One: 24 NOV 2011
- I started reading the BICI English report;
- Attended the GA at Occupy DC, McPherson Square location where I shared the idea of the hunger strike, spoke about human rights violations, gave out handouts that I had prepared on Bahrain and the $53 Millions Arms Deal with the U.S. and invited people to join the hunger strike;
- Set up a new blog dedicated to supporting the Bahraini people and their demands;
- And published my first blog posts in my new blog.
I was very much excited and energized to start this and was fully motivated to pursue engaging as many people come my way and show interest in Bahrain or even share a simple thing about this small nation and the role the United States plays in Bahrain. My roommate Dana, who is from Saudi Arabia and have been learning about Bahrain, has joined me on hunger strike for the first day protesting what her Saudi government and what is the Bahraini government doing to the protesters in Bahrain.
Day Two: 24 NOV 2011
- Started writing two posts for Ba7raniyati blog;
- Started working on a video blog for my Youtube as well as blog;
- Reconnected with a friend from Bahrain and spoke about the events of 2011, the aftermath, people's reactions and roles, and the BICI report and its outcomes;
- Watched the videos of the BICI report release and shared them on my social media pages;
- And called for demanding guarantees by the Bahraini king's of implementation adn respect of the report as well as holding those found guilty by it accountable.
Today was not so hard as well as I was still strong, fully charged and inspired by the newly released report and its content. The report incriminates government officials and condemns human rights violations. It accuses the Bahraini government of excessive use of power, too. Having learned that helped me better direct my focus for the day toward spreading the videos, link and news of the reactions to the BICI report and the public statements of government officials to international media. I got thirsty pretty quick so I had water and juice but no food.
Day Three: 25 NOV 2011
- Shared the word on the Bahraini king's action to appoint a committee to apply the recommendations of the BICI report headed by government and royal officials;
- Read more of the BICI report and shared their findings on my social media pages;
- I updated one blog draft and worked a bit on learning how to edit and create a video as I am not very well-grounded with such programs;
- Continued to track and share the general reactions to the BICI report as well as impressions on the governments move towards form the Recommendation Committee, as advised in the report;
- And today was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women; many women have been targeted in Bahrain due to their stance in support of the popular protests in the country.
Day Four: 26 NOV 2011
- Followed the reaction on the streets to the BICI report;
- Daughter of prominent human rights activist who is sentenced to life in prison, Zainab Al-Khawaja was arrested and released by riot police for standing unarmed in front of police cars. I followed and shared the news on my pages;
- Spent the rest of the day evaluating the finding in BICI report and updating my post about it.
Today was mainly online interactions as I was not able to meet with people in person to advocate for Bahrain. I left handouts at the Occupy movement McPherson Square on the Hunger Strike and the situation in Bahrain. I started to feel very hungry and tired. I knew day five will be very hard to get through.
Day Five: 27 NOV 2011
- Shared news of the Hunger Strike online;
- Met with a prominent human rights activist from Bahrain with international awards of human rights activism and spoke briefly about the situation in Bahrain before and after the BICI report;
- Worked on two new drafts for my blog;
- And shared news on the governments movements of appointing Prime Minister Khalifa Al-Khalifa as head of the Recommendation Committee for the BICI report.
Day Six: 28 NOV 2011
- Worked on a new video for my Youtube channel to be edited and posted with the first video as soon as they are perfected;
- Met with a friend who is a journalist from Bahrain and talked about the situation since the beginning of events in 2011 until now, we discussed the different point of views, prominent figures' role and responsibility and accountability;
- Attended the GA of Occupy DC at Freedom Plaza and called for support for Bahrainis explaining how is the BICI report unfolded and the initial steps of the Recommendation Committee. I also focused on promoting the huger strike and was approached by several people interested who wanted to pressure their Congressmen to signing Resolution
- 80 and 28;
- And invited people to events on Bahrain in the area.
Today was better than the last, I felt faint and weak but was able to pursue my plan for the day.
Day Seven: 29 NOV 2011
- Spent the day working on my social media pages;
- Published more posts to my blog;
- Updated people about the hunger strike;
- Provided people with information they asked for about Bahrain and the Arms Deal;
- And I am almost done with my first video.
Today was very easy because I knew it was the last for this week and I got really excited knowing that more people are interested in advocating for Bahrain.
Let us all support, follow and promote Pia and Tara's week of hunger strike! Thank you both.
~Salam
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