Higher Education reform in Bahrain: 2008-2011 “In failing to differentiate Bahrain Polytechnic’s relationship with the Ministry of Education from the University of Bahrain’s relationship with the Ministry, the BICI have been complicit in the extension of state power into hitherto legally autonomous institutions. I’m sure that this was done unwittingly on the Commissioners’ part, but … Continue reading
Filed under Bahrain uprising …
Britain must stop being an abuse facilitator in Bahrain.
Repression in Bahrain has seriously escalated this autumn, with regime hardliners (the usual suspects) seeking to undermine –through leaks to the world media — hitherto behind-the-scenes attempts at dialogue involving moderate regime elements and the mainstream opposition: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/30/blair-aide-bahrain-conflict-resolution Meanwhile, a series of small explosions, two in the village of Ekar in October, and five in … Continue reading
A gloomy LSE report on the “Arab Spring”: if real change is to happen, is Bahrain key?
As a percentage of population the Bahrain pro-democracy demonstrations have been the best attended of all demonstrations in the Arab World 2011-2012: the key to the success of failure of the “Arab Spring” is in Bahrain and beyond Bahrain, Saudi…. Perhaps a gloomy report on the “Arab Spring” from a recent report from the London … Continue reading
John Yates: policing Arab apartheid
After a Bahraini Kristallnacht: is outside intervention the only solution?
Mahmood Al Yousif reports worsening civil strife in his blog: http://mahmood.tv/2012/04/11/hmmm-i-smell-even-worse-civil-strife-coming-up/ Last night baying sectarian mobs of so-called “loyalists” damaged Shia-owned cars and shops, chanting sectarian slogans while the police stand by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrC8K5z79w&feature=player_embedded These slogans include calling the Shia “rawafi9′” (refusers), ibna2 l-muta3a” (children of pleasure-marriage). Later, Shia-owned shops were ransacked: I see disturbing echoes of … Continue reading
Open Letter to King Hamad: Al Khawaja’s death would be a stain on Bahrain; please add your signature!
An open letter to King Hamad signed by Lord Avebury, British MPs, human rights organisations, and academics with expertise in the Middle East, including myself. This will be handed in to the Bahrain embassy in London at the end of the working day on Tuesday 10th April. Anyone wishing to add a signature can do … Continue reading
Hard Lessons in Bahrain: Mike Diboll in the Chronicle of Higher Education
My article on my experiences in Bahrain education reform, culminating with the events of 13th March 2011, has just been published on line and in print in the Review section of the Washington DC-based Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle is the world’s leading news medium for higher education. Utne described the award-winning Chronicle Review as “a fearless, free-thinking section … Continue reading
Previous Post
Miranda writes about our exile from Bahrain a year ago to the day on 21st March.
A General Amnesty for 13th March 2011: a way forward for Bahrain higher education?
Monday 19th March 2012 sees the resumption of the retrial of the University of Bahrain students sentenced to prison terms of up to 15 years for alleged crimes in relation to the 13th March 2011 incident. These young men must be freed if meaningful higher education has a future in Bahrain. This post suggests a … Continue reading
risaalatiy al maftoo7ah lir-ra2iys jaami3at l-ba7rayn ebraahim l-janaa7iy
الدكتور مايك ديبول على مدى الأيام الثلاثة الماضية، قرأ 6,500 بحريني الرسالةَ المفتوحة التي كتبتُها إلى رئيس جامعة البحرين إبراهيم رسالتي المؤرخة في مارس/آذار 2012 هي: سيدي، إنني أكتب إليكم في الذكرى السنوية الأولى لأحداث العنف التي وقعت يوم 13 مارس/آذار 2011 في الحرم الجامعي بالصخير التابع لجامعة البحرين. وقد لجأت للكتابة إليكم علنا عبر … Continue reading
