Six Ways to Help the People of Bahrain

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Six Ways to Help the People of Bahrain

As the people's revolution unfolds in Bahrain, the Bahraini government
has called on its despotic partners in the Middle East to crush the
uprising. Yesterday, over 1000 Saudi and 500 Emirati (UAE) troops
crossed into Bahrain to join Bahraini government forces in attacking
the unarmed, peaceful protestors. Hundreds of innocent men, women, and
children have been wounded or martyred by government forces, and the
massacre does not seem likely to subsist.



(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - As Muslims and people of conscience, it is
incumbent upon us to do whatever is in our ability to raise awareness
of this tragedy and help the oppressed. Below are a few suggestions:

Keep Appraised of What Is Happening and Inform Others. Most Western
and even Middle Eastern news sources have unfortunately proven
themselves to be disappointingly biased and lacking in coverage of the
situation. PressTV and ABNA are routinely being updated with the
reality on the ground, so follow these sources closely. As new events
unfold, post them on your Facebook wall, Tweet about them, and share
them on religious, community, and other relevant email lists.

Call the Bahraini, Saudi, and Emirati Embassies and voice your
condemnation of this brutal behavior. The Bahraini Embassy can be
reached at 1-202-342-1111, the Saudi Embassy at 1-202-342-3800, and
the Emirati Embassy at 1-202-243-2400. (Make sure to call during
working hours.) Speak to the operator and ask for the Ambassador's
office. Be polite but firm, and speak your mind about the injustices
happening in Bahrain. If necessary, leave a voicemail.

Contact Your Elected Representatives and ask for Congress to condemn
the massacre. You can find the contact information for your Senators
and Representative at WhoIsMyRepresentative.com. Call and ask to speak
to the Congressperson's office, and let them know that as their
constituent, you expect them to condemn this behavior. Tell them that
this issue is very close to your heart, and if they fail to speak up,
they should not count on your vote during the next elections. Email
the Congressperson's office as well. A sample email message is as
follows:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my strong condemnation of the current massacre
being perpetrated against the Bahraini people by Bahraini and Saudi
armed forces. As your constituent, I urge you to introduce and/or
support legislation in Congress which condemns this barbaric behavior
and suspends US aid to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain until Saudi
Arabia and UAE withdraws their troops from Bahrain, and until the
Bahraini government withdraws all local and foreign troops, respects
its people's rights to peacefully assemble and protest, and allows for
free and fair elections in the country.

Respectfully yours,

[Name, Address, Phone Number]

Organize a Public Demonstration to inform others about the tragedy.
Most Western news sources have completely ignored or underplayed the
severity of the situation, and it is our obligation to inform the
masses about the Bahraini people's plight. You don't need more than a
few hours to plan a demonstration. Even a small group of five people
holding signs at a busy intersection for an hour can potentially
inform thousands of people about the massacre. Urge onlookers to
contact their elected representatives asking them to condemn this
aggression.

Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper, and express your
condemnation of the brutality. Mention exact numbers and figures. If
your newspaper has not given adequate coverage to the situation in
Bahrain, state your disappointment and disapproval. Also, call the
news bureau and urge them to include coverage of the tragedy on the
front page.

Pray for the safety and success of the revolutionaries, and for an end
to the oppressors' folly. Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) has a
particular Supplication for the People of the Frontiers, which is very
relevant to this situation. Also recommended for times like this is
Du'a Jawshan Sagheer. The Awaited One Foundation has started a One
Million Salawat Campaign for the safety of the protestors. Pray to God
to help the oppressed in Bahrain and elsewhere in the world, and for
the hastening of the reappearance of Imam Mahdi, who will truly put an
end to oppression in the world and establish the Reign of Justice.