please diffuse letter supporting Bahraini artists

Bahrain

October 8, 2011

To: Ms. Missa Johnouchi

UNESCO Artist for Peace 

Subject: How you perform for peace when Bahraini Artists are illegally dismissed?

As you are well aware, Bahrain has been in political unrest for the last ten months and the regime played a major part in worsening conditions through severe illegal actions such as the termination of a large number of citizens due to their intellectual and religious backgrounds.

Unfortunately, the Ministry of Culture who is hosting your performance now, and supported you in the provision of the opening ceremony of the meeting of the World Heritage Committee. 35 the headquarters of UNESCO, is a partner in this act, where six of its employees that are eminent and renowned locally and internationally have been dismissed from their positions at the ministry. One of them is a very well known music artist, the flutist Ahmed Al Ghanem, who has domestic and international posts including the UNESCO; He also held the position of the General Coordinator of the Bahrain International Festival of Music in previous years, as well as the Director of Bahrain Music Band.  Among the dismissed is Yasser Saif – Specialist in cinema and theater, Mustafa Salman – Architect in number of heritage projects, Mohammed Ashoor- a Supervisor in traditional Handcrafts production and Mosa Hassan – Publication Specialist.

As an Ambassador of Peace by UNESCO, we believe that you can support our cause and would like you to do your part towards art, artists, and intellectuals who were dismissed from their jobs in Bahrain. 

We wish that you as an ambassador for peace, urge the Minister of Culture towards the return of all personnel, intellectuals and artists who have been dismissed back to their jobs. 

Finally, please accept our deep appreciation for your cooperation with us in this important humanitarian.

Sincerely Yours,

* A group of Bahraini intellectuals: 

1-    Mohammed Ashoor- Supervisor traditional Handcrafts

2-    Ahmed Al Ghanem - Artist, and flutist.

3-    Mustafa Salman – Architect in number of heritage projects

4-    Yasser Saif – Specialist cinema and theater.

5-    Mosa Hassan – Specialist publication &

6-    Hussain Al Samahiji - poet

7-    Fareed Ramadan – novelist

8-    Jaffar Aljamri – poet & journalist

9-    Anas Al-shaikh – Artist

10- Hussain Alhulaybi – TV and Cinema Director

11- Khalaf Ahmed Khalaf - Short story writer

12- Fawzia Alsindi – poet

13- A.Wahab  Saleh Al Arrayed – Media

14- Jaafar Hamza - Creative Conceptualizer

15- Iman Assiri – Poet & artist

16- Ahmed Alajmi – Poet

17- Ali Aldairy -  Academic critic

18- Karim Radhi – Poet

19- Naima Al Samak – Poet & short Story Writer

20- A.Aziz Al Mosawi – Short Story Writer

21- Ahmed Al Hujjiri – writer & Human rights activist