Human Rights First Human Rights First

Tell the Bahraini King: Kansas City Wants Its Freedom Medal Back!

9-1-2011

By Brian Dooley
Director, Human Rights Defenders

Kansas City Do Not Stand with the Bahraini King's Human Rights Abuses!

Nearly four decades ago, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was awarded the Freedom Medal of Kansas City, Missouri from the Mayor and its residents. The Bahrain Government’s PR machine is using this and other awards he has received from various parts of the world as “evidence” of the King’s international credentials and appeal.

Ask Kansas City Mayor Sylvester James to make clear that Kansas City does not stand with the Bahraini King’s appalling human rights record by taking back his Freedom Medal!

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has overseen a series of brutal measures since March against the pro-democracy advocates in Bahrain – hundreds have been detained, at least four people have died in custody, and there have been widespread reports of torture. In addition, dozens of doctors and nurses have been harshly punished—including by detention and torture—for treating injured protesters.

Bahraini embassies have been claiming that the King is an internationally respected figure by using awards and medals from places like Kansas City. Does Kansas City really want to be associated with the violent crackdown on democracy advocates over the last few months in Bahrain?

Urge Kansas City Mayor Sylvester James to denounce the Bahraini King’s human rights abuses by taking back his Freedom Medal of Kansas City.

It’s time for Kansas City to unfriend the King of Bahrain. Add your voice!


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Posted in Blog | 77 Comments »

  • Burley Herrin

    The promising leader of 40 years ago has become a bloody tyrant. It’s time to rescind the earlier commendation.

  • Yousef

    He and his family were always tyrants – it’s not a recent change – I’ve witnessed it first hand, growing up in Bahrain.

  • ali ahmed

    king hamad is killer

  • priya

    he is not killer he is the real king he gav u everything still u betrayed him u hav houses new cars hospital are free 4 u school r free still u showed ur true colour

    • Haddad

      We Want our freedom , our political rights , we are not like you ( slaves) running after money & manifestation of falls.

    • Malcolm

      houses, cars, hospitals … oh .. cool .. so you worship money huh? well .. we don’t .. we want freedom, democracy! sorry if we are not that materialistic as you are! Peace!

    • thaer

      Oh really, the king give us free education, and free health service!! we call those our rights not gifts

      hamad is a tyrants, he is not going to change

      we have the right of self determination

      down with Hamad tn tn ttn

    • Bahraini Abdulla

      Priya: it’s about Law above all. Justice & Dignity!
      It’s not about money or jewelry,.
      Bahrain is consisted of 33 island, we’ve live on and seen only 3 major islands, rest are seized by royal family only!! do you know dat!!!
      The Bahraini people want self determination! who has the right to prevent that, You!!?
      ALkhalifa family deserve to be thrown out of Bahrain.

  • priya

    we want u alkhalifa u r the lion of bahrain

  • Mohammed J

    the king and his family are treating the people of Bahrain as slaves and they think they can do anything to them, so far within 6 months about 40 people killed and the attack on the villages are happening everynight by their mercinaries.

  • Nirvana

    I believe that people of the world have to put more pressure on the Bahraini gov to end this brutal savage
    Merciless abuses they practise on their people with the help of Saudi Arabia and other countries like Pakistan , Jordan and UAE. Human of the world for the sake of humanity help the Bahrain people.

  • al aziz

    Dear Mr.Sylvester James
    Thank you for all your efforts.
    As you know that never in history that doctors, nurses and paramedics have been prevented from saving lives and injuries.
    ONLY in Bahrain that Medical personnel where prevented and tortured and jailed for doing their duty.
    We the people of Bahrain urge you to take back the Freedom Medal of Kansas City from the Brutal Dictator of Bahrain as we all know that Americans and the citizens of Kansas city all refuse to assist dictators in killing their own people.

    Thanking you

    • WATCH

      Liar liar liar !!!

  • http://feb14translator.blogspot.com/ Ali Isa

    Thank you for your efforts .. this killer must be behind bars.

  • Maryam

    He is a killer
    He changed his PPL by other to kill the original Bahraini
    People who are complaint from missing primary life required
    Down down Hamad

  • ayoub saleem

    Dear all, King Hamad is not a tyrant.more than 70 percent of the population are living the best life anyone in the world could wish for. It is merely an add few that have gone to the media and have created the opposition. In bahrain you have more freedom of speach than the U.K, everyone is promised a house, a job and a decent living. In bahrain you will see no homeless on the streets. The King pays all the expenses himself. Come to bahrain, google it , ask around and you shall see fopr youself. The opposition have threatend our lives, hyjacked schools, the biggest hospital in bahrain and had paralyised the economy in bahrain not forgetting killing so many innocent lives!!! Wake up and see the truth! Stop the lies you stupid opposition! We the people of bahrain will stand strong with our king. The king hamad himself that has helped all shite people to get a decent living.

    • JIff

      In fact 5% of the population are living the best life anyone in the world could wish for. Remaining 95% living in misery. The 5% are Al Khalifa dynasty.

  • Jaffar

    Sorry if you’re foolish enough to back the iranian backed riots we are not!
    We don’t need your medal. We want our peace back and we MUST have law and order resotered.
    We don’t want your Iraq type of democracy! You call that a success story?! We call living sunni’s and shia’s for over hundereds of years in one place a success story not them killing each other in daylight (aka Iraq) a success story!!

    • Jaffar

      Please use your real name if you want anyone to trust you!

  • Hamad

    Kansas City,

    You should come to Kingdom of Bahrain, and take you worthless medal! Since, you are isolated in the mid west, and no nothing of what is happening in Bahrain! We are fighting against a group of terrorists backed by Iran! Take your stupid medal we don’t need it!

  • Zainab

    I agree with Ayoub & Jaffar. We want our peaceful life back. The terrorists hijacked our country and spread fear and chaos, they killed innocent people, tutored students and poor Asian workers, hijacked the biggest hospital in ME and refused to treat Sunnis causing cases of death to at least 3 people. They committed crimes in the land which gave them alot. Now you can take your medal back but we want our decent life back by applying rules and laws. Whoever committed a crime should be punished same as the way UK treated terrorists recently. By law we will stop these terrorists from committing these crimes again and we urge everyone who spread lies out Bahrain to stop. We the majority people of Bahrain know what’s going on we know the truth and we support our authorities to apply the laws. We do not support the terrorist who discriminate

  • WATCH

    Don’t you dare talk about our King !!!!!! Take your medal and shaved in where sun does not shine !!!!

  • mohamed ahmed

    take your medal from our dectator hamad

  • DWAR AL-LOLO

    AL KHALIFA IS KILLER
    AL KHALIFA IS KILLER
    AL KHALIFA IS KILLER
    AL KHALIFA IS KILLER
    AL KHALIFA IS KILLER

    DOWN DOWN HAMAD
    DOWN DOWN HAMAD
    DOWN DOWN HAMAD
    DOWN DOWN HAMAD

  • AhmedRadhi

    Thaaanks to Kansas City something innocents people tonights under constant brutal attack by sound bombs, teargases targets close places at homes meant to kill people at home, King been terrorizing innocents young old people at home.
    Thanks you are great ??????????? American Are Great

    Hope, tomorrow i will hear Sand Hurst college in England will remove him from honory president, that really shamefull. I hope i will thaanks tomorrow the Great people of Britain too

  • ali aldwar

    Thanks Kansas City, his is murder and not to allow freedom of expression

  • Bahraini86

    Any king has to provide basic needs for his people. Some said that every person in Bahrain is promised a house. Yet, they didn’t mentioned that those people have to wait 15-20 years to get one!
    The king provided every thing except real freedom and dignity!

  • bu fatema

    Down Down Hamad
    Down Down Khalifa
    Down Down Government

  • Maria

    He doesn’t deserve this medal

  • enough nomore tears

    Down down Hamad this is wht Bahraini wants I mean original Bahraini not the allians for example (Priya)

  • gloria

    Thank for the effort and the attention given to the situation happening here in bahrain. People r brutally tortured and their right are been taken. I can’t believe the people who said 70% r living the best life based on what study or statistics?? Is he really living in bahrain or he came from another country and get the bahraini nationality with all the privileges that the real citizen don’t get it. When the people ask for their rights peacefully r being killed then its the time for all the world to stand for us…. So thank u again

  • Nanee

    Yes Hamad, today is your medal and tomorrow your monarchy. God is great God is great. I want to say something for Priya the Indian lady. Hey Priya, Bahrain is for Bahrainies you don’t interfere between us. I promise you that all Indians, Pakistanies, baloosh, Jordanian, Yemenies and others will be out of Bahrain if you are not respecting us in our countrey we will not respect you stupid Indian

  • Amal

    Priya you have no dignity that’s why you talk about the money only and you know nothing about Islam and how much we as shia are suffering from discrimination so better shut your mouth or go back to your country

  • Narjis

    Hamad Khalifa is a killer! He killed, through his regime, 36 bahraini. You are doing the best thing asking for your medal back! THANKS

  • Ali ahmed

    Hamad is a killer, he’s a real vampire

  • ali

    to all gov. of usa plz stope supporting to alkhalifa dectator family thy are killers .

  • ali

    this brutal dictator and his family dose not deserve to live free neathr to role a civil country plz help us to be free.

  • amaar

    hamad is not a king he is avampire you can use him for any blade movie

  • fatima

    thx kansas city for taking back the medal of the freedom coz that king killing the incense people of bahrain

  • Um Ali

    I see some people defending a killer. His grandfather killed my grandfather. He is killing our children and the tragedy continues. Shame on them to defend him. This is not a new revolution. This is 90 years old. Only baltagies , people benefiting from the regime defend it.
    I am homeless, with my children living in a cage where we pay 200 dinars for rent. My sister is having 5 families in one little house. My other sister is living in one room with her 5 children. Regime defenders, you are killers, you are sharing the crime with your king, you will be the first thing he sacrifies when the moment of truth come.
    Go and create a rubbish page for your dirty targets, you will be cursed by the history. For money you are selling yourself and every thing.

  • Um Ali

    Priya there is no place for you in a page created to defend human rights. You are against the humanity.
    By the way, your name is Indian name, so why don’t you defend India? Either say some thing good for the sake of humanity or leave this page for Bahrainis.
    If you are a Bahraini, why are you hiding your name if we have the freedom of speach? So don’t make funny comments.

  • Hasan

    Thank u very much 4 kansad city ‘ Bahraini protesters grateful to sobort the right in Bahrain …….

  • essa-free

    أهل البحرين: شكراً لك يا عمدة كنساس و شكراً لكل الأحرار في العالم

    The people of Bahrain:
    Thank you, Mayor of Kansas, and thanks for all free people in the world

  • freebuney

    thank you bery much to the president of the city of kinshasa est

  • OMAR

    the goverment is targeting everbody who wants to talk freely and talk against their torturing,,, stop this criminals !!! from alkhlaifa family only Sh.Salman i have not seen anything bad against people…..

  • Al Khalifa

    After all he gave to the people of bahrain an still there are riots that don’t desereve it cause they had burned killed police men he gave the shia houses cars land free education even out of the countrey and in return they don’t want him I wish king hamad was Sadaam to treat you right even america feared from Sadaam .
    But all what I was saying that they are these riots should go out of bahrain. Kansas our king dosent need’s your medals :)

  • marwa

    Many thank for your active reaction.. Since more than two centuries this al khalifia family is killing and never respect basic human rights.. They are really doing genocide.. Thanak

  • 7oor

    Down Down hamad

  • freebuney

    Thank you very much to the president of the city of Kinshasa esteemed Thank you all thanks to the supervisor position Tkhadk While delirious dictator does not deserve such delirious medal-Sharif al-Khalifa Aaúalh While all of them killed a special greeting from the people of Bahrain, the wounded and thank you again

  • Adel

    Talk about the devil, he has a lot to learn from Hamad the lousing king of Bahrain. His royal highness is a coward lier, killer and the most dishonest person that one can think of.

  • ahmed

    Have you asked yourself from who you receive the news before you submit comments on our King. I am suprised that you receive you information from lyers such as media and Shiea Fanatics who they consider you Christians and Catholics as impurity. Cheers

    • OMAR

      very sectarian !!!

  • Mohammad

    Thank you mayor and people of Kansas for showing human compassion and good gesture.

    Hamad, stop fooling and give them their medal. You know that you are not worthy of holding such honorable status. You are a disgrace to humanity. Only your mother loves you and only sometimes. Shame shame shame on you Hamad

  • Thanks

    Thank you for your responsibility

  • http://bangkok freebuney

    Hamad Al-Khalifa and kill the people of Bahrain and the original naturalized foreigners Ikthelo delirious and steal the poor people and Hamad Salman and Khalifa and King Abdullah and the rest of the families of the Khalifa and the Al Saud to be the trial of criminals Haúola

  • Bahraini

    That’s the least thing that can be done for such a bloody murder along with his failure family

  • bahraini

    Thanks alot to kansas city.. supporting bahraini people.

  • Layla

    really this killer doesnt deserve a midal

  • durazi

    he is the king of Sectarian Apartheid regime and has many Militia kill the people of bahrain according what their belive same as what was south africa apartheid aganist blacks before mandila >>>>>shame of kansas to give sach bloody crimal Dictator (freedom medal)

  • mohd

    Hamad bin isa al-kahifa is the last Dictator in ahead of Apartheid in the world , aganist the Majority of the people of bahrain and uses the Mercenaries from syria and jordan as a killer in his miltary as Gaddafi do .

    He torture the doctors , patiant , student . teachers , human defenders , press and media . Also kill the people accord secaterian factors and alots of differnt other Violations .

    In one word , he is War criminal …

  • Bahraini

    it’s true Bahrain’s king is another dictator who treats the island’s people as his slaves. AlKhalifa family invaded Bahrain before 250 yrs and they ruled the country by blood and forces. Since that time they asked people’s loyality every since which they never get.
    Nothing of what they gave the country is from their own pockets, whatever they gave it’s originally from the land which should be shared between all the citizens but stolen by Al Khalifa regime.
    King Hamad is a killer and should be tried in the court and not withdraw your medal will be a shame on you.

  • bahraini girl

    How dare you to judge our beloved king ??!! These riots are supported by Iran and the numbers are not true.. You should talk about the solders instead..and you must talk about american presidents who killed millions all around the world.. SHAME ON YOU

  • 007

    King Hamad Has made a lot of democratic changes in Bahrain that no country in GCC or middle east would do ! We have Free hospitals free educations the unemployment rate is under 3.5 % ! every single Bahraini who have stood against this king own the latest model of a car or a smartphone ! I don’t think that you’re poor and own a blackberry and an iPad ! That’s a stupid lies ! You just want the country for yourselves ! And Still King Hamad is treating you traitors with patience and forgiveness ! If you were in UK and did what you have done in Bahrain ! You would be in presion by now ! For a very long time ! So stop whinning and complaining ! Or leave the country you don’t deserve to live on Bahrain and you don’t deserve a King like Hamad ! A dictator like Najad is better for you !

    • Barry Gohari

      You have everything free but not the basic thing, which is human rights, tell your king to stick his free thigs up his ass and gives you a democratically elected government.

  • Free saudi

    Human rights can not be silent about it, so thank you to drag and the Medal of Freedom by Mnhtoh this criminal
    There are many kings on the same ilk and Mikhbay future will show us the future and you will see the facts for yourself.
    But let us now shed light on this criminal Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and I say “criminal” because I’m sure he deserved Istqahha.
    Who has followed his speeches to notice his innocence, but Marwag false and the facts are clearly visible through the media fair and not support for his regime.
    I hope that this gesture to be a strong supporter of the fall and step down.

  • Latifa

    PPl of America please DO NOT TALK about the king of Bahrain. You don’t know him, u don’t know how much reform he has done in the last 10 years. Bahraini ppl have better life than you do, we don’t have homeless, we have free education, free health care, we don’t need health insurance to get treated, unemployment rate is less than 3.7%, each citizen has the right 2 own a house… And many more so stop listening to lies from others who never cared about Bahrain.. Thank you

  • mohammed

    Down Down King Hamad he will fellow Mubarak And Zain Al Abdeen

  • Nayef

    Thank God that our country was saved by God himself from the opposition, people in Bahrain have all the freedom than any country in the world, the opposition are few and were backed by Iran to spoil our country and do what’s good for them, even the opposition will pray that this day will never come when Iran controls Bahrain , they will not have even 1% what our King gives them, see the killing in Iran and there is no peace there, people in Bahrain were brothers and sisters for years but the interfering of Iran in destroying this peaceful country, it will be like Iraq, and Iraq will never heal . The truth about our King he is do kind that we get really pissed off of his kindness, the opposition should be tought a lesson for killing Asians, running over policemen with cars, Please Wake up before it’s too late, God save our country from these terrorists and their unhumanly plans, come to Bahrain and see what these Riots do you will not believe it, they are like animals even worse, sorry for these words but it’s true and you should understand there should be law or no use of living, they kill people and they don’t want to be taken to jail ???? Cammmon?? Think here ?? Most riots are freed from jail and go do the same thing , please back up our king we people are here , not these “Iranians” who were given citizenship and for what destroying our country, God Bless Bahrain and our beloved King Hamad.

    • Barry Gohari

      You must be one of the freeloaders or the one who has been given the passport at the expense of the natives, take off your blind fold and see how the majority of the people are being treated by this brutal totalitarian regime, people want elected government not the selected one, this brutal regime has been governing for over 200 years and plundering the wealth of the nation. Democracy and human rights is at risk, this is the basic right of this nation,wake up and smell the flowers you idiot.

  • Jamal

    Long live our king hamad and the hell to Iran and her followers he is not a dectator as pro Iran people say

    • Barry Gohari

      Always blame Iran for your lack of Democracy and freedom and your basic human rights, do not listen to this brutal Al khanifa regime, they have plundered the wealth of nation and an idiot like you praise them, wake up and smell the flowers.

  • Bahraini

    We bahraini’s don’t care what u Kanses citizen say about our king dam u and all shaia in Bahraim.
    Bahrain is a free country same as U S A

  • Isa

    I live in Bahrain and King Hamad is a very good leader, but the ppl who doesn’t like him are the one who wants Iran to lead us.
    God save the King.

  • Barry Gohari

    This brutal and totalitarian regime does not deserve any praise, it has denied its subjects of their basic human rights, the people have been oppressed for decades, now its time for the people of Bahrain to revolt and chose their own democratically elected government.

  • bahraini

    Killer hamad and his mercineris are killing bahraini ppl he dont deserve any honor or respect.

  • John

    The ruling families in the gulf regions are really very bad, all what they care about is how to stay longer and kill the innocent people like in bahrain and saudi arabia , they need to be removed now.

  • Abdulla Rashid

    I live in Bahrain and King Hamad is a very good leader, but the ppl who doesn’t like him are the one who wants Iran to lead us.
    And We don’t need your medal. We want our peace back and we MUST have law and order resotered.
    We don’t want your Iraq type of democracy! You call that a success story?! We call living sunni’s and shia’s for over hundereds of years in one place a success story not them killing each other in daylight (aka Iraq) a success story!!