Bahrain is one country that was forgotten by many as the Arab Spring of 2011 concluded. It is however a country with an unsettled outlook. Some protests have taken place but the Bahraini regime quashed any hopes of an organized uprising with a security crackdown in February 2011. They have achieved this in part by spying on Bahraini citizens online using British spy software and malware.

British made equipment monitors Skype conversations, tracks emails and observes social networking activity of those opposing the regime, claimed activists in court this week. Russia Today reports:

UK spy technology was used against a British citizen in Bahrain, new evidence filed in a UK high court has claimed. Activists are calling for a judicial review of the UK’s failure to hold firms accountable for sales of spy software to repressive regimes.

The evidence submitted contains a witness statement from Bahraini activist and writer Ala'a Shehabi, 30. She has both Bahraini and British citizenship, and is one of the founding members of Bahrain Watch, an independent research and advocacy organization set up in 2011.

RT describes the equipment used as:

FinSpy software reportedly allows for surveillance of emails, social media messaging and Skype calls, and can retrieve files saved on an infected computer's hard drive. It also can remotely operate microphones and cameras on computers and mobile phones.

Reports that the same spy software has allegedly been sold to around another 25 governments is an obvious cause for concern.

Bahrain's civil unrest is rarely in the mainstream media but has shown no sign of abating.

In December 2011 Bahrain hired former UK assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, John Yates. Earlier in the year he had resigned from his job with the Met amidst the UK phone hacking scandal. His appointment in Bahrain followed an independent report on human rights breaches in that country.

Yates was supposedly hired to reform the Bahrain police force; along with John Timoney, a former head of Miami police, the pair were going to bring the force up to International Human Rights standards. The abuse involved use of excessive force, torture and summary justice. At least 20 police officers facing such allegations were going to stand trial but little has improved for ordinary Bahraini citizens.

INterestingly activists claim that the use of spyware dates back to the appointment of John Yates.

By February 2012 nothing much had changed for the better and violence flared ahead of the Arab Spring anniversary; it has persisted. Youths rioted, throwing petrol bombs and carrying iron bars. The police responded heavily using tear gas, with reports of tear gas thrown into the homes of rebels. The Bahrain authorities maintained the position that it was just thugs rioting.

In 2011 the UK supplied the Bahrain regime with weapons but the Ministry of Defence eventually revoked the licenses. It was of course too little and too late.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa rules the kingdom of Bahrain. His family has ruled the small Gulf Island state for more than 200 years. In 2012 he addressed the nation claiming that he remained committed to reforms launched ten years earlier. He dismissed claims by the "rebels" that these were nothing more than "token reforms"; cosmetic reforms with no real positive change.

There were violent protests on the streets of Bahrain during the 2013 Grand Prix in April. In early May, 31 anti-regime protesters were sentenced to 15 years behind bars after being convicted of attacking a police patrol in the village of Sitra.

May 17 six activists were each sentenced to one-year in prison for tweets which allegedly insulted the country's King; and on its goes, unchecked.  The civil unrest and violence continues largely unchecked and unreported by the mainstream media.

Comment:

Once again the question to ponder is when is a protester a rebel or insurgent and when is he or she part of the legitimate opposition? Thug or activist?

Western nations continue to decry humanitarian crises and repressive regimes, around the world but only when it suits. It is convenient for the West that the Bahraini rulers stay in power. The island is useful for the West as much of the Middle East remains in tatters.

With allegations that the USA and the UK are actively helping repress activists in Bahrain, and maintain the status quo, Western hypocrisy is shameful.

Our leaders play a dangerous game and it is time they admitted that they could not care less about human tragedy unless it is happening in a country which is strategically important.

Links embedded in report

First published on Allvoices by same writer

Bahrain remains a troubled country but receives little media attention in the West. Why? We can only assume that the West has a vested interest in maintaining the current regime. The tiny Island is strategically useful for the West, notably the USA. It is home to the US Navy's fifth fleet. In view of the current unrest in this region of the World the USA will want to hold on to that. Perhaps that is why the USA never seems to acknowledge the atrocities in Bahrain but prefers to concentrate on Syria.

The kingdom of Bahrain remains a troubled empire.

Early in 2012 TEK reported that a former British Police Commissioner , John Yates, had been hired to reform the Bahrain police force. In late 2011 he had resigned from his post in the UK amidst phone hacking scandals.

The Bahrain government had supposedly agreed to some reforms in the kingdom and re-training the brutal  police force was one such change. Nothing much appears to have changed.

Nightly protests invariably turn violent. Peaceful marchers who try to move into central areas are teargassed and they respond with petrol bombs. Perhaps Yates' influence has made some positive changes in how the police respond but the Bahraini people would no doubt disagree.

The kingdom has an uneven split between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and an uneven split between the wealthy and poor. Shias are constantly disadvantaged in the job market and beyond. The BBC has this information about Bahrain:

• Politics: The Khalifah family has ruled since 1783; Bahrain is now a constitutional monarchy with an elected legislative assembly; majority Shia Muslims are demanding more power from Sunni-led government. The government launched a crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011, but they continued in 2012.
• Economy: Bahrain is a banking and financial services centre; its small and reasonably prosperous economy is less dependent on oil than most Gulf states
• International: Bahrain is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. Bahraini-Qatari ties have been strained though they settled a territorial dispute in 2001

In April 2012 the US administration condemned the violence in Bahrain but they were empty words. Six months later little has changed. According to local people the police force is still mainly made up of foreigners. The government tries to say that positive reforms are taking place but it will take time. The protesters know that change will come but when and how is not known. Is Bahrain yet another country that sooner or later will implode?

OPINION: Hidden agendas and hypocrisy from the West are becoming the norm it seems

The Kingdom of Bahrain experienced its own Arab Spring. Since last year the country has experienced undercurrents of unrest but the ruling family have insisted that they are committed to change. This has meant that by and large Bahrain has fallen of the radar as far as reports on civil unrest. It does not mean that all is well in the kingdom of Bahrain though. Far from it.

As the Bahrain Grand Prix gets ready to begin unrest has violently flared yet again.The Bahrain authorities have responded in their usual heavy handed  manner to any protests. Youths in some towns away from the capital regularly throw stones at the police who respond with tear gas.

In Manama the Bahraini capital the Grand Prix is due. Whilst the reigning Royal Family claim that it should go ahead their have been many concerns raised. The security and safety of the drivers and their teams must be guaranteed but is that possible? With more protests planned for today that seems unlikely. Protests in Manama are not unknown and can be violent.

UK PM David Cameron Has joined in the debate claiming that Bahrain is not Syria as justification for the race. That statement stems from the fact that the Bahrani rulers are allegedly instigating reform. A year after the Arab Spring though many people in Bahrain are asking, when?

Whilst many claim that holding the race currently in Bahrain is obscene for the protesters it once again brings the eyes of the world onto their plight. The Crown Prince wants the race to go ahead for his own agenda but in doing so it may help the cause of those wanting change. Should the worst happen and security for the race drivers be breached or a protester violently attacked or even killed the race will be political ammunition for the reformists.

Tags: Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain protests, Bahraini Crown Prince, arab spring, civil unrest, Bahrain protesters