THREE Bahrainis, including international bodybuilder Sami Al Haddad, were greeted with hugs, flowers and tears of joy as they reunited with their families and friends at Bahrain International Airport last night.
The trio spoke about their ordeal as they were released from detention in Qatar following diplomatic efforts by Bahrain.
Praised
The Foreign Ministry thanked Oman for its efforts to co-ordinate and follow up on their release and return to Bahrain.
The ministry said it considered their release by the Qatari authorities a step that reflects the required spirit to complete addressing the pending issues between the two countries to enhance co-operation between the GCC states.
It also said it hoped for the release of Asian sailors who work on Bahraini fishing vessels, in consideration of their humanitarian situation.
The three Bahrainis were flown to Muscat on Thursday and to Manama yesterday, where they were received upon arrival by Muharraq Governor Salman Bin Hindi.
Mr Bin Hindi praised the government’s efforts to secure their release, in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Prime Minister.
He also praised the role of the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs to ensure their safe return.
Parliament Speaker Fouzia Zainal also highlighed the government’s role in securing the release.
Mr Al Haddad and his cousin Mohammed Al Dossary were arrested by Qatari coast guards during a fishing trip in Bahrain’s territorial water last Saturday.
The third Bahraini was fisherman Habib Abbas who was arrested on December 3 by the Qataris.
They stepped out of the airport after more than five hours as their statements were recorded by the Interior Ministry’s senior staff.
“I have been through challenges in my life and I thought I was a tough guy because as a bodybuilder one goes through intense preparations,” Mr Al Haddad told the GDN last night moments after he hugged his wife upon arrival.
“However, the harsh inhumane treatment was something else which none of us deserved.”
The famed bodybuilder said a simple fishing trip turned into a nightmare with them at times treated like criminals.
“The cells were unimaginable and I did not take shower for a week despite my followers in the same country ready to supply me with towels and clothes.
“They switched off the water heater so we could not take a shower.”
Mr Al Haddad and Mr Al Dossary said the incident has had a deep psychological impact on them, adding their boat was still impounded by Qataris.
“We go to our cell for three hours and after that, they take you out of the cell and ask the same questions in different tones.”
The Bahraini said they were not physically harmed but until the last minute had no idea about their release.
Mr Al Haddad claimed that they later met fellow Bahraini Mr Abbas, and was told the latter had to cough up a huge amount as penalty.
“They play these mind games,” said Mr Al Haddad.
“I would like to thank Bahrain’s leadership and the citizens for their support to all of us.”
Meanwhile, Mr Abbas’s son, Ali Habib, said he was concerned about his ailing father detained in Qatar’s jail.
“We are happy that Bahrain’s leadership followed the case closely because we only spoke to our father after 14 days of his detention,” alleged Mr Habib.
The freed men said Qatari authorities told them daily that they would be released and given back their belongings, only to be taken to another place 24km away before being returned to prison. This happened to them many times every day.
When they were released they thought they were just being subjected to the same scenario.
Mr Al Haddad is an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) PRO bodybuilder who has won international championships, including the Mr Olympia amateur accolade in 2011 before turning professional.
He made history in 2018 by winning gold in the IFBB Pro Spain event.
Following this, he was presented with the first passport to be given to a citizen with ‘professional athlete’ listed as a profession by His Majesty.
Hundreds of fishermen have been caught by Qatari coast guard since an International Court of Justice ruling in 2001 defining the borders of Bahrain and Qatar.
Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa stated last month that over the past 10 years, Qatar had stopped 650 Bahraini boats and 2,153 fishermen.
Plight
The plight of Bahrainis detained in Qatar was highlighted at a seminar held last weekend by the Professional Fishermen Society with the support of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society and the Bahrain Journalists’ Association, as reported in the GDN.
GDN Media also helped spearhead a print, online and social media initiative to campaign for the release of Bahrain’s bodybuilding champion.
#FreeSami_GDNsays gained huge support from readers and visitors from home and abroad.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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