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Ali and Ahmad have been killed. When we furiously started tweeting about their case yesterday morning, we knew it was very unlikely that the authorities would stay the executions. We knew there was very little chance we could save their lives.
We knew from the start that the only thing that can possibly work would be a high profile diplomatic call from a close ally of the Bahraini regime. And we knew that such an intervention was not forthcoming.
We knew that the Western powers that can reign in the Bahraini regime are the very powers that sell that regime weapons, train its personnel, legitimize it internationally, and give it diplomatic cover. We knew that going in.
And that was our *starting* point yesterday morning. If we say nothing, they will kill them. If we make noise, they will still, in all probability, kill them.
But - we also knew that we can't let it pass quietly. We knew that if we can't save their lives, we can at least ensure the crimes of the criminals are on display for the whole world to see. We had to make it count. We had to bear witness.
Many of you cared. Some of you called your ambassadors and representatives. Some of you called your MPs, emailed them, or even just tagged them on here. You may not have been able to save these lives, but you acted your values, and you showed us that you cared.
And this is what I want to say to my comrades, with much love: It's okay to feel grief this morning. It's okay to feel anger. But it's never okay to feel defeat.
As human rights activists our work does not depend upon events and our victory does not depend upon outcomes. We are *painfully* aware of how limited our power is to right wrongs or stop injustices. That does not and cannot do anything to dull our spirits.
Victory is living your values. Victory is never remaining silent in the face of injustice. Every time you resist, or help those who resist, you've already won. Every time you stand up for your principles, you've already won. Every time you call out injustice, you've already won.
What happened to these young men was horrible, but I hope they're in a better place now. The story of resistance continues among the living.
We bore witness to the murder of torture victims. What happens next, in the next years or decades or even centuries, depends on how we choose to continue the struggle.
Much love. Never give up. No crime is big enough to snuff out the cry for freedom in our souls and bones. Never give up. And may the victims rest in peace and power.
