Ten years ago I started my PhD about #Bahrain. I started it at the beginning of Bahrain's Uprising, and it profoundly changed my life. Seeing your home, and the place you grew up in, gripped by a moment of sheer political optimism, followed by crushing police brutality, is an
experience that changes you as a person. I was fortunate to meet so many wonderful people; academics, activists, artists, writers and politicians either from or passionate about Bahrain. I have not been allowed back since 2012 and of course miss it. My thoughts as always
today are never about Valentines, but the first day where people marched to the Pearl roundabout (that was then destroyed by the regime) in 2011 . Bahrain will always be in my heart, especially those who sacrificed their life and freedom to try and improve their lot. The struggle
of course continues, and has really been going on for decades. My own testament to my homeland can be read here. Political Repression in Bahrain - a contemporary and historical account of repression in Bahrain - is the culmination of 5 years of research cambridge.org/core/books/pol…
It is not a hopeful account of course, but that's not to say there is no hope. Right now the regime is more repressive than ever before, but history tells us that's not unusual in the years after a cycle of unrest. I don't see it ending anytime soon - but I hope to be surprised.
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