30 Facts About Abdulwahab Hussain

Abdulwahab Hussain Ali Ahmed Esmael is a Bahraini political activist, writer, religious figure and philosopher.

Abdulwahab Hussain was one of the most prominent opposition leaders in the 1990s uprising when he was arrested twice for a total length of five years in which he was allegedly subjected to solitary confinement and torture.

In 2001, Hussain chaired the committee which founded Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main opposition party.

Abdulwahab Hussain urged opposition leaders to boycott 2002 parliamentary election after the king issued Constitution of 2002, which he found going back on reform plans.

In 2003, Abdulwahab Hussain announced he would leave politics and stop issuing public statements and in 2005 he resigned from Al Wefaq.

Abdulwahab Hussain was born to a poor family in the village of Nuwaidrat south of Manama.

Abdulwahab Hussain studied in Ma'ameer primary school and upon his graduation when he was twelve, his father died.

Abdulwahab Hussain continued his study at Sitra intermediate school.

Thirteen years later, Abdulwahab Hussain resumed his previous job for three years, before being terminated in 2008.

Abdulwahab Hussain was one of the most prominent opposition leaders in the uprising.

Abdulwahab Hussain was a subscriber of the petition calling for resurrection of parliamentary life in 1992, a member of the "Petition Committee" in 1994, and of the "Initiative" in 1995.

Abdulwahab Hussain was arrested twice under the State Security Law, which allowed the government to arrest individuals without trial for a period of up to three years of administrative detention for crimes relating to state security.

Abdulwahab Hussain was detained for about six months between 17 March 1995 and 10 September.

Abdulwahab Hussain was arrested for the second time in January 1996 along with 7 other opposition leaders including Abdul Amir al-Jamri and Hasan Mushaima.

Abdulwahab Hussain was released three days later, but was re-arrested from his house only one hour after his return.

Later, the family was told that Abdulwahab Hussain would spend another three years in prison under the State Security Law.

Abdulwahab Hussain was a founding member of Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main opposition party, established on 9 July 2001.

Abdulwahab Hussain urged many opposition leaders to boycott the parliamentary elections, calling the participation "unethical action".

Abdulwahab Hussain led the Islamic Enlightenment institution in 2002, before resigning in March 2003 and announcing that he would refrain from issuing public statements and leading Friday sermons in August.

However, Abdulwahab Hussain kept his position, thanking all of those who stood by him.

Abdulwahab Hussain said his decision was not due to a personal interest and that the "issue is larger than using courtesy with it".

In 2005, Abdulwahab Hussain officially resigned from Al Wefaq after the society decided to register under the "political societies law" and participate in the elections.

Abdulwahab Hussain played a leading role in first days of the Bahraini uprising.

Abdulwahab Hussain led a protest in the early morning of 14 February 2011 in his village Nuwaidrat, which police attacked.

Abdulwahab Hussain was arrested in the early hours of 17 March 2011 along with other protest leaders.

Abdulwahab Hussain emphasized on "sticking to the peaceful approach and not to be drawn to violence" and "avoiding collision with other views", his son reported.

Abdulwahab Hussain said to the judge "I don't recognize you, your court or who employed you", witnesses reported.

On 22 May, Abdulwahab Hussain said he was tortured in 2011 to obtain confessions and beaten when he refused to record an apology to the king.

Abdulwahab Hussain cited President Barack Obama's remarks the previous month that "such steps are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain's citizens".

Abdulwahab Hussain has written a number of books in Arabic including:.