17 Facts About Matar Matar

Matar Ebrahim Ali Matar is a Bahraini politician of the Al Wefaq party who served as a Member of Parliament from October 2010 until his resignation in early 2011.

Matar Matar remained there until 2002 when he returned to Bahrain and joined Al Wefaq political party.

Matar Matar was released in August and acquitted of charges in February 2012.

Matar Matar's arrest, alleged mistreatment and subsequent release triggered several international reactions by international bodies and NGOs such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Matar Matar studied at Al Razi primary school, then at Jidhafs intermediate school and after that at Noaim secondary school, where he is said to have been a top student.

Matar Matar earned a Master's degree in Computer Science from Kuwait University.

Matar Matar returned to Bahrain following a reform process initiated by King Hamad who succeeded his father, Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

In 2003, Matar married Amal Habib, an ophthalmologist working in Salmaniya Medical Complex.

Matar Matar established its Youth Center and became its head.

Matar Matar was a member of the party's monitoring committee and anti-discrimination committee to which he co-authored a report about discrimination in Bahrain.

In October 2010, Matar was successfully nominated by Al Wefaq to the parliamentary election, becoming the youngest Member of Parliament.

Matar Matar became a member of the financial affairs committee where he was an outspoken critic of the military budget.

Matar Matar was involved in organizing talks with the government.

The defendant, called Ali Saqer said Matar had instructed him to kill policemen.

AJE reported that Matar was forced at gunpoint to enter an unmarked car.

The government of Bahrain denied that Matar had been kept in solitary confinement.

On 20 February 2012, Matar was acquitted of all charges by the minor criminal court.