Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): The German Bild newspaper mocked the Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim's announcement to run for FIFA presidency, over suspicions of his involvement in the torture of a number of athletes in a campaign launched by the Bahraini regime against protestors in 2011.

Bild highlighted in an article entitled "Sheikh of torture wants to become FIFA president" a statement by human rights organizations in which they stressed that Salman bin Ibrahim headed a commission to identify athletes and clubs involved in the anti-government protests before the police arrested more than 150 athletes in April and May 2011.

For his part, Sayed Yousef Al-Muhafdah, vice president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), who resides in Germany, said that Salman bin Ibrahim committed violations in Bahrain and since he is a member of the ruling family, he can't be held accountable.

Al-Muhafdha further pointed out that electing him as FIFA president sends a wrong message saying that anyone who commits violations can enjoy impunity and be warmly welcomed in Western countries that respect human rights, such as Switzerland which embraces FIFA.

However, the Bahrain national football team player Hakeem Al-Oraibi expressed his frustration at the acceptance of Salman bin Ibrahim's candidacy and said: "I think FIFA and international organizations have to take a firm stance against this corruption [...] His candidacy threatens athletes."

Al-Oraibi also called for reconsidering his candidacy, stressing that "Salman should stand before judges [in court] rather than run for FIFA candidacy."

Tags: Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, FIFA

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