Bahrain: the regime must halt the persistent security repression to the peaceful demonstrations
ANHRI – 2 February, 2013

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), denounces today the use of the excessive force in dealing with the peaceful demonstrations that took place in several places in Bahrain to call for political and social reforms in the country and to solidarity with the detainees.

Bahrain security forces used the tear gas bombs and shut gun to deal with the peaceful demonstrations which took place in Friday February 1, to call for political reformations in addition to assure the continuation of the popular movement and persistence on the demands of the Bahrain revolution which will have its third anniversary after days. The security forces repressed the demonstrations which took place in Akr, Kranah, Gamarah, Sadd and Gad Hafs, which resulted in several injuries among the demonstrators and the news reported regarding the arrest of demonstrators.

The opposition forces announced series of protesting in conjunction with the second anniversary ofthe Bahraini uprising on February 14, 2011. The events include people’s demonstrations, celeberations and marches in differnet areas which include “Manama” which entitled “calls for the revolution”, which will start in the first of February 2013 until 16 February, it also included 48 of revolutionary events, marches and opposition movements to assure the presistence of the revolution in Bahrain and call for the democractic transformation such as the masses marches, which entitled differnetly, and people meetings, protests and marches in the heart of Manama.

ANHRI said that “the persistence of using excessive violence by the authorities to address the peaceful demonstrations of the people and prosecuting the activists, oppositions and harassing them, are attempts from the regime to infanticide the popular movement which calls for freedom and democracy”.

ANHRI said that “the persistence of the repressive policies of the regime, will end any attempt to negotiate and discussion between the opposition and the regime”.

ANHRI calls on Bahrain to respect the freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration which are legitimate to the individuals and citizens and garunteed by all the international treaties and charters. …source

Bahrainis Protest Dialogue, Dispersed By Police
26 January, 2013 – POMED

Police used tear gas and stun grenades in Manama yesterday to break up protests organized by Shi’ite opposition groups. The Interior Ministry had previously refused to give permission for the demonstration, claiming it was illegal and promising punishment for participants. The groups called for protests in spite of their decision to participate in reconciliation talks proposed by the government. A spokesman for al Wefaq, the main opposition party, said, “Agreeing to dialogue doesn’t mean that we stop our protests.” Friday’s protests called for rejection of these government-proposed talks.

Opposition groups have voiced concerns about the talks since the government issued the invitation. Some have objected to the talks due to the government’s role as a moderator rather than a participant in them, claiming the government is the only entity that can implement any agreements regarding the parties’ demands for social and political reform. Wefaq leader Khalil al-Marzook also expressed caution regarding the credibility of the process.

A government official stated on Saturday that talks will begin next week or early in February. …source

Bahrain king says he respects ‘liberties’ as clashes erupt
17 December, 2012 – By Al Arabiya

King Hamad said on Sunday that Bahrain still respects “liberties” and “tolerance,” as witnesses reported that police dispersed dozens of protesters in Shiite Muslim villages.

“Bahrain will remain a nation of law, institutions, liberties and tolerance between different religions and cultures,” he said in a speech marking National Day.

“Ensuring national consensus was and still is a purely Bahraini feature, without any foreign interference.”

The monarch also praised the Sunni-ruled kingdom’s “armed, security, and National Guard forces who are always ready” to ensure “security and stability.”

As he made his speech in Manama, police clashes broke out between police and youth protesters who took to the streets of several Shiite villages, witnesses said.

Acting head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights Yousef al-Muhafedha told AP hundreds of protesters were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas in a neighborhood near the capital Manama. Elsewhere, masked youths blocked roads with burning tires.

No casualties were reported.

Most opposition religious leaders are suspected to have ties with Iran, which is accused of being behind the trouble in this small country.

On Friday, thousands demonstrated in Manama chanting slogans against the regime and calling for reform.

Protest groups are calling for large-scale marches later this week, according to Associated Press.

Bahrain was shaken by a protest movement in February 2011 led by Shiite protesters demanding a constitutional monarchy.

At least 80 people have died since the start of the unrest, according to the International Federation of Human Rights.

Bahrain, despite of wide criticism of crackdown on opposition, is considered provide more freedom women and the media than most Gulf states.

Bahrain’s crown prince this month renewed an appeal for dialogue to end the impasse, which was welcomed by the opposition, but there seems to be no end in sight to increasingly violent protests. ….source

Bahraini Opposition Returns Massively to Fields
Local Editor – Al-Manar

The Bahraini opposition announced organizing a massive rally Friday which will take off from Janosan Roundabout to Saar Roundabout under the slogan “People Demanding Democracy”.

BahrainThe opposition stressed that the call is an acitvation to the right of demonstrating, and invited everyone to return to the fields and join the masses under the slogan “People are the Source of Decision”.

Moreover, as it pointed out that “protests and peaceful calls for democracy and freedom and are a basic and legitimate right ensured by international conventions and treaties, and by the natural human right,” it assured that “people will stick to their demands and the peaceful movement which they presented great sacrifices for, and on top were the martyrs who gave their souls to transform Bahrain into a field of freedom, democracy and dignity.”

In a related context, Bahrain Forum for Human Rights accused the Bahraini authorities of terrorizing citizens even with the presence of the human rights international delegation in the country.

The forum added that “the Bahraini officials’ statement, starting with the prime minister to the interior minister when meeting with the delegation, that Bahrain is a democratic, reformatory country that respects rights and ensures freedom is a political falsity.

In a statement, it demanded the international community and the international rights assemblies to end any kind of cooperation with the Bahraini government, as it has no respect for the international rights organizations. …more

Reuters

Bahraini demonstrations against Al Khalifa continue in villages
27 June, 2012 – PressTV

Bahraini protesters have once again held demonstrations against the Al Khalifa regime in several villages across the country.

The protesters took to the streets in several villages near the capital, Manama, on Wednesday, blocking roads and setting fire to tires.

Anti-government protests continue in Bahrain despite the regime’s violent crackdown.

On June 24, the main Bahraini opposition group, al-Wefaq, said an anti-regime protester was injured during a demonstration in a village near Manama on June 22 and was in “critical condition.”

The opposition group stated that Ali Mohammed al-Muwali suffered a “broken skull, which was caused by a direct hit by a bullet” when he was “surrounding Sheikh Ali Salman,” the al-Wefaq leader.

Salman also sustained injuries from rubber bullets “in his shoulder and back” during the June 22 demonstration in the village of Bilad al-Qadeem, about four kilometers (2.5 miles) west of the capital.

The Bahraini demonstrators hold King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa responsible for the killing of protesters during the uprising that began in February 2011. …source

Western media has been significantly under reporting the size of demands, referring to protests as “small” and angry. They are not small and the protesters are way past angry – they are Revolutionary. It would seem the F1 teams and their sponsors have failed to comprehend the reality of hold a race in a nation under revolution or the are so greedy they are comfortable trampling the blood of the those who have given their lives for the revolution. Either way, the teams and their sponsors are stupid as fuck and it seems they will reap a harvest from disrespect they have sown. Phlipn.

…more PHOTOs

Chief of public security Tariq Al Hassan described the protesters as hooligans causing chaos and rioting. “Freedom of expression must be exercised in a civilised manner,” the statement said without giving details of injuries or detainees.

Marches in Manama mark anniversary of uprising
13 February, 2012 – France 24

REUTERS – Hundreds of protesters marched in the Bahraini capital Manama on Monday, trying to retake a landmark roundabout and blocking a highway on the eve of the first anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising in the Gulf Arab kingdom.

Inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia, Bahrainis – mainly from the Shi’ite majority – took to the streets on Feb. 14, 2011 to demand democratic reform. The Sunni Muslim-led government crushed the protests a month later.

On Monday, they tried to reoccupy a symbolic square where demonstrators camped out for a month from Feb. 14, 2011. They advanced about 2 km (1.5 miles) before police stopped them by firing teargas and rubber bullets, a Reuters witness said.

Traffic came to a standstill on the main thoroughfare into the capital, and teargas canisters, rubber pellets and rocks littered the highway.

Some fled into nearby Shi’ite villages and into the Budaiya district where heavy clashes continued for about an hour as youths threw petrol bombs, iron bars and rocks. Police fired teargas and stun grenades. Two helicopters hovered overhead.

The events took police by surprise after hundreds broke off from an organised march led by Wefaq, and ran onto the highway.

“It (took them) by surprise, they were not expecting anyone to do that,” said Sayed, 25, an activist from the town of Aali.

Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of the largest Shi’ite opposition group Wefaq, has called on youths to eschew violence.

Chief of public security Tariq Al Hassan described the protesters as hooligans causing chaos and rioting. “Freedom of expression must be exercised in a civilised manner,” the statement said without giving details of injuries or detainees. …more

…Sayed Mohamed Story Blog – Great Coverage of Protest HERE