Bitter Protests in Bahrain
Throngs of anti-government protesters and riot police were locked in a bitter skirmish, Friday, in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, after authorities denied a request for an opposition rally. Friday’s protests was the most recent flare-up in a two-year long conflict between the Sunni-led government and the country’s majority Shiites that are seeking more of a political voice. Nearly 55 people have died as a cause of this ongoing clash. The Shiite-led opposition group called on the regime to implement democratic reforms and free the opposition activists that have unjustly been detained. Bahraini authorities published a statement on the Ministry of Interior’s website, stating that the demonstration is considered to be illegal.
Twitter activist Mohammed tweeted “since the early morning hours the authorities in Manama started checking people’s ids.”
Limited access to #Manama has begun ID’s checked and only residents are allowed in. No demonstrations allowed #Bahrain twitter.com/ba7rainiDXB/st…
— Mohammed aKa Big Mo (@ba7rainiDXB) January 25, 2013
#Manama Gate entrance. Ppl are not allowed in #Bahrain twitter.com/ba7rainiDXB/st…
— Mohammed aKa Big Mo (@ba7rainiDXB) January 25, 2013
RT @mazenmahdi: 3 and half hours b4 opposition protest in #Manama roads closed .. Traffic jams leading into old part of city #Bahrain
— DavidKenner (@DavidKenner) January 25, 2013
Detained activist, Nabil Rajab, published a letter on his Twitter account, from prison, calling for the people to protest in Manama.
الحقوق تنتزع لا تعطى - شاركوا جميعا في تظاهرة المنامة عصر اليوم وانتزعوا حقوقكم من نظام البطش والفساد و البلطجة #Bahrain
— Nabeel Rajab (@NABEELRAJAB) January 25, 2013
Rights are extracted and not given. You should all participate in Manama’s demonstration at the evening and extract your rights from the regime of tyranny, corruption and thuggery.”
Police attacked protesters with tear gas and stun grenades.
#Bahrain انطلاق مسيرة سلمية في العاصمة المنامة تعرضت للقمع بالقنابل الصوتية و الغازات السامة دون انذار
— S.YousifAlmuhafda (@SAIDYOUSIF) January 25, 2013
;The authorities cracked down on the demonstration in Manama by using sound and poisoned bombs against the protesters without any warning.”
Mazen Mahdi tweeted:
#Bahrain انطلاق مسيرة سلمية في العاصمة المنامة تعرضت للقمع بالقنابل الصوتية و الغازات السامة دون انذار
— S.YousifAlmuhafda (@SAIDYOUSIF) January 25, 2013
;
Activists published photos showing smoke emanating out of the tear gas used by police.
#العاصمة_المنامة الغازات تنتشر في شوارع العاصمة بعد قمع المرتزقة التظاهرات ..#bahrain. twitter.com/Maqaba14/statu…
— الاعلام المقابي(@Maqaba14) January 25, 2013
Below, a photo depicting police using canines as a tactic to silence protesters.
قوات المرتزقة تنتشر بالكلاب في شوارع العاصمة المنامة لملاحقة المواطنين “لن نتوقف..- الجمعة 25 يناير 2013 م،، #Bahrain twitter.com/ALWEFAQ/status…
— Alwefaq Society (@ALWEFAQ) January 25, 2013
;
An injury from a direct shot of tear gas is summed up in the photo of a bloodied tissue.
A women got injured due to a direct sound bomb shot that was thrown by mercenaries.#Bahrain #Manama twitter.com/Maryam14Feb/st…
— Maryam (@Maryam14Feb) January 25, 2013
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