Middle East Public date: 24.08.2017 23:12:18

Publisher: Iran Focus

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7 Nov 2015

Bahrain jails five for Iran linked militancy

Five Bahrainis were convicted on Thursday of conspiring with Iran to carry out attacks inside Bahrain, sentenced to life imprisonment and stripped of their citizenship, Bahrain's Public Prosecutor was cited as saying by the state news agency BNA. On Wednesday, the interior ministry said it had arrested 47 members of a group it said had ties to "terror elements in Iran" and was also plotting attacks.
Five Bahrainis were convicted on Thursday of conspiring with Iran to carry out attacks inside Bahrain, sentenced to life...

Publisher: Fox News

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3 Jun 2015

Authorities in Bahrain arrest 10 members of group accused of bomb attacks, ties to Iran

Officials in Bahrain say they have busted a cell with ties to Iran that is accused of carrying out bombings inside the tiny Gulf kingdom. A statement issued late Tuesday on the official Bahrain News Agency said 10 people have been arrested and face charges including joining a terrorist group, attempted murder and possessing and using explosives.
Officials in Bahrain say they have busted a cell with ties to Iran that is accused of carrying out bombings inside the...

Publisher: Al-Monitor

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17 Mar 2015

Does Iran have a card to play in Bahrain

On March 6, on the fourth anniversary of Saudi troops entering Bahrain, the Shiites of Bahrain participated in rallies, led by Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, in the cities of Manama and Sitra. While these protests failed to grab headlines, a new slogan was introduced for the Bahraini Shiite movement: We are all members of the resistance. In the political language of the Middle East, resistance means the mostly Shiite front under the leadership of Iran and Hezbollah, the Shiite groups in Iraq, the Houthi movement in Yemen, the Syrian government and Hamas.
On March 6, on the fourth anniversary of Saudi troops entering Bahrain, the Shiites of Bahrain participated in rallies,...
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Publisher: Aljazeera

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18 Feb 2015

Bahrain opposition party probed for ‘criminal’ tweets

Bahrain has opened a criminal investigation against the country's main opposition party, accusing it of trying to undermine national security by publishing "criminal content" on its website and Twitter account. The Interior Ministry said on Tuesday it had referred al-Wefaq to the public prosecutor after it documented violations under Bahraini laws. It said the violations included "incitement to hatred against the ruling system and circulating false news to undermine civil peace and national security".
Bahrain has opened a criminal investigation against the country's main opposition party, accusing it of trying to...

Publisher: Aljazeera

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3 Nov 2014

Bahrain human rights activist freed on bail

A prominent Bahraini human rights activist has been released on bail after being jailed last month for criticising state institutions. Speaking to Al Jazeera after his release on Sunday, Nabeel Rajab, the founder of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, noted that his latest arrest came just months after he was released from prison on previous charges.
A prominent Bahraini human rights activist has been released on bail after being jailed last month for criticising state...

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9 Oct 2014

Bahrainis rally on protester’s death anniversary

Bahrainis have taken to the streets to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of a young man killed by security forces during an anti-regime protest. The demonstration was held in the village of Abu Saiba, west of the capital, Manama, on Wednesday.
Bahrainis have taken to the streets to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of a young man killed by security...

Publisher: Aljazeera

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18 Sep 2014

Bahrain activist Maryam al-Khawaja released

Authorities in Bahrain have released Shia political activist Maryam Abdulhadi al-Khawaja but the charges against her still stand, the Gulf state's interior ministry said in a statement. Al-Khawaja, arrested after arriving at Manama airport last month and accused of assaulting a police officer, was released dependent on a guarantee of her place of residence and is banned from travelling, Thursday's statement said. Al-Khawaja, a director of the Beirut-based Gulf Centre for Human Rights, also holds Danish citizenship and is a daughter of jailed Shia opposition icon Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. The family played a pivotal role in anti-government protests in 2011 and in sporadic anti-government protests that followed.
Authorities in Bahrain have released Shia political activist Maryam Abdulhadi al-Khawaja but the charges against her...

Publisher: Aljazeera

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27 Apr 2014

Bahrain sentences eight to life in prison over alleged role in bomb blast

Bahrain's Supreme Criminal Court has sentenced eight people to life in prison for their part in the killing of a policeman in a bomb blast in November, the prosecutor's office said on Sunday. The kingdom's main opposition group denounced the sentences, saying that it was likely the confessions were taken under torture. The Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab kingdom and host of the U.S. Fifth Fleet has struggled with unrest since mass pro-democracy protests, led by the majority Shia population but also included some Sunnis, erupted in 2011.
Bahrain's Supreme Criminal Court has sentenced eight people to life in prison for their part in the killing of a...
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Publisher: Aljazeera

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14 Aug 2013

Bahraini forces arrest opposition activists

At least 13 people have been arrested by Bahrain's government forces, who have used birdshot and tear gas in areas where anti-government activists were demonstrating, according to a local group. The protests on Wednesday were organised by a group calling itself Tamarod, meaning rebellion, using social media.
At least 13 people have been arrested by Bahrain's government forces, who have used birdshot and tear gas in areas where...

Publisher: Aljazeera

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13 Jun 2013

Bahrain arrests ‘Iran-linked’ cyber group

Authorities in Bahrain say they have identified and arrested leading members of the Shia opposition February 14 Revolution Youth Coalition, an influential cyber-group accused of working against the government and having links to Iran. In making the arrests, the country's interior ministry accused the opposition on Thursday of taking part "in criminal acts" and "terrorist" activities.
Authorities in Bahrain say they have identified and arrested leading members of the Shia opposition February 14...

Publisher: Aljazeera

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24 May 2013

Bahraini protesters clash with police

Thousands of anti-government protesters have rallied in Bahrain to demonstrate against a raid last week on a top cleric's home. Shia protesters in the village of Diraz, west of the capital Manama, threw stones at hundreds of riot police who responded with tear gas and water cannons, a witness said on Friday. The violence continued for more than an hour before the demonstrators dispersed.
Thousands of anti-government protesters have rallied in Bahrain to demonstrate against a raid last week on a top...
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Publisher: Eurosport

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20 Apr 2013

Ecclestone: Bahrain ‘stupid’ to host Grand Prix

Opponents of the kingdom's Sunni Muslim regime use Formula One's global spotlight to focus their displeasure against the ruling Al Khalifa family. On Saturday thousands of protesters blocked a major motorway in an anti-government march. Ecclestone said: "The government here are really in a lot of ways stupid to put this race on because it's a platform for people to use to protest."
Opponents of the kingdom's Sunni Muslim regime use Formula One's global spotlight to focus their displeasure against the...

Publisher: Aljazeera

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19 Apr 2013

Clashes as Bahrain gears up for Grand Prix

Bahraini opposition protesters have clashed with police as Formula One Grand Prix practice sessions passed unhindered by the unrest, away from the circuit. Friday's protest sought to highlight the opposition's pro-reform demands in the Gulf kingdom
Bahraini opposition protesters have clashed with police as Formula One Grand Prix practice sessions passed unhindered by...

Publisher: BBC News

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24 Jan 2013

Bahraini princess facing multiple torture charges

A Bahraini princess is facing charges of torturing pro-democracy activists in the Gulf island kingdom. Noura Bint Ebrahim al-Khalifa, who serves in Bahrain's Drugs Control Unit, is accused along with another officer of torturing three people in detention. Hundreds of protesters were detained as Bahrain struggled to put down a popular uprising that began in February 2011.
A Bahraini princess is facing charges of torturing pro-democracy activists in the Gulf island kingdom. Noura Bint...
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Publisher: The Guardian

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2 Dec 2012

Bahrain police deploy teargas at anti-Kim Kardashian protest

Just hours after the reality TV star Kim Kardashian gushed about her impressions of Bahrain, riot police fired teargas to disperse more than 50 hardline Islamic protesters who were denouncing her presence in the Gulf kingdom. The clashes took place just before Kardashian opened the Bahrain branch of her Millions of Milkshakes shop.
Just hours after the reality TV star Kim Kardashian gushed about her impressions of Bahrain, riot police fired teargas...

Publisher: NYTimes

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30 Oct 2012

Bahrain Bans All Protests in New Crackdown

Bahrain, the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom that is home to the United States Fifth Fleet, has banned all rallies and demonstrations after months of protests by antigovernment demonstrators who have been pressing for a greater political voice there since the Arab Spring revolts began in early 2011.
Bahrain, the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom that is home to the United States Fifth Fleet, has banned all rallies and...
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Publisher: Aljazeera

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12 Oct 2012

Police in Bahrain clash with protesters

Police in Bahrain have fired teargas and stun grenades in clashes with hundreds of stone-throwing anti-government protesters marching in the old market area of central Manama. The protesters tried to gather on Friday in several parts of the capital after a call sent out by February 14 youth activists, witnesses said. The interior ministry said on its Twitter account that "saboteurs" threw Molotov cocktails at the police who then intervened to restore order.
Police in Bahrain have fired teargas and stun grenades in clashes with hundreds of stone-throwing anti-government...

Publisher: BBC News

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1 Oct 2012

Bahrain court rejects medics’ appeal

Bahrain's highest court has upheld the prison sentences given to nine medics for their alleged role in last year's pro-democracy protests, officials say. The Court of Cassation rejected an appeal against their convictions for weapons possession, incitement and taking part in illegal demonstrations.
Bahrain's highest court has upheld the prison sentences given to nine medics for their alleged role in last year's...
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Publisher: Aljazeera

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17 Sep 2012

Bahrain charges police officers with torture

Bahrain's public prosecution has charged seven police officers over the torture and maltreatment of Shia medics detained in the aftermath of nationwide protests last year, authorities said.
Bahrain's public prosecution has charged seven police officers over the torture and maltreatment of Shia medics detained...
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Publisher: NYTimes

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7 Sep 2012

Bahraini Activists Document Crackdown on Protest

Security forces again fired tear gas and arrested demonstrators in Bahrain s capital on Friday, as protesters renewed their calls for reform and the release of political prisoners in the island kingdom that is home to the United States Navy's Fifth Fleet.
Security forces again fired tear gas and arrested demonstrators in Bahrain s capital on Friday, as protesters renewed...

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23 Aug 2012

Bahrain Overturns ActivistÂ’s Twitter Case

A Bahrain judge on Thursday overturned a conviction against a prominent human rights campaigner for posting alleged anti-government comments on social media, but the activist remained jailed while appealing another prison sentence.
A Bahrain judge on Thursday overturned a conviction against a prominent human rights campaigner for posting alleged...

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8 Aug 2012

Bahrain charges policemen over abuses

Bahrain's public prosecutor says authorities have charged 15 policemen with mistreating medics during last year's crackdown on opposition protesters. The charges on Tuesday follow an investigation into police abuses that was recommended last year by an independent commission that studied the Gulf state's Shia Muslim majority's uprising against the Sunni monarchy.
Bahrain's public prosecutor says authorities have charged 15 policemen with mistreating medics during last year's...

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14 Jun 2012

Bahrain convicts medics for role in uprising

An appeals court in Bahrain has convicted nine medics for their role in the country's pro-democracy uprising, despite widespread criticism of the trial from international human rights groups. The longest sentence, five years, went to Ali al-Ekry, formerly the senior medic at Salmaniya Medical Complex, the largest hospital in Bahrain. Eight other doctors were sentenced to between one month and three years.
An appeals court in Bahrain has convicted nine medics for their role in the country's pro-democracy uprising, despite...
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13 Jun 2012

Bahraini boy describes arrest and detention

An 11-year-old boy detained for nearly a month in Bahrain has described his time in custody to Al Jazeera, saying that police accused him of taking part in violent protests. Ali Hasan was arrested last month, and was released without bail on Monday, though his trial is set to continue on June 20.
An 11-year-old boy detained for nearly a month in Bahrain has described his time in custody to Al Jazeera, saying that...

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28 May 2012

Bahrain bails human rights activist Nabeel Rajab

Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has been released on bail, a government spokesman says. Mr Rajab was arrested on 5 May at Manama airport on his return from the Lebanese capital, Beirut. He is charged with inciting illegal rallies using social networking sites and defaming Bahrain's security forces.
Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has been released on bail, a government spokesman says. Mr Rajab...

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27 May 2012

Bahraini activists convicted over ‘Iran plot’

A Bahraini court has sentenced six people to prison terms of up to 15 years after they were accused of plotting with suspected Iranian government agents to topple the Gulf kingdom's ruling system, a defence lawyer has said. The convictions, which were announced on Sunday, include three activists put on trial in absentia. The case reflects mounting claims by Gulf Arab states that Iran has links to the Shia-led uprising against Bahrain's Sunni dynasty.
A Bahraini court has sentenced six people to prison terms of up to 15 years after they were accused of plotting with...
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22 May 2012

Secret Clinics Tend to Bahrain’s Wounded

Three young men were slumped on a living room mat, groaning with pain from nuggets of birdshot lodged in a cheek, a forehead and under the lid of an eye. Bahrain s nightly protests had exacted their reliable toll. Friends dragged the men away from the clashes and the riot police, to a safe house nearby. Soon, it was time to go, but not to a hospital: the police were there, too. "No one goes to the hospital," one protester said.
Three young men were slumped on a living room mat, groaning with pain from nuggets of birdshot lodged in a cheek, a...

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5 May 2012

The Many 1000s on the Highway

The opposition claimed that tens of thousands of people marched on the Budaiya Highway to protest that the amendments, which offered some increase in the legislature's review of Ministerial appointments and the actions of the Cabinet --- were far from enough. The images (see top of entry) indicated that estimate may not be an exaggeration.
The opposition claimed that tens of thousands of people marched on the Budaiya Highway to protest that the amendments,...
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3 May 2012

Bahrain king enacts parliamentary reforms

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has ratified amendments to Bahrain's constitution, with the monarch-led government hoping the new measures will defuse turmoil in the strategic Gulf state. Opposition groups dismissed the extra powers given to parliament on Thursday as not enough, describing the moves as merely symbolic. "The process of reform that marked the beginning of my tenure in power will not stop," said the Sunni monarch who succeeded to the throne of the Shia-majority kingdom in 1999.
King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has ratified amendments to Bahrain's constitution, with the monarch-led government hoping...

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3 May 2012

Bahrain accuses foreign media of exaggeration

King Hamad of Bahrain has accused foreign media of exaggerating unrest and inciting violence in the Gulf Arab state after it hosted a Formula One race last month that turned into a public relations headache. "It is quite clear that Bahrain has been targeted by purposeful, willful campaigns in some foreign media that sought to distort true facts, instigate violence, sabotage, hatred and hostility among citizens in our united nation," the king said in a speech carried by the state news agency BNA marking the International Day for Freedom of the Press on Wednesday.
King Hamad of Bahrain has accused foreign media of exaggerating unrest and inciting violence in the Gulf Arab state...
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30 Apr 2012

Bahrain court orders retrial for 21 activists

A Bahraini appeals court has ordered a retrial in a civil court in the cases of 21 opposition activists, including hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, alleged to have been involved in the Gulf kingdom's uprising last year. The Court of Cassation on Monday accepted the appeal of the human rights activists who were convicted by a military court last year; they include Khawaja and Ibrahim Sharif.
A Bahraini appeals court has ordered a retrial in a civil court in the cases of 21 opposition activists, including...

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30 Apr 2012

Bahrain activist al-Khawaja wins retrial

Bahrain's jailed opposition activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is to have his case retried, an appeal court has ruled. The retrial will take place in a civil court. A military court sentenced Khawaja to life in prison for plotting against the state last June.
Bahrain's jailed opposition activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is to have his case retried, an appeal court has ruled. The...

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27 Apr 2012

Interview with Bahrain’s Prime Minster: The Opposition ‘Are Terrorizing the Rest of This Country’

In one of the first interviews he has given to the Western media in years, Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa defends his government's course of action against the country's opposition. He tells SPIEGEL ONLINE that he will not tolerate Western interference and accuses protesters of seeking to turn Bahrain into a "second Iran."
In one of the first interviews he has given to the Western media in years, Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin...

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21 Apr 2012

Activist found dead ahead of Grand Prix

A man has been killed in Bahrain during overnight clashes with the security forces, activists say, a day before Sunday's F1 Grand Prix. Officials said an investigation had been launched after his body was discovered in a Shia village near the capital, Manama. Tens of thousands on Friday took part in at times violent protests demanding an end to the crackdown on dissent. On Saturday, police fired tear gas to disperse new rallies, eyewitnesses say.
A man has been killed in Bahrain during overnight clashes with the security forces, activists say, a day before Sunday's...

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21 Apr 2012

Bahrain Protests Intensify Before Formula One Race

The Sunni monarchy has been hoping that the Formula One Grand Prix, its showcase annual event, would restore Bahrain s stature as a stable Persian Gulf kingdom, blighted after months of antigovernment protests by the Shiite majority that led to the cancellation of the race last year.
The Sunni monarchy has been hoping that the Formula One Grand Prix, its showcase annual event, would restore Bahrain s...

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20 Apr 2012

Bahrain Crown Prince Race must go ahead

The government aims to use the Grand Prix as a way of showing that life is back to normal after a democracy movement launched an Arab Spring-inspired uprising last year. The protests were initially crushed, but were not stamped out, and demonstrations and clashes are frequent.
The government aims to use the Grand Prix as a way of showing that life is back to normal after a democracy movement...

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19 Apr 2012

Petrol bomb scare fuels Bahrain concerns

Preparations are continuing for Sunday's controversial Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain despite clashes between security forces and protesters and a firebomb scare for members of one of the teams involved in the race. Security forces on Thursday fired tear gas and stun grenades at hundreds of anti-government protesters chanting slogans against the race.
Preparations are continuing for Sunday's controversial Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain despite clashes between...

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19 Apr 2012

Bahrainis rally against Formula One race

Thousands of pro-democracy protesters marched through a village outside the Bahraini capital on Wednesday, the latest in a week of demonstrations ahead of this weekend's hotly disputed Formula One grand prix.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters marched through a village outside the Bahraini capital on Wednesday, the latest in...

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18 Apr 2012

Clashes erupt after Bahrain Grand Prix exhibit protest

Bahraini security forces have fired stun grenades at protesters outside a cultural exhibition in Manama ahead of Sunday's Formula 1 Grand Prix. A local journalist told the BBC the demonstrators in Old Manama were shouting "Down, down, F1" and demanding the release of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. The activist has been on hunger strike in prison for more than two months. Mr Khawaja's lawyer earlier told the BBC that his client had removed the intravenous drip keeping him alive.
Bahraini security forces have fired stun grenades at protesters outside a cultural exhibition in Manama ahead of...

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16 Apr 2012

Human rights ‘crisis’ in Bahrain despite reform pledge

Human rights are still being violated in Bahrain despite promises of reform, according to the campaign group Amnesty International. As the country prepares to host the Grand Prix, Amnesty warns "no-one should be under any illusions that the country's human rights crisis is over".
Human rights are still being violated in Bahrain despite promises of reform, according to the campaign group Amnesty...

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14 Apr 2012

Teen protester ‘shot in chest’ in Bahrain

A 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest by anti-riot police in Bahrain during a funeral procession for an activist killed last month, according to an opposition group. Mohammed Ahmed Abdel Aziz was in intensive care and several others wounded when police fired on mourners with tear gas and live rounds, the Al-Wefaq group said on Saturday.
A 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest by anti-riot police in Bahrain during a funeral procession for an activist...

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13 Apr 2012

Bahrain Grand Prix to go ahead as planned, FIA confirms

Protesters in Bahrain have called for the race to be cancelled. It is closely tied with the ruling royal family, who are being pressured to improve human rights and make reforms by the majority Shia population, who accuse the minority ruling Sunnis of discrimination.
Protesters in Bahrain have called for the race to be cancelled. It is closely tied with the ruling royal family, who are...

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11 Apr 2012

Sunni mobs ‘attack Shia villages in Bahrain’

Bahrainis wielding knives and sticks attacked Shia villagers overnight, witnesses have said, as pressure grew for this month's Formula One race in the Sunni-ruled state to be cancelled over the unrest. A day after a gasoline pipe bomb injured seven policemen, men from Sunni neighbourhoods who answered an internet call to avenge the attack converged on Shia-populated villages near Manama late on Tuesday, according to witnesses.
Bahrainis wielding knives and sticks attacked Shia villagers overnight, witnesses have said, as pressure grew for this...

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10 Apr 2012

Denmark ‘demands’ release of Bahrain activist

A jailed activist who has been on hunger strike in a Bahrain prison for the last two months is now in a very critical condition, Denmark's prime minister has said. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a Shia activist with dual Danish and Bahraini nationality, was sentenced with other opposition activists to life in jail over an alleged plot to topple the Sunni monarchy during a month-long protest a year ago.
A jailed activist who has been on hunger strike in a Bahrain prison for the last two months is now in a very critical...

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8 Apr 2012

Bahrain not to transfer jailed activist

Bahrain has rejected a request to transfer to Denmark a jailed Shia activist who has been on hunger strike for two months and also holds Danish nationality, the state-run Bahrain News Agency has reported. "The handover of accused and convicted persons to foreign countries takes place under specific conditions ... This does not apply in Abdulhadi al-Khawaja's case," a Supreme Judiciary Council official said, quoted by BNA on Sunday
Bahrain has rejected a request to transfer to Denmark a jailed Shia activist who has been on hunger strike for two...

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6 Apr 2012

Bahrainis rally in support of hunger striker

Bahraini security forces have fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of protesters marching in support of a jailed human rights activist whose nearly two-month hunger strike has become a powerful rallying point for the tiny nation's Shia-led uprising against the Sunni monarchy.
Bahraini security forces have fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of protesters marching in support of a...

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27 Mar 2012

Human Rights Violations Since the BICI Report

Last week the Bahraini regime, led by King Hamad, announced that it had implemented "significant and broad" reforms since the November report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has challenged this declaration while depicting the continuing issues of rights and justice in the kingdom.
Last week the Bahraini regime, led by King Hamad, announced that it had implemented "significant and broad" reforms...

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23 Mar 2012

Bahrain activists hold pro-reform marches

Hundreds of opposition supporters have marched across the nation of Bahrain to demand greater rights for the country's Shia population, with some calling for the removal of the Sunni-ruled regime, witnesses said. Police on Friday fired tear gas at about 100 protesters who tried to march to Manama's Pearl Square, which was the centre of the mainly Shia-led revolt last year.
Hundreds of opposition supporters have marched across the nation of Bahrain to demand greater rights for the country's...
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20 Mar 2012

Bahrain praises ‘progress’ toward reforms

Bahrain has claimed "significant and broad progress" toward reforms in a report following up earlier recommendations to correct widespread abuse committed during the government's crackdown on pro-democracy protests last year.
Bahrain has claimed "significant and broad progress" toward reforms in a report following up earlier recommendations to...
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19 Mar 2012

Bahrain opposition seeks talks ‘consensus’

Opposition groups in Bahrain have set out principles under which they say they are ready to engage in dialogue with the ruling monarchy to end the political deadlock in the Gulf nation. The five main opposition associations, led by the Shia al-Wefaq, acknowledged that they had not received any invitation for talks, but said they were preparing in case negotiations were initiated.
Opposition groups in Bahrain have set out principles under which they say they are ready to engage in dialogue with the...

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5 Mar 2012

Bahrain Propaganda 101: Bringing the Right Youth Delegation to Washington

Justin Elliott of ProPublica tells another tale of the Bahraini regime's efforts at the correct presentation of the issues in the kingdom: Earlier this month, a group of three young Bahrainis arrived in Washington to talk about reform in the small Persian Gulf nation, which has been rocked by Arab Spring protests for the last year. The delegation, including an NGO worker and a tech entrepreneur, both Western-educated, represented "the leading voice for change and reform" in Bahrain, as an email message from one of the group's representatives put it.
Justin Elliott of ProPublica tells another tale of the Bahraini regime's efforts at the correct presentation of the...
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20 Feb 2012

Bahrain opposition politician acquitted

A Bahraini court has acquitted a prominent opposition leader who was accused of taking part in "unlawful" anti-government protests that rocked the Gulf state for the last year. The last of three charges against Matar Matar, a former MP and leading member of Al-Wefaq party, a mainly Shia opposition party, were dropped on Monday by a court in Manama, the capital.
A Bahraini court has acquitted a prominent opposition leader who was accused of taking part in "unlawful"...

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20 Feb 2012

Updated List of 68 Killed Since February 2011

A Bahraini activist, Mohammad Ashoor, has updated his list of those who have died from violence in Bahrain since the start of mass protests on 14 February 2011. The list does not appear to include five policemen who have also died in clashes, according to the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry:
A Bahraini activist, Mohammad Ashoor, has updated his list of those who have died from violence in Bahrain since the...

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14 Feb 2012

Protests on eve of Bahrain uprising anniversary

Bahraini security forces have fired teargas and stun grenades at protesters gathered ahead of the first anniversary of pro-democracy demonstrations. Protesters tried to gain control of the Pearl roundabout in the capital, Manama - the focal point of protests last year.
Bahraini security forces have fired teargas and stun grenades at protesters gathered ahead of the first anniversary of...

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12 Feb 2012

Bahrain police break up peaceful protest

Police used force to break up an anti-government march in the Bahraini capital, using tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of peaceful protesters. Around 200 people gathered on Saturday at the Standard Chartered bank near Bahrain's diplomatic district and set off toward Pearl Roundabout, the centre of last year's uprising. Many chanted "to the roundabout" as they marched, but they were quickly met by riot police, who warned them the rally was unauthorised
Police used force to break up an anti-government march in the Bahraini capital, using tear gas and stun grenades to...

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12 Feb 2012

2 American activists deported in crackdowns before uprising anniversary

Bahrain deported two American women Saturday accused of aiding anti-government activists after entering on tourist visas, officials and activists said. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions ahead of the one-year anniversary of the uprising against the Gulf kingdom s rulers.
Bahrain deported two American women Saturday accused of aiding anti-government activists after entering on tourist...

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5 Feb 2012

Bahrain protesters rally ahead of anniversary

Thousands of Bahrainis have begun a week-long rally in a Shia village, 10 days ahead of the first anniversary of the start of pro-democracy protest which was brutally crushed, activists have said. "The large number of people who participated yesterday [Saturday] wanted to deliver a message to the government that people are determined to keep up the demands that they made on February 14 last year," Matar Matar, a leading Shia opposition activist, told the AFP news agency on Sunday.
Thousands of Bahrainis have begun a week-long rally in a Shia village, 10 days ahead of the first anniversary of the...
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4 Feb 2012

Bahrain protests grow ahead of anniversary

Almost a year since a crackdown began on demonstrations among Bahrain's Shia Muslim majority, thousands of protesters have taken part in marches to demand political reform. The government says it is listening to the demands of protesters, but the opposition says that despite promises, little has changed.
Almost a year since a crackdown began on demonstrations among Bahrain's Shia Muslim majority, thousands of protesters...

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4 Feb 2012

Congress protests Obama on Bahrain arms sale

Here s a quick update on the Obama administration s recent decision to sell arms to the regime in Bahrain, which has been accused of widespread human rights abuses in suppressing a protest movement in the Gulf nation.
Here s a quick update on the Obama administration s recent decision to sell arms to the regime in Bahrain, which has...

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2 Feb 2012

Congressmen Confront Bahrain Over Recent NGO Visa Restrictions

With the first anniversary of the popular uprising, and subsequent suppression, in Bahrain fast approaching, a number of human rights organizations are asking a dreaded question: What happens if there's another crackdown, and not enough international organizations are there to witness it?
With the first anniversary of the popular uprising, and subsequent suppression, in Bahrain fast approaching, a number of...

Bahrain has failed to grasp reform – so why is the grand prix going ahead

The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), a palm-lined, glitzy race track in the middle of the desert, is due to host Formula One in April. Behind the facade, however, lie tales of misery, blood and torture. Last year, the head of security at the BIC raided its offices alongside plainclothed police with a list. The list contained the names of every Shia employee. One by one they were dragged from their desks and beaten in front of colleagues [see footnote]. In total, 27 were arrested, and many were left in jail for months. The BIC is responsible for purging its own people. It is hardly a place that deserves to host this race again
The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), a palm-lined, glitzy race track in the middle of the desert, is due to host...

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27 Jan 2012

The Clouds of Tear Gas and Death Gather Once More

On Wednesday, reports emerged that at least three people had been killed by security forces across the country. Another protester died in custody on Wednesday night after he was reportedly hit by a police vehicle. The day was one of the kingdom's bloodiest, with several protesters beaten badly and tear gas used indiscriminately against protesters. But yesterday was worse, for reasons other than the violence on the streets.
On Wednesday, reports emerged that at least three people had been killed by security forces across the country. Another...

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26 Jan 2012

Journalist Lamees Dhaif: I Can’t Be Silent Knowing My People Are Being Oppressed

Lamees Dhaif is a Bahraini journalist and activist. She has spoken out loudly against corruption in the judiciary in Bahrain as well as trying to give a voice to those Bahraini's who were so often overlooked by the more mainstream Gulf media outlets. Her work regularly brought her into conflict with the authorities and, in 2009, when she wrote a series of articles in Al-Waqt (A Bahraini newspaper) entitled "Shameful Case - The time for silence is over", which exposed corruption in the judiciary of Bahrain, she found herself summoned to the Public Prosecutor's Office on charges which had been brought by the Supreme Judiciary Council deputy. At that time, she was facing charges of "publicly insulting the National Council" and risked imprisonment if found guilty.
Lamees Dhaif is a Bahraini journalist and activist. She has spoken out loudly against corruption in the judiciary in...

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26 Jan 2012

Bahrain confirms teen died in police custody

Bahrain authorities say a detainee has died after being taken into custody during clashes between security forces and protesters. The government on Thursday issued a statement saying that public prosecutors are investigating the death. The brief statement gave no further details on the death, but said the detainee was hospitalised and accused of "vandalism" during widespread demonstrations on Wednesday.
Bahrain authorities say a detainee has died after being taken into custody during clashes between security forces and...

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16 Jan 2012

Little optimism over promised Bahrain reforms

A new round of modest constitutional reforms proposed by the king of Bahrain will do little to stop the nearly year-old uprising in the island kingdom, activists and opposition leaders said on Sunday. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa delivered a televised address on Sunday morning in which pledged to limit the power of the executive branch. Under the proposed reforms, members of parliament would have more power to question cabinet ministers, and more protection from dismissal by the king.
A new round of modest constitutional reforms proposed by the king of Bahrain will do little to stop the nearly year-old...
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9 Jan 2012

Bahrain court overturns two death sentences

The court of cassation in Bahrain has overturned a ruling by the court of appeals that had sentenced two Bahraini anti-government protesters to execution. Monday's decision will require the court of appeals to re-examine the case and issue a new verdict for the two protesters earlier sentenced to death, and five others who had been sentenced to life in prison. The defendents, two of whom were tried in absentia, were accused of "deliberately killing" two policemen in March.
The court of cassation in Bahrain has overturned a ruling by the court of appeals that had sentenced two Bahraini...

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7 Jan 2012

Countess of Wessex ‘should return bloodstained’ gems to Bahrain

Gems accepted by the Countess of Wessex from Bahrain's royal family should be sold to benefit victims of the regime's crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners, according to a former foreign office minister. The countess received two suites of jewels as presents during a day-long visit to the Arab state in December, while her husband Prince Edward received a pen, a watch and a silk rug.
Gems accepted by the Countess of Wessex from Bahrain's royal family should be sold to benefit victims of the regime's...
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7 Jan 2012

Bahraini activist beaten by ‘riot police’

Nabeel Rajab, the head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, has been beaten and briefly detained after a march he took part in the capital Manama was dispersed. Speaking to Al Jazeera from his home soon after leaving the Sulaimaniya hospital, Rajab said that he was attacked after riot police charged the crowd he and other protesters hid in nearby homes.
Nabeel Rajab, the head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, has been beaten and briefly detained after a march he...

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2 Jan 2012

Bahrain police clash with mourners

Riot police in Bahrain fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades as they clashed with hundreds of opposition supporters following the politically charged funeral of a 15-year-old boy. Thousands of opposition supporters carrying Bahraini flags and chanting anti-government slogans converged on Sunday on the island of Sitra, south of the capital Manama, to mourn the death of Sayed Hashim Saeed
Riot police in Bahrain fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades as they clashed with hundreds of opposition...

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31 Dec 2011

Bahrain riot police clash with protesters

Riot police in Bahrain have fired tear gas to disperse several hundred protesters who were among thousands who took to the streets to demand the government's resignation after a fact-finding report uncovered torture and other abuses against detainees.
Riot police in Bahrain have fired tear gas to disperse several hundred protesters who were among thousands who took to...

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25 Dec 2011

Are Police Allying with Thugs For Attacks

A series of images and first-hand reports from Bahrain last night pointed to a new phase in the conflict between security forces and protesters. It appears that, whether or not the police requested assistance, they have been joined by plainclothes men in the use of force and intimidation.
A series of images and first-hand reports from Bahrain last night pointed to a new phase in the conflict between...
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24 Dec 2011

Bahrain forces attack opposition headquarters

Security forces firing rubber bullets and tear gas have attacked the headquarters of Bahrain's main Shia opposition party in the capital Manama. Police also used tear gas to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters attempting to protest elsewhere in the capital.
Security forces firing rubber bullets and tear gas have attacked the headquarters of Bahrain's main Shia opposition...

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21 Dec 2011

Protests and Clashes Across the Kingdom Tonight

More protests were reported from Bahrain today, mainly concentrated in several villages around the capital Manama and in Sitra, to the southeast. In almost all cases, protesters were suppressed by security forces.
More protests were reported from Bahrain today, mainly concentrated in several villages around the capital Manama and in...
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20 Dec 2011

Are Sunni Groups Moving Away from the Regime

Citizens continue to engage in acts of protest, including road sabotage using oil and other projectiles. The state continues to deploy security forces to confront (or preempt) these activities. These security services continue to disperse crowds with tear gas, percussion grenades, and, at least in the case of Zainab al-Khawajah, forced removal. The U.S. condemns the actions of security forces and protesters. At least one protester dies. The government vows to investigate. A funeral is held. The funeral turns into a political march. Repeat.
Citizens continue to engage in acts of protest, including road sabotage using oil and other projectiles. The state...

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19 Dec 2011

Tear Gas in Bahrain: Suppression and Suffering Through Lethality Reduction

On Sunday in Bahrain, a funeral was held for Abdulali Ali Ahmed, a 73-year man who choked to death in his home from tear gas inhalation. The funeral itself was attacked by police with tear gas. This was a far from unprecedented development. The streets of Bahrain have been filled all week --- indeed, all year --- with the acrid, poisonous toxicity of tear gas. Abdulali's death comes a week after the death of a 5-day-old child, Sajeda Faisal Jawad, killed in similar circumstances, and at least ten more deaths from tear gas have reportedly occurred in Bahrain since the wave of protests in February.
On Sunday in Bahrain, a funeral was held for Abdulali Ali Ahmed, a 73-year man who choked to death in his home from tear...

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15 Dec 2011

Bahrain forces clash with protesters

Bahraini security forces have clashed with protesters attempting to march along a highway leading to Manama, the island kingdom's capital. Tear gas and stun grenades were used on Thursday to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters near the town of Diraz and other opposition stronghold villages west of the capital.
Bahraini security forces have clashed with protesters attempting to march along a highway leading to Manama, the island...
11 Dec 2011

Bahrain governemnet tinkering with Wikipedia entries!

Many articles about Gulf Arab states have been tinkered with to distract readers from human rights abuses. Tthanks to some brilliant journalism by The Independent and bloggers Tim Ireland and Marc Owen Jones, we know a British public-relations firm, hired by the Bahraini regime, has been carrying out that white-washing. Bell Pottinger's employees have tampered with Wikipedia entries, helping their clients by ensuring that unsuspecting readers would not pick up knowledge of the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy equality protesters and the human rights abuses committed by the regime.
Many articles about Gulf Arab states have been tinkered with to distract readers from human rights abuses. Tthanks to...

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5 Dec 2011

Bomb explodes near British embassy in Bahrain

A bomb has exploded near the British embassy in Manama, the Bahraini capital, according to the country's interior ministry. "Given the strength of the explosion and the debris it scattered, it was a highly explosive substance that was used," a ministry spokesman tweeted from a news conference. "The explosion was the result of a package placed under the front tyre," he said. He described the vehicle as a minibus parked some 50 metres from the embassy compound.
A bomb has exploded near the British embassy in Manama, the Bahraini capital, according to the country's interior...

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3 Dec 2011

How The Regime Is Restoring Peace, The American Way!

Last week, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry released a 501-page report detailing the human rights abuses committed by the Bahraini regime at the height of unrest in February and March (See the text and our separate analysis.) In response, the King and his advisors have decided to shake up their law enforcement. And they have picked an American, with vast experience in handling difficult situations, to help sort things out:
Last week, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry released a 501-page report detailing the human rights abuses...

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29 Nov 2011

Bahrain replaces national security chief

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has dismissed the head of the state's security apparatus. Tuesday's announcement to replace Sheikh Khalifa bin Abdullah, a member of the ruling Al Khalifa family, as the head of the National Security Agency comes a week after an inquiry exposed widespread rights abuses during a crackdown on protests led by the kingdom's Shia Muslim majority.
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has dismissed the head of the state's security apparatus. Tuesday's announcement...

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27 Nov 2011

Bahrain creates panel to study unrest report

Bahrian's king has formally set up a national commission to "follow up and implement" the report published last week by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), which includes recommendations to adjust legislation, according to the country's state media.
Bahrian's king has formally set up a national commission to "follow up and implement" the report published last week by...

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27 Nov 2011

Bahraini Shia say crackdown-report inadequate

Thousands in Bahrain's Shia village of Muqasha have marched in protest following the release of a report slamming the government for its use of torture to crush protests. The protesters are saying the report fell short of the mark. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has set up a commission to implement the findings of the report, including an examination of the protesters' grievances.
Thousands in Bahrain's Shia village of Muqasha have marched in protest following the release of a report slamming the...

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25 Nov 2011

Bahrain hints at evidence of Iran protest links despite report rejection

In a 500-page report detailing widespread abuses in Bahrain's crackdowns, it's a brief section on Iran that has brought the strongest pushback Thursday in the Gulf kingdom - authorities clinging to their claims that Tehran had a role in the Shiite-led uprising despite the report s findings
In a 500-page report detailing widespread abuses in Bahrain's crackdowns, it's a brief section on Iran that has brought...

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25 Nov 2011

Two very different Bahrains, 10km apart

I'm writing from A'Ali, a predominantly Shiite village in the centre of Bahrain, which was the site of clashes all morning between anti-government protesters and the police. A few hours later, 10 kilometres down the road, the Bahraini government has released the official report into this year's alleged human rights abuses. The government hopes the report is a chance to turn the page and "move forward," as a spokesman said earlier this week. Ask anyone here in A'Ali, and they'll tell you those abuses are still going on.
I'm writing from A'Ali, a predominantly Shiite village in the centre of Bahrain, which was the site of clashes all...

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25 Nov 2011

Clashes with police follow Bahrain funeral

The evening call to prayer in this village on Thursday was punctuated by the explosions of sound bombs fired by Bahraini police. Tear gas canisters arced overhead as residents crouched on their rooftops and huddled in doorways, chanting allahu akhbar and yasqat Hamad ("down with Hamad"). "This is Bahrain now," one teenaged boy said, wearing a scarf over his face to shield his identity.
The evening call to prayer in this village on Thursday was punctuated by the explosions of sound bombs fired by Bahraini...

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23 Nov 2011

The Commission of Inquiry’s Report and 14 Key Points About It

The 501-page report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry deserves to be read in its entirety. This is a meticulous effort to document the events and transgressions of February and March, from the outbreak of pro-reform protests on 14 February to the regime's crackdown of 16 March and beyond.
The 501-page report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry deserves to be read in its entirety. This is a...

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23 Nov 2011

Report Details Excessive Force Used Against Bahrain Protests

The head of an international commission investigating Bahrain s sweeping crackdown on antigovernment protests over the summer said on Wednesday that security forces used excessive force, including torture and forced confessions, against detainees in a campaign that deeply polarized the country, a prominent American ally in the Gulf.
The head of an international commission investigating Bahrain s sweeping crackdown on antigovernment protests over the...

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22 Nov 2011

Bahrain braces for official rights report

The Bahraini government hopes this week will be a chance to turn the page on months of popular protests. In a sign of how deeply divided the country remains, police clashed with protesters during a funeral march on Tuesday afternoon, just hours before an official commission was set to release its report into alleged human rights abuses committed during months of protests.
The Bahraini government hopes this week will be a chance to turn the page on months of popular protests. In a sign of...
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