Bahrain revolution making headway despite US, UK plots: Activist

A Bahraini opposition figure tells Press TV that the revolution in the Persian Gulf state is gaining momentum domestically and internationally in defiance of US and British plots against the nation.

In a Wednesday interview, Saeed Shahabi, a senior member of the Bahrain Freedom Movement, described the revolution in his country as “the best” movement compared with other uprisings across the Arab world.

“Because it has remained on track, it has remained peaceful, it has remained civilized, and the people have not gone back to their homes despite 30 months of security crackdown against the most basic values and human rights,” he said, adding, “I believe that the change is coming regardless of what the US and the UK are doing in support of this dynastical dictatorship,” he added.

The Bahraini opposition leader pointed to the recent calls from the international community, including the UN Human Rights Council, European Parliament, and Human Rights Watch expressing concern over the situation in Bahrain and said, “It shows that gradually the number of countries that are realizing that there is a serious situation in Bahrain is increasing.”

On September 9, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) that she was frustrated with reports of human rights violations in Bahrain.

She called on Manama “to fully comply with its international human rights commitments, including respect for the rights to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.”

The Bahraini uprising began in mid-February 2011.

Bahrainis primarily called for political reform and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.