Bahrainis to hold nationwide protests

Bahraini activists have called for a fresh wave of anti-government protest rallies across the Persian Gulf country despite government’s escalating crackdown.

Activists using the social networking website Facebook called on Bahrainis to stage anti-regime protests in the main streets and squares on Wednesday as a state of emergency imposed during a March crackdown on protesters has ended.

“The protests are to be in main streets and squares … the movement must return to important places ahead of the imminent return, God willing, to Martyr’s Square,” said a post on “February 14 Revolution Youth Coalition” Facebook page, referring to the site of Pearl Square, which was the focal point of anti-government demonstrations from February until before being destroyed during the government crackdown in March.

Bahraini activists say their campaign will continue until the nation’s demands are met.

The new “protests will confirm that our revolution has not and will not end until our people take their right … of self-determination,” the post added.

An unnamed activist told AFP that most villages have announced that they will participate in the planned protests, adding that demonstrators from all over the country will march towards the Martyr’s Square on Friday.

Amnesty International has called on Manama officials to allow the planned protest rallies to go ahead and stop using violence against peaceful protesters.

“Bahraini authorities must not make the same mistakes as in February and March, when largely peaceful protests were violently suppressed by government security forces,” Malcolm Smart, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director, said in the statement.
“As the state of emergency is lifted, the authorities must allow people to peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association,” Smart added.

Bahraini protesters demand an end to the rule of Al Khalifa dynasty.

Since anti-government protests began in Bahrain in mid-February, regime forces, backed by a 1,000-strong Saudi military contingent, have abducted many people, including opposition activists, journalists, teachers, students, doctors and nurses, and destroyed dozens of mosques and other religious sites.

Scores of people have been killed and many more arrested in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protests in Bahrain.