Brutal Bahrain forces fire tear gas, birdshots at protesters

Security forces in Bahrain have attacked a funeral procession held for a young protester, who died of injuries sustained during a demonstration in the northern village of Markh.

According to reports, the Al Khalifa regime’s forces on Sunday fired tear gas and birdshot at the demonstrators who had gathered to mark the death of Fadhil Abbas Muslim.

Bahrain’s main opposition group, al-Wefaq, said in a message posted on Twitter on Sunday that the young anti-regime demonstrator “died today due to severe wounds from live ammunition” he sustained when security forces opened fire on protesters two weeks ago.

It added that Abbas Muslim “was denied family visits at hospital.”

On January 24, thousands of anti-regime protesters held a demonstration in the northeastern village of Sitra.

The uprising in Bahrain began in mid-February 2011. Protesters initially called for political reforms and a constitutional monarchy. However, the demand later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were called in to assist the Bahraini regime in its crackdown on the peaceful protests.

Scores of people have been killed in the crackdown and security forces have arrested hundreds including doctors and nurses. Dozens of demonstrators have also been sentenced to jail terms for attending street protests.

Physicians for Human Rights say doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or have disappeared because they had “evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces, and riot police” in the crackdown.