Turkish protesters back Bahrain uprising

Turkish protesters have held a rally in the city of Istanbul to denounce the Saudi-backed military crackdown on Bahraini civilians.

The angry demonstrators, who carried placards, marched to Saudi Arabia’s consulate and chanted anti-Riyadh slogans, a Press TV correspondent reported on Saturday.

“Killer Saudi King, you will be held accountable for what you have done,” the demonstrators shouted as they walked towards the consulate.

“We condemn the killings in Bahrain and we want the king [Al Khalifa] to step down. We want democracy for the region not monarchy,” a demonstrator said.

“We are here to show our support for the people of Bahrain. Blood is being shed and we cannot remain silent. We are with the defenseless people of Bahrain,” another protestor said.

The demonstrators also warned that the international community’s silence would only worsen the humanitarian situation in Bahrain.

“Indifference will only embolden the tyrants. People who don’t speak out against the tyrants are complicating their crimes. The media blackout on Bahrain is intentional,” Kible magazine Editor-in-Chief Kader Akaris said.

The European Union and the United States have kept silent over the repression of the peaceful pro-democracy movement in Bahrain and the Saudi intervention.

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty’sover-40-year rule.

On March 13, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates deployed police and military forces in the kingdom upon Manama’s request to quell the nationwide protests.

According to local sources, scores of protesters have been killed during the government-sanctioned clampdown with the foreign troops contributing to a rise in the violence.

Saudi and Bahrain troops have also destroyed dozens of mosques and religious sites.

The public, however, have asserted they would keep up the protests until the regime collapses.