Bahraini Protesters Arrested

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain- Police arrested the Shiite demonstrators protesting against the Sunni government.

The riots began on Monday marking the ten year anniversary of the death of a prominent Shiite civil rights leader.  The majority of the Bahrainis are Shiite, however, the ruling family is Sunni.  This has lead to a clash between the two groups as the financial and economic disparity between the groups has continued to grow.  The Shiites have continually complained about the fact that they have been discriminated against by the Sunni government.

The protestors voiced their opinions this week.   The response by the government has been to dramatically increase security. The government immediately tried to halt the rally through using gas grenades, killing one protester.  Reportedly Friday following morning prayers, Security Forces arrested many of the protesters of the Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy.

The group issued a statement regarding the worshipers being arrested on Friday.  “They were faced brutally by the Special Forces, which entered the mosque … while pursuing the rest who fled towards the nearby Water Garden park. Tear gas was fired on the people in the park.”  (Guardian Unlimited)

The government has responded that it was just trying to keep the peace during a volatile time.  The heightened security has solely been a response to the out of control mob, which has destroyed public property and burned a police car.

The Security Forces have extended its quest to going to the homes of the opposition leaders to arrest them in their homes.  They have placed the northern villages under siege and have roughly handled the citizens in their search to detain suspects.

For more information, please see:

Albawaba- Demonstrators reported in Bahrain- 23 December 2007

Guardian Unlimited- Violent Clashes Erupt in Bahrain- 22 December 2007

International Herald Tribune- Bahraini police stage security sweeps following clashes- 22 December 2007

Reuters- Bahrain arrests activists after week of unrest- 22 December 2007

Author: Impunity Watch Archive