Thursday, June 23, 2011

Footage shows Bahrain crackdown

New footage shows the Saudi-backed Bahraini regime's continued crackdown on peaceful anti-government protesters in the Persian Gulf nation.


The footage posted on Youtube shows regime forces firing at a group of Bahraini youths and arresting a young boy.

On Wednesday, regime forces attacked an anti-government rally held to protest harsh prison sentences handed down against Bahraini opposition activists. The security forces fired tear gas and sound grenades on protesters as they were heading to the Martyr Square, formerly called Pearl Square, in the capital of Manama.

A special security court in Bahrain sentenced eight prominent activists and opposition leaders to life in prison on Wednesday on charges of “plotting to overthrow the government” during demonstrations in the Persian Gulf island kingdom earlier this year.

Khalil al-Marzouq, spokesman of Bahrain's main opposition al-Wefaq, said the party would not meet the government's Thursday deadline for responding to the invitation to dialogue, and could not say if it would join.

“Those people are a critical portion of the movement. How can there be a dialogue while they are in prison” he said.

The Wednesday trial was one of several taking place in Bahrain as part of the government's crackdown on popular protests. Despite the lifting of an emergency law, the Manama regime continues to try civilians in its so-called special courts.

Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds, including doctors and journalists, were arrested in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain since mid-February.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have rebuked the Manama regime for its brutal crackdown on civilians.

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