Protests Continue in Bahrain despite Brutal Crackdown by Security Forces – Bahrain Freedom Movement

22/03/2012 – 2:06 p | Hits: 219

TEHRAN (FNA)- People in Bahrain maintained their presence in the streets of the tiny Persian Gulf island and continued their peaceful rallies against Manama regime despite brutal suppression by Saudi-backed security forces.

On Wednesday, fresh clashes have erupted between the Saudi-backed Bahraini regime forces and anti-government protesters in the country. 

Saudi-backed Bahraini regime forces attacked an anti-government demonstration in the northwestern village of Diraz, injuring several protesters, press tv reported. 

Protesters took to the streets in Diraz on Wednesday to hold a demonstration against the ruling Al Khalifa family and demand the release of political prisoners. 

Bahraini activists said regime forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators in Diraz. Several protesters were arrested. 

Demonstrators in Diraz also called for an end to the regime’s violent crackdown on peaceful protests. 

The development comes as King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa claimed on Tuesday the “doors to dialogue were, and remain, open.” 

The Bahraini monarch also claimed the government has made “significant progress” in implementing reforms in the sectors of “security, judiciary, social policy and media” since February 2011. 

However, Bahraini opposition groups said last week the promised reforms were not enough and that they had made “no change on the ground.” 

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February 2011, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty’s over-40-year rule. 

Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar – were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13, 2011, to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors. 

So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and more than 1,000 others have been injured.