16th December 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

King says Bahrain respects liberties, tolerance
King Hamad said on Sunday that Bahrain still respects "liberties" and "tolerance," as witnesses reported that police dispersed dozens of protesters in Shiite Muslim villages. "Bahrain will remain a nation of law, institutions, liberties and tolerance between different religions and cultures," he said in a speech marking National Day. "Ensuring national consensus was and still is a purely Bahraini feature, without any foreign interference." The monarch also praised the Sunni-ruled kingdom's "armed, security, and National Guard forces who are always ready" to ensure "security and stability". Read More former parliamentarian of Wefaq, a Shia party seeking a negotiated end to the prodemocracy uprising that erupted in February 2011. The political process has been frozen for the 22 months since the government launched a ferocious clampdown, backed by troops borrowed from across the causeway to Saudi Arabia, that has left some 90 people deada grim total given that native Bahrainis number just 600,000, out of an overall population of 1.3m. Read More kidnapped by the Bahraini authorities in Nov 2012 following the siege and house raids on the village (see BCHR report for more detailsbahrainrights.org/en/ node/5536). These men were taken by the security forces without any information about their location being known for several weeks, and now they are being detained in Bahraini prisons while sham charges are being brought against them. Read More

Protests flare in Bahrain after king's speech

Activists in Bahrain say police have red tear gas at anti-government protesters who took to the streets after an annual address by the Gulf nation's king. The sporadic clashes took place shortly after King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa called for unity Sunday in a speech for the kingdom's

national day. They highlight the country's sharp divides after more than 22 months of near nonstop unrest between the Sunni monarchy and the country's majority Shiites, who seek a greater political voice. Acting head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights Yousef al-Muhafedha says hundreds of protesters were dispersed by riot police ring tear gas in a neighborhood near the capital Manama. Elsewhere, masked youths blocked roads with burning tires. Read More Commander, the ceremony marking the celebrations of the glorious National day and the 13th Anniversary of HM's Accession to the Throne, held at the University of Bahrain (UoB). Upon arrival of the Royal Convoy, accompanied by the Police Cavalry, HM the King was welcomed by the Education Minister Dr. Majed bin Ali Al Nuaimi and UoB President Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Janahi. Read More Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have attacked hundreds of pro-democracy protesters censuring an annual speech by the king, which had praised forces of the country. Read More political and human rights and humanitarian setbacks", the opposition societies stated in a statement issued yesterday, on Sunday 16th December 2012. Read More

Getting back out there

THE annual mourning for Zein al-Abdin al-Sajjad, an eighth century martyred Shia Imam, is a relatively minor event, even in Iran where Shias hold power. But in the little island kingdom of Bahrain, where the Shia majority chafes at their subjugation under a Sunni ruling family, the Al Khalifas, it has become another excuse to reclaim the streets. We celebrate the most minor festivals now, even more than Iran, says Jasim Hussein, a

HM the King Addresses the Nation on National & Accession Days

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa patronised today, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme

Bahrain: Disturbing Updates on the Current Situation of Talib Ali and 4 Other Citizens kidnapped by the authorities
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its grave concern over the well-being of 5 citizens of Mehazza, who have reportedly been

Protesters at kings speech attacked in Bahrain

Opposition: The Situation in Bahrain is the Worst Ever

The situation in Bahrain is the worst ever with the major