Sunday, June 12, 2011

Benign Bahrain

"10,000 attend rally to press for rights

MANAMA — More than 10,000 demonstrators joined Bahrain’s first public rally in months yesterday as the leader of the nation’s main Shi’ite political party urged backers to press ahead with peaceful protests for greater political rights. The Sunni monarchy controlling Bahrain allowed the rally in a bid to ease tensions."

"Bahrain’s Shi’ite clerics rap police action" June 08, 2011|Associated Press

MANAMA, Bahrain — Bahrain’s Shi’ite clerics criticized the Gulf kingdom’s police yesterday for attacking religious processions just days after emergency rule was lifted.

Five clerics said in a statement that the police committed “a flagrant violation of freedom of religious practice’’ against Shi’ite pilgrims Sunday, when they attacked a procession commemorating the death of a revered saint....

The head of Bahrain’s public security, Brigadier General Tariq bin Mubarak bin Dayna, defended the police force’s response to Sunday’s processions. He said some pilgrims broke the law by chanting political slogans.

But they are an ally housing the Fifth Fleet, so.... 

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Related: Bahrain: The Open-Ended Occupation

Almost forgot about that, didnja?