Bahrain Security Forces using tear gas under guise of crowd control as murder weapon

POMED Wire: More Deaths in Bahrain
16 July 2011

Bahraini security forces have been increasing their use of tear gas against protesters, which have resulted in numerous deaths including the death of Zainab Hassan, 47 year old mother of two girls. In addition, riot police attacked people’s homes in Sitra on Friday and chased people out of the village.

An Irish group began a fact finding mission in Bahrain to determine the condition of detained medical workers and doctors that have been detained in Bahrain. The delegation arrived in unofficial capacity despite hesitation from Bahraini authorities to allow entry into the country. The group met with family members of detained medics and with some who have been released. Authorities did not allow the group to meet with detained medics. Currently, 47 medics have been arrested and detained, and the fact finding mission plans to remain in Bahrain till the conflict is resolved.

Human Rights First released it’s second fact-finding mission report that took place on July 6 to July 12 outlining the torture protesters and civilians have to endure from the security forces.

The National Journal met with Maryam Al-Khawaja, the 24-year-old director of foreign relations for the Bahrain Center for Human Rights on Capitol Hill to discuss reasons for her encouragement toward the U.S. to step up efforts to convince Bahrain to stop human rights violations. In response to Bahrain’s attempt of a national dialogue, Al-Khawaja, said that this is the government’s attempt to buy time and “get some positive media attention for what they are doing.” …source