Gassing the Masses in Bahrain as another day of protest and dissent sweeps the country

Police target thousands of protesters with tear gas across Bahrain
23 March, 2012 – BlottR

Police riots fired tear gas to disperse a huge rally in Sitra, an island in the Central Governorate of Bahrain. According to S.Yousif Almuhafda, a human rights defender, thousands of protesters demonstrated to demand the overthrow of the regime.

Besides Sitra, 9 other marches were organised across the kingdom today. People protested in Sanabis, Al-Dair, Aali, Tubli, Bilad, Samaheej, Bilad Alqadim, Karzakan and Nuwaidrat as well as in neighbouring villages. According to Maryam Al-Khawaja, a prominent activist, each of these protests were attacked by security forces and dispersed with large amounts tear gas.

Activists reported a heavy presence of security forces with armoured vehicles and jeeps roaming around many villages. Violent clashes also erupted between protesters and police forces in different areas, young demonstrators retaliated throwing rocks at police officers including in Sitra.

On twitter protesters reported that police attempted to run them over, one tweeted: “Just escaped from SUV almost ran over us”. Others said on their twitter account: “And as I expected: it is raining #teargas outside! #Bahrain10Marches #Bahrain”

As the protests terminated activist Al-Khawaja sent a tweet saying: “Several residential areas facing collective punishment right now bcz of earlier protests #bahrain #feb14 #dailyoccurrence”.

This wave of violence comes as the Bahraini Kind claimed “significant and broad progress” toward reforms in a report following up earlier recommendations to correct widespread abuse committed during the government’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests last year.

Since the beginning of the uprising 13 months ago, activists claim that 70 people have died across Bahrain due to abuses committed by security forces and the use of tear gas. …more