Bloodshed in Bahrain A year of ceaseless Human Rights Abuse

One year after the uprising, Bahraini civilians continue to be violently punished in their pursuit of democracy. The Journal speaks to human rights activists about the abuse inflicted on the nation’s citizens and the lengths that campaigners will go to prevent it

Bloodshed in Bahrain
10 April 2012 – journal-online.co.uk – Rachael Fulton

11 February in Budiyia, Bahrain. Thousands of people are taking to the streets for a peaceful political rally. An aura of collective hope reverberates through the crowd as men march ahead, women walking behind them clothed in burkas. Flags and banners trail in the air above the masses as they chant in unison, demanding democracy, the restoration of their rights and an end to the Al Khalifia government’s brutality.

As the excitement builds to crescendo, the crowd is confronted by a wall of armed Bahraini police in riot helmets and shields. Tear gas missiles are launched into the throng, spewing toxic fumes into demonstrators’ faces. The sky is shredded by rubber bullets. Sound bombs deafen them as they scatter, running blindly to avoid police gunfire. One woman refuses to run. She stands in the firing line, her hand raised in a defiant victory sign, allowing the clouds of stinging tear gas to engulf her. She will not surrender her beliefs under threat of violence. She will not stop fighting.

This is one of many harrowing images that haunts Elaine Murtagh, an Irish national deported from Bahrain in February for participating in anti-government protests. This rally would be the first of several public events Elaine witnessed during her week in the country, most of which descended into chaos at the hands of government authorities. While most Western women may have spent Valentines’ Day at home being treated by their partners, Elaine spent it escaping tear gas attacks and attending the wounded civilians littering Bahrain.

“I got shot at with tear gas and my eyes went blind – like getting a bottle of perfume poured in them,” recalls the 40 year old of her first protest. “My skin was on fire and I couldn’t breathe – I started to cry and shout. I will never forget how I felt. When I reached safety I wanted to ring my husband, but with the shock I could not even remember his name, or his number.”

The February 14 protests marked the first anniversary of the Bahrain uprising, a revolutionary movement triggered by the Arab Spring. In this initial revolt, protesters set up camp in Lulu Square to demonstrate against the Al Khalifia government. They occupied the square until March 16, peacefully protesting for democracy, before a 1500-strong collective of troops from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahraini police mercenaries stormed the camp and tore down the Lulu Square monument. Protestors were rewarded for their uprising with tear gas bombs and rubber bullets. Hundreds were wounded and four killed. …more