30th October 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahrain bans all protest gatherings amid violence
Bahrain imposed emergency-style rules Tuesday banning all protest gatherings and threating legal action against groups considered backing escalating demonstrations and clashes in the strategic Gulf kingdom. The order, announced by the Interior Ministry, is the most sweeping attempt to quash the kingdom's antigovernment uprising since martial law rules were in effect during the early months of unrest last year. It sharply increases pressure on political groups from Bahrain's Shiite Muslim majority, which has led the protests seeking a greater political voice in the Sunni Muslim-ruled nation.

Bahrain bans all protests after clashes

demanding greater rights and an end to what they said was discrimination against them by the Sunni royal family. The crackdown, which drew strong criticism from international rights groups, was followed by a three-month state of emergency declared by King Hamad during which protests were also banned. In a statement carried by the ofcial BNA news agency, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa said the latest ban was aimed at safeguarding "civil peace". Read More criticism of the ruling monarchy in the tiny Persian Gulf nation.

Bahrain on Tuesday banned all protests and gatherings to Tougher steps against ensure "security is opposition groups could maintained", after a spate of raise complications for clashes between Shiite-led Washington and other demonstrators and security Western allies that have forces in the Sunni-ruled stood by Bahrain's monarchy country. during more than 20 months of unrest. The U.S. has The Gulf state has been important military bonds with shaken by unrest since its Bahrain, which hosts the forces in March last year U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, but it crushed a month of popular also has called for increased protests led by members of its efforts at dialogue to ease Shiite Muslim majority the tensions. Read More since an uprising led by its Shi'ite majority for political reforms that began in February 2011 was crushed with help from Saudi troops last year. "It has been decided to stop all gatherings and marches and not to allow any activity before being reassured about security and achieving the required stability in order to preserve national unity," state news agency BNA quoted Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa as saying late on Monday. Read More

Bahrain says bans rallies to prevent violence

Bahrain has banned all rallies and gatherings to ensure public safety and prevent violence, the state news agency reported, following more than a year of protests by opposition demonstrators. The Sunni-ruled island kingdom, where the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet is based, has seen repeated protests

Citing Violence, Bahrain Bans All Protests in New Crackdown

Citing recent episodes of violence, the government of Bahrain on Tuesday banned all public rallies and demonstrations, a move that drew swift condemnation from human rights groups and opposition activists who said it was intended solely to stie

In a statement, Bahrains interior minister said protests were banned after repeated violations by rally organizers, including riots, attacks on property and calls for the overthrow of leading national gures. Legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to organize a rally, the statement said. Read More

of speech and expression could no longer be accepted.

Bahrain government bans protests amid violence

Bahrain has banned all protests and gatherings amid clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said "repeated abuse" of the rights to freedom

Protests would be permitted only once security and stability were sufcient to maintain national unity, he added. Demonstrations were last banned during the three-month state of emergency King Hamad declared in March 2011. Read More

BBC World News Bahrain bans protest Interview with Ali Alaswad

Bahrain has banned all protests and gatherings after clashes broke out between security forces and antiGovernment demonstrators. Read More

Bahrain bans all protests and rallies, citing security threats

Bahrain has banned all protests and rallies, arguing that a complete stop to such gatherings is needed to maintain security in the island nation. Interior Minister Sheik Rashid ibn Abdullah Khalifa ordered the move, a sweeping attempt

to bring its long-simmering unrest to a halt. An Interior Ministry statement issued Tuesday said rallies and gatherings were associated with violence, rioting and attacks on public and private property.... They also were a major threat to the safety of the public. Anyone calling for rallies or taking part in them would face legal actions, the statement said. Read More demonstrations in March 2011 comes amid worsening clashes between police and youths across the polarised island as the majority Shia population calls for more reforms from the minority Sunni-led government. The estimated death toll has risen to more than 60 mostly protesters since the unrest broke out in February 2011. Recent victims include a policeman attacked with an improvised explosive device. Read More

and expression could no longer be accepted.

Bahrain government bans protests amid violence

Bahrain has banned all protests and gatherings amid clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said "repeated abuse" of the rights to freedom of speech

Protests would be permitted only once security and stability were sufcient to maintain national unity, he added. Demonstrations were last banned during the threemonth state of emergency King Hamad declared in March 2011. Read More

Bahrain bans demonstrations in crackdown

Bahrain has banned all demonstrations as it seeks to crack down on continuing prodemocracy unrest. The troubled Gulf state, home to the US Navys fth eet, said all demonstrations would be banned until security is maintained. The move an echo of the crackdown on pro-democracy

Bahrain bans all protests in new crackdown

The Bahraini authorities are to intensify repression by banning demonstrations and meetings to ensure public safety and prevent violence, according to the state news agency. The Sunni al-Khalifa monarchy crushed prodemocracy protests by in the island kingdom's Shia majority last year with Saudi military help, amid

allegations of widespread use of torture. There have been street protests and skirmishes since the crackdown, but the government says it will now prevent any kind of protest. "It has been decided to stop all gatherings and marches and not to allow any activity before being reassured about security and achieving the required stability in order to preserve national unity," the Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah alKhalifa, was quoted as saying. Read More He said the "privilege" to freedom of expression had been "abused repeatedly" by the organisers. Sheik Rashid blamed the alWefaq National Islamic Society, the largest opposition group, for the unrest. "The interior ministry has strived to tackle those violations through coordination with the organisers in many occasions, but they failed to control those events despite their promises," he added. Read More

Bahrain bans all opposition rallies

Bahrain is facing international censure after announcing a ban on all protest gatherings and threatening to take legal action against opposition groups that organise antigovernment demonstrations. The order, announced by the interior ministry in Manama on Tuesday, is the most-far

reaching attempt to quell unrest in the Gulf kingdom since martial law was imposed last year. It is a blow to the hopes of western countries trying to balance their own strategic and economic interests while encouraging peaceful reform. Britain swiftly issued a statement expressing "concern" at what it called an "excessive" blanket ban. Read More

Bahrain Bans All Protests and Public Gatherings

The Bahraini government has banned all demonstrations and public gatherings following clashes between police and prodemocracy protesters, the interior minister has declared. Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said "blatant violations and a lack of commitment" by protesters has forced the government to ban public meetings.

against any group that backs demonstrations or clashes.

Bahrain government bans all forms of protest

All forms of protest have been banned in Bahrain. The government has imposed the emergency rules in light of the escalating violence. Rulers in the Gulf Kingdom are also threatening legal action

Scenes like these may be soon be a thing of the past, unless the very bravest of people, who are against the alleged human rights abuses continue to take a stand and defy the wishes issued by the Interior Ministry. Read More

Crowd control: Bahrain bans all public gatherings

Bahraini authorities have prohibited protest gatherings and rallies until further notice, a day after police cracked down heavily on demonstrators, once again during the 20-month fatalityriddled unrest. The statement made by the countrys Interior Ministry did not dene precise measures that could be taken should new protests occur.

A curfew and special military tribunals were introduced several months into uprising that began in Bahrain in February 2011. AP reported that the early period of the unrest left at least 50 people dead in the violence. However, Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa stressed that rallies and gatherings will be considered illegal, and legal action will be taken against anyone calling for or taking part in them. Read More

actions against those calling for it and participants.

Bahrain bans protests as crackdown continues

Bahrain moved to ban all protests Tuesday as the kingdom continues its widespread clamp down on dissent. Interior Minister Rashid AlKhalifa told state television that any illegal rally or gathering would be tackled through legal

This is nothing new, Said Yousif, deputy head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, told Al-Akhbar. We were under an unofcial martial law before today, but now it is clear, he added. They dont care anymore to let it be public. They just want to continue their crackdown. Read More In an ofcial statement yesterday, the interior minister, Lt Gen Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, said that recent rallies by the largest Shia opposition bloc, Al Wefaq, had been "associated with violence, rioting and attacks on public and private property that affected others and hindered public and private facilities, movements and commercial and economic sectors". Read More was committed to upholding basic civil liberties but rallies were banned because that privilege has been abused, the ofcial Bahrain News Agency reports. He said the government was frustrated with opposition support for what he said was the ouster of key leaders, which was seen as a threat to national sovereignty. Read More

Authorities in Bahrain ban all protests after clashes with police

Bahrain on Tuesday banned all protests and gatherings to ensure security is maintained after a spate of clashes between Shiite-led demonstrators and security forces in the Sunni-ruled country. The Persian Gulf state, which is home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, has been shaken

by unrest since its forces in March last year crushed a series of popular protests led by members of its Shiite Muslim majority demanding greater rights and an end to what they said was discrimination against them by the Sunni royal family. The crackdown, which drew strong criticism from international rights groups, was followed by a threemonth state of emergency declared by King Hamad during which protests also were banned. Read More he said that participants have failed to adhere to legal regulations. Government spokesman Fahad al-Binali said that the ban would be temporary and mainly intended to "calm things down." Recent clashes between protesters and police ofcers outside the capital of Manama resulted in the deaths of two policemen. The interior minister said rallies and gatherings would be allowed when security is sufcient to "protect national unity and social fabric to ght extremism." Read More

Bahrain bans rallies in bid to preserve 'civil peace'

Bahrain's interior ministry announced yesterday that it would "stop all rallies and gatherings" and arrest anyone participating in any demonstration, as it instituted new rules aimed at preserving "civil peace".

Bahrain bans protests and gatherings citing security threats

Bahrain's Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid al Khalifah, has banned all demonstrations and rallies citing "repeated abuses" of the rights to freedom of expression by protest organizers. Khalifah has accused the organizers of inciting riots and attacks, as well as calling for the overthrow of "leading national gures." Additionally,

Bahrain bans protests

The interior minister in Bahrain announced that public demonstrations are banned because organizers had abused their right to the freedom of expression. Bahrain's Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Rashid bin Abdullah alKhalifa said the government

expression could no longer be accepted, the BBC reported.

Bahrain crackdown: Protests, gatherings banned amid escalating violence

Bahrain has banned all protests and public gatherings amid escalating violence between demonstrators and police in the Gulf kingdom. The Interior Ministry announced that because of "repeated abuse," the rights to freedom of speech and

Bahrain is the scene of ongoing unrest between the ruling Sunni Muslim royal family and the mostly Shiiteled opposition. A statement from the Interior Ministry said Bahraini society was fed up with demonstrations and clashes, and there was a need to put an end to them, the Associated Press reported. Read More A similar ban was introduced in the country in March 2011, when King Hamad declared a three-month state of emergency. Bahraini Shiites have been protesting against sectarian discrimination. In a Sunni-run kingdom, 70% of the population is forced to live in poverty and continuing religious oppression. Read More security and general order and would no longer be tolerated. Rallies and gatherings will only be approved of after security and stability are ensured the minister said, reported the state-run Bahrain News Agency. The protesters privilege has been abused repeatedly by organizers violations and the participants lack of commitment to the legal regulations, Al Khalifah said Read More

US-Backed Regime in Bahrain Bans All Protests

The US-backed dictatorship in Bahrain has banned all rallies and protests in the country, the latest repressive measure imposed on the population in response to persistent pro-democracy protests that have not let up for almost two years now. Lt. Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Bahrains interior minister, issued a statement on Monday essentially announcing that

freedom of expression in Bahrain is a threat to the state and inserting lies about the pro-reform movements ties with extremism. It was decided to stop all rallies and gatherings until ensuring that security is maintained through achieving the targeted security to protect national unity and social fabric to ght extremism, Bahrains state news agency reported, quoting the interior minister as saying any illegal rally or gathering would be tackled through legal actions against those calling for it and participants. Read More considered illegal and legal action will be taken against anyone calling for or taking part in them. Khalifa added that these acts are associated with violence and sabotage and that, though the government normallytolerates dissent, the ongoing protests have involved calls for overthrowing the monarchy. The lack of respect and the open insults cannot be tolerated, he said. Read More on Tuesday, is the most-far reaching attempt to quell unrest in the Gulf kingdom since martial law was imposed last year. It is a blow to the hopes of western countries trying to balance their own strategic and economic interests while encouraging peaceful reform. Britain swiftly issued a statement expressing concern at what it called an excessive blanket ban. Read More

Bahrain bans antigovernment protests

nterior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said demonstrations would be permitted only when the security and stability were sufcient to maintain national unity. He also said the government wouldnt tolerate repeated abuse of freedom of speech.

Bahraini government bans public demonstrations; U.S. politicians don't care

The Bahraini government announced on Tuesday that they will be banning public demonstrations and gatherings until stability returns. According to Sheik Rashid bin Abdullah alKhalifa, rallies and gatherings "will be

Bahrain Bans Protests, Gatherings

Bahrain on Tuesday banned all protests and public gatherings after protesters clashed with police in recent weeks. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah blamed the protesters for abusing the privilege of freedom of speech and expression, which he said has disturbed

Bahrain bans all opposition rallies

Bahrain is facing international censure after announcing a ban on all protest gatherings and threatening to take legal action against opposition groups that organise antigovernment demonstrations. The order, announced by the interior ministry in Manama

Bahrain Bans Protests As Anti-Government Sentiment Rises

Bahrain has banned all public protests Tuesday aftermore thana year of mass unrest and has threatened to take legal action against organizations that support anti-government movements. The Bahraini governments Interior Ministry issued the order, which is the most farreaching effort to crack down on protesters since it instituted martial law

following the outbreak of demonstrations in February 2011 amidst the wave of Arab Spring uprisings.

Interior Minister: All The Interior Ministry released Rallies Are Banned a statement, saying that the until Security Is majority of the public was Maintained
fed up with the protests, and "there was a need to put an end to them, the Associated Press reported, adding that any illegal rally or gathering would be tackled through legal actions against those calling for and participating in it." Read More Interior Minister LieutenantGeneral Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa afrmed on Monday that the state has strived in the previous phase to protect freedom of expression by allowing rallies

and gatherings, but that privilege has been abused repeatedly by organizers violations and the participants lack of commitment to the legal regulations. Those events were organized before by some political societies headed by Al Wefaq National Islamic Society. Read More All rallies and gatherings have been suspended and no public activity will be allowed until security and stability are achieved, Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said. The aim is to preserve national unity and the social fabric and to prevent any form of extremism from any side, he said in a statement. Read More

Bahrain bans rallies, public gatherings

Bahrain has banned all rallies and public gatherings until further notice, in order to preserve civil peace and protect national unity, said a senior government ofcial.

Legal action will be taken against those calling for, or taking part in, illegal demonstrations, Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa warned last night (October 29). Read More

Bahrain bans demonstrations

Bahrain has banned all rallies and public gatherings until authorities are able to restore relative stability in terms of the public security situation, the interior minister declared.

Bahrain Cracks Whip On Opposition, Bans Protests

The Gulf State of Bahrain on Tuesday banned all protest gatherings and threatened legal action against groups which encouraged demonstrations and clashes. The Interior Ministry's order is believed to be aimed at crushing the oil-rich Kingdom's anti-government uprising spearheaded by the

majority Shia population who always complained about discrimination by the ruling Sunni royal family.

Bahrain: demonstrations banned for public Media reports quoted Interior security reasons Minister Sheikh Rashid alKhalifa as saying that "repeated abuse" of the rights to freedom of speech and expression could no longer be accepted. Protest of any kind would be permitted only once security and stability were sufcient to maintain national unity, he said. Read More Bahrain has banned all demonstrations and public gatherings for reasons of national security, the interior ministry made known on Tuesday. ''All rallies and gatherings have been suspended and no public activity will be allowed until security and

stability are achieved,'' Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa said in a statement published by GulfNews.com. ''The aim is to preserve national unity and the social fabric and to prevent any form of extremism from any side.'' He said the government had earlier allowed rallies and gatherings, but blatant violations of the rules, such as violence and incitements to topple the monarchy, had forced it to temporarily ban public meetings. Read More

Top-level Bahraini delegation to visit Gaza Thursday

A high-level Bahraini delegation will arrive in Gaza on Thursday to open two UNRWA schools, the enclave's Hamas rulers said on Tuesday, denying it would be led by one of the royal princes. "A high-level Bahraini delegation will visit Gaza on Thursday headed by Mustafa

al-Sayyed, Secretary General of the Bahraini Royal Charity Organisation (RCO)," said a terse statement issued by Taher alNunu, spokesman for the Gaza government. The statement was issued shortly after two separate sources -- one close to the Hamas government and another from the UN refugee agency -- said the delegation would be led Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifa, a son of the Bahraini king. Read More with implementing the recommendations of an independent report on the Gulf state's unrest last year. Since leaving government in 2007 Powell has run InterMediate, a small NGO working on conicts across the world. According to sources in Manama, Powell's team has organised a series of discreet meetings in London and Northern Ireland for Bahraini ofcials and opposition gures, applying the lessons of the province's sectarian divide in a Middle Eastern context. Read More

He said al-Sayed will open schools funded by the charity.

Hamas: Senior Bahrain official to visit Gaza

A Hamas spokesman in Gaza says a senior ofcial from the Gulf island kingdom of Bahrain will visit the territory. Taher Nunu said Tuesday that Mustafa al-Sayed, head of the Bahrain Royal Charity Organization, will lead a delegation to Gaza this week.

Last week Qatar's ruler met with Hamas leaders in Gaza, the rst visit by a head of state Hamas seized Gaza in 2007. While al-Sayid has been to Gaza previously, the timing of this visit appears to signal growing ties between Gulf countries and the Islamic militant group. Read More that funded the two schools, is set to meet with Hamas Prime Minister Esmail Haniya, according to the AFP report. The prince's visit to Gaza comes a week after Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani visited Gaza despite protests from Israel and Palestinian Authority leadership in Ramallah. Read More Development Movement from London to shed more light on the issue at hand. What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview. Press TV: Mr. Kavakeb, what do you think we are going to see from this stage on? The government, the regime there, banning all kind of gatherings. Read More

Ex-Blair aide advising Bahrain on conflict resolution

Bahraini government and opposition gures are being trained in negotiation and conict resolution techniques by Tony Blair's former chief of staff Jonathan Powell, the Guardian can reveal. Powell, who played a key role in securing the Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998, was asked to undertake the work whenBahrain approached the UK Foreign Ofce for help

Report: Bahrain prince to visit Gaza this week

Bahrain price Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifa will visit the Gaza Strip on Thursday to open two UNRWA schools, AFP reported. The Bahraini prince, who is the chairman of the Bahrain Royal Charity Organization

Al Khalifa ignores protesters demands

The oppressed Bahraini people will continue their prodemocracy protests until they get what they have been putting their lives on the line for over the past months, says an analyst. Press TV has interviewed Dominic Kavakeb with the Bahrain Justice and