8th March 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Dont look away from Bahrains revolution 07/03/12
Egypt today is grappling with military rule after the fall of Mubarak, and so is Bahrain. Inspired by the Egyptian revolution, Bahrainis took to the streets on 14 February 2011 to call for democratic political reforms. One month after the pro-democracy protests began, Bahrainis faced a brutal military crackdown, when Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) troops entered the country to quell the Bahraini uprising. Basically, Saudi Arabia did to Bahrain what it couldnt do to Egypt: intervene directly to save a long-standing ally. One year after the uprising, Bahraini activists on the ground are calling for greater solidarity from their Egyptian counterparts in the battle against military brutality. Read More

Formula One: Why were watching Bahrain for all the wrong reasons - 08/03/12
As the sporting world prepares to turn their attention to Bahrain on 22 April for its annual Formula One Grand Prix,Kristian Ulrichsen examines the impact of the race on the country World attention will focus on Bahrain on 22 April when the kingdom hosts its annual Formula One Grand Prix. The

Bahrainis Preparing for Mass Rallies Friday- 08/03/12

Bahraini opposition groups and activists are calling for mass rallies on Friday against the rule of Al Khalifa. Bahrainis are to take to streets in the capital, Manama, and other towns

and villages across the country. Nationwide protests against the US-backed Manama regime continue in Bahrain as government forces, backed by the invading Saudi troops, persist with their violent crackdown on peaceful anti-regime demonstrations across the country. Read More spring. She gets caught in rioting in Egypt and Bahrain and finds out what the people are living through a year on. Watch Here (may not work outside of UK)

race was cancelled in 2011 owing to the violent unrest as the ruling Al-Khalifa family crushed a pro-democracy movement with the assistance of forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Following intense pressure from the Bahraini regime to get the race reinstated into the 2012 calendar, the announcement in January 2012 that twenty-nine workers sacked for participating in the 2011 protests would be offered their jobs back was seen as instrumental in reassuring the motorsports authorities that a semblance of normality had returned to the island state. Read More

Bahrainis Plan Mass Anti-Regime Rallies on March 9: Activists 08/03/12

The activists have also called for anti-government rallies in other towns and villages across the country. Nationwide protests against the US-backed Manama regime continue in Bahrain as government forces, backed

by the invading Saudi troops, persist with their violent crackdown on peaceful antiregime demonstrations across the country. The Bahraini activists announced on Tuesday that a 78-year-old woman was martyredafter inhaling tear gas red by regime forces during a demonstration in the northern village of Abu Saiba, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) west of Manama. Read More youth movements, human rights societies and religious bodies.

Riots and Revolutions: My Arab Journey - 06/03/12

Nel Hedayat meets the young rebels of the Arab

Bahraini kangaroo court trials - 08/03/12

A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report discussed sham show trials in Bahrain titled, "No Justice in Bahrain." The Bahrain Center for Human Rights said hundreds of unfair, politically motivated trials were conducted for months. Innocent victims were convicted.

Before trial, they were arrested, imprisoned and brutally tortured. They'll endure years more brutality. It's largely unreported by Western media scoundrels, especially American ones suppressing unpleasant truths. Last March, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa assumed emergency powers. Field Marshall Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Khalifs, Bahrain Defense Force commander, issued sweeping regulations governing public order. Read More

Here we are Bahrain 200,000 expected to join protest - 08/03/12

One of the biggest demonstrations in Bahrain since the 14th February uprising is due to take place tomorrow (March 9th) with around 200,000 people expected to take to the streets. It has the widespread backing of the opposition from the political parties, the

The call has been for complete unity in this protest, in response to comments made by the King calling the protests a minority and not representative of the people. Despite the claims from the King it is believed that at least 300,000 people have taken part since 14th February 2011, equating to more than half of the entire citizenship of Bahrain. Read More

Protesters Stage AntiDiscrimination Rallies All Over Bahrain 08/03/12

Prominent Bahraini human rights activist, Nabeel Rajab, led a massive anti-regime demonstration in Meqsha near the capital city of Manama on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, people held a candlelight vigil in memory of Mohammad Ibrahim, a Bahraini male, who was killed by Saudi-backed Al Khalifa forces in January. Also, a huge nightly demonstration was held in the village of Nabih Saleh in eastern Bahrain, with protesters expressing solidarity with Bahraini opposition leaders. Protesters have also vowed to hold further mass demonstration on Friday. Read More considered somewhat removed from the strictest religious dictates. Saudis came over the bridge [King Fahd Causeway] and they would no longer be sinning, said the 25-yearold machinery technician second class, who now serves at the Coast Guards Montauk search and rescue station. Mr. Giunta said Bahrain was a vacation spot with grand hotels, a place long considered safer than Iraq for people in the oil business to meet. Read More

al-Khawaja, who is on hunger strike.

Top Bahraini activists health deteriorates 07/03/12

Al-Khawaja, top Bahraini human rights activist, refused to eat for 27 days in protest against Manamas ongoing crackdown on protesters and the harsh prison conditions. Activists, human rights organizations and anti-regime protesters have repeatedly called on Manama government to free alKhawaja currently serving a life sentence. Read More

Human rights activists have warned about the deteriorating health of Jailed Bahraini activist Abdul Hadi

Back From Duty In The Gulf - 08/03/12

Petty Ofcer Brian Giunta was stationed outside Manama, Bahrain, just one year ago when government troops tore down the Pearl, a 300-foot-high monument comprising six curved struts and topped with a giant pearl, a tribute to the kingdoms pearl-diving history. It made Manama a kind of sanctuary from the eye of Allah, a place