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Bahraini Shias Charged Over Protests

Friday, 28 December 2007

More than a dozen people detained during recent Shiite protests were charged Thursday with attempted murder, illegal assembly and rioting, a defense lawyer and a local rights group said.

Defense lawyer Mohammed al-Jashi said three people were charged with attempted murder in clashes with riot police, and 11 with illegal assembly and rioting.

The Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy said in a statement that 31 of those arrested were charged with illegal assembly, rioting, theft of weapons and ammunition, and illegal possession of arms.

The discrepancy in the numbers of those charged could not immediately be reconciled. The Haq Movement on Thursday put the number of detainees at 50 and listed their names.

Shiites account for about 70 percent of Bahrain's 450,000 citizens, but the ruling family is Sunni. Economic disparities between the ruling elite and the poorer majority have contributed to feelings of marginalization among Shiites, who have waged an occasionally violent campaign against the government.

The charges followed arrests in police raids in the wake of last week's demonstrations, which erupted after the death of Bahraini protester who took part in a rally commemorating social unrest in the 1990s.

Demonstrations broke out at the man's funeral and then at memorial services which resulted in severe clashes with security services.

It was not immediately clear when those charged would stand trial. Under Bahraini law, attempted murder carries a maximum of 25 years in jail.

Some relatives of the detainees Shiites also gathered Thursday near the prosecutors office demanding to visit their relatives. The Haq Movement said sit-ins were also held in three other areas demanding the release of the detainees.

Resentment among Bahrainis is also high over alleged government policy of granting citizenship to Sunnis from Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Baluchistan province in Pakistan and giving them housing and jobs, often in the security forces.

Source: AP

Comments (4)

	1. Written by Ali Jaffery on 01-01-2008 11:18
	Its cases like these that deepen the fault lines between Muslims more than anything else. With a government set on perpetuating the disaffection and disempowerment of its people, with the likely support of neighbouring Arab governments, what are poor Bahrainis to do?

	2. Written by faress on 02-01-2008 13:38
	Salam majority rules by minority and this minority is unfair to it's majority .to me it seems another Iraq ? but would the saviors be the emperors imperialist crusaders or The Muslims must have a sense of dialogue and seeking justice without Fawda?

	3. Written by Um Salam on 03-01-2008 09:19
	Ya Allah please protect us from another Iraq and lets learn to work with dialogue though understanding of one another there has already been enough blood shed to last a lifetime. InshAllah Imam Mahdi will come and resolve all of these problems....inshAllah.

	4. Written by khademat ahlulbait........ on 27-01-2008 14:55
	as bahraini...wht shall i say yaneeee.ma agool ela alahu akbar ala aal KHALEEFA :O some times i have tht feelings 2 spew on there faces.... lanatun daaema...