Gulf Daily News – Vol XXVIII – NO. 238 – Sunday 13 November 2005
By KANWAL HAMEED
ACTIVISTS held a rally outside the Gulf Hotel last night despite a warning by the Interior Ministry that it was “illegal”.
A representative from the ministry reportedly told organisers that if protesters went ahead, it would “use its own procedure” against them.
Organisers were told demonstrations held after sunset and before sunrise were not permitted.
However, when more than 500 demonstrators gathered at around 7pm, security authorities, who were also present in large numbers, did not interfere.
Gulf Daily News – Vol XXVIII – NO. 238 – Sunday 13 November 2005
By KANWAL HAMEED
ACTIVISTS held a rally outside the Gulf Hotel last night despite a warning by the Interior Ministry that it was “illegal”.
A representative from the ministry reportedly told organisers that if protesters went ahead, it would “use its own procedure” against them.
Organisers were told demonstrations held after sunset and before sunrise were not permitted.
However, when more than 500 demonstrators gathered at around 7pm, security authorities, who were also present in large numbers, did not interfere.
They held their demonstration for about an hour, despite an early warning to one of the human rights activists spearheading the rally.
“I was called by the ministry for a meeting at the Exhibition Road premises this morning and met with Manama Police head Isa Mussallem,” member of the Popular Committee Coalition Raouf Al Shayeb told the GDN.
“They asked me about two cars which had been damaged during the previous rally and said that protests held after sunset and before sunrise were illegal.”
The rally is the last of a string of protests and alternative meetings organised by the Popular Committee Coalition around the official Forum for the Future.
The Coalition, made up of representatives from human rights organisations, originally planned for the rally to be held opposite the Prime Minister’s Court on the King Faisal Corniche but was moved to the area outside the Gulf Hotel.
“We thought it would be more prudent to convey our message there because there was a Press conference and media reporters were all gathered,” Coalition member Dr Abduljalil Al Singace said.