MANAMA (AFP) – Several thousand people demonstrated in Manama denouncing what they said were government attempts to rig upcoming elections in favour of the ruling Sunni minority by naturalizing foreigners.
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The demonstration, which came barely two months before landmark elections, was attended by 10,000 people according to the organisers, who fired tear gas during the largely peaceful event. The police estimate was 4,000 protestors.
“Naturalizations have recently hit a new high, in particular for Asians, and the objective can only be to influence the results of the upcoming elections,” Ibrahim Sherif of the Association of National Democratic Action told the crowd.
MANAMA (AFP) – Several thousand people demonstrated in Manama denouncing what they said were government attempts to rig upcoming elections in favour of the ruling Sunni minority by naturalizing foreigners.
ADVERTISEMENT
The demonstration, which came barely two months before landmark elections, was attended by 10,000 people according to the organisers, who fired tear gas during the largely peaceful event. The police estimate was 4,000 protestors.
“Naturalizations have recently hit a new high, in particular for Asians, and the objective can only be to influence the results of the upcoming elections,” Ibrahim Sherif of the Association of National Democratic Action told the crowd.
Political parties are banned in Bahrain and Sherif’s association was one of five to organize the protest, which was also attended by religious Shiite Muslim dignitaries.
Sherif read a statement from the organisers alleging there were now 52,000 registered voters whereas “statistically” there should only be 36,000.
Bahrain’s 650,000 inhabitants include large communities of south Asian immigrants, most of whom are not naturalized.
Many of Bahrain’s Shiite majority believe the naturalization of Sunni Muslims, many from the Indian subcontinent, is aimed at bolstering Sunni demographics.
Bahrain’s parliamentary and municipal elections are due to be held on November 25.
In 2002, Bahrain held elections to restore its parliament, which had been scrapped in 1975, as part of reforms spearheaded by King Hamad which turned the Gulf state into a constitutional monarchy
