Bahrain rights activists charged after their arrests spark protests
The Associated Press
Saturday, February 3, 2007
MANAMA, Bahrain
Authorities on Saturday charged three Bahraini human rights activists with trying to illegally change the kingdom’s political system after their arrests sparked protests and clashes with police, Bahrain’s state-run news agency reported.
At least two people were injured in demonstrations Friday northwest of Bahrain’s capital, Manama, when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control the crowd of hundreds, said Bahraini legislator Jalal Fairoz.
Bahrain rights activists charged after their arrests spark protests
The Associated Press
Saturday, February 3, 2007
MANAMA, Bahrain
Authorities on Saturday charged three Bahraini human rights activists with trying to illegally change the kingdom’s political system after their arrests sparked protests and clashes with police, Bahrain’s state-run news agency reported.
At least two people were injured in demonstrations Friday northwest of Bahrain’s capital, Manama, when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control the crowd of hundreds, said Bahraini legislator Jalal Fairoz.
The protests were in reaction to the detentions of the three rights activists: Hassan Mushaima’a, the leader of the Haq rights group; Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja, head of the Bahraini Center for Human Rights; and Shaker Abdul-Hussein, an independent activist.
The three were released without bail on Friday, but authorities charged them on Saturday with “promoting change to the political system through illegitimate means, inciting hatred of the political system, agitation and harming the public interest,” the Bahrain News Agency reported.
Haq is an opposition movement seeking democratic reform and greater rights for Shiite Muslims in Bahrain. The government refuses to recognize it and considers both it and the Bahraini Center for Human Rights as illegal organizations.
During the Shiite commemoration of Ashoura on Monday and Tuesday, al-Khawaja made speeches that criticized the government and Haq ran a street kiosk that gave a digital display on issues such as the victims of Bahrain’s unrest in the mid-1990s.
“All that I said is common knowledge to all people in Bahrain, especially those issues relating to human rights,” al-Khawaja said Saturday.
Mushaima’a also said he was arrested after delivering two speeches in the capital and another in Sitra, southwest of the capital, during Ashoura ceremonies.
During the speeches, Mushaima’a called for an investigation into allegations made by former government consultant, Salah al-Bandar, who claimed that government officials were behind the use of electronic technology to rig the November elections in favor of Sunnis, the ruling Bahrain minority.
The government has denied the allegations and charged al-Bandar, a Sunni Muslim, with sedition and expelled him from the country.
Ministry spokesman Mohammed Bu-Humod has said the government documented pictures and recorded speeches aimed at “splitting national unity” during Ashoura.
Shiites make up about 60 percent of Bahrain’s population, but the ruling family is Sunni Muslim. Shiites have long complained of discrimination.
Parliament member Jassim Hussein, who represents the Shiite Al-Wefaq party, alleged that the arrests were a “clever move by the authorities, who are using Ashoura to achieve several things.”
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