Activists vow to defy rally ban
By Geoffrey bew
Published: 13 April 2007
ORGANISERS of a demonstration timed to coincide with the start of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix have pledged to go ahead with the rally today, defying an Interior Ministry’s request to postpone it.
Fifteen human rights activists have called for a march to protest against non-Bahrainis receiving Bahraini passports.
They claim thousands of people are expected to attend the rally, which is scheduled to start next to the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, Manama, at 3.30pm.
The planned route will see them proceed towards Bab Al Bahrain and back.
Activists vow to defy rally ban
By Geoffrey bew
Published: 13 April 2007
ORGANISERS of a demonstration timed to coincide with the start of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix have pledged to go ahead with the rally today, defying an Interior Ministry’s request to postpone it.
Fifteen human rights activists have called for a march to protest against non-Bahrainis receiving Bahraini passports.
They claim thousands of people are expected to attend the rally, which is scheduled to start next to the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, Manama, at 3.30pm.
The planned route will see them proceed towards Bab Al Bahrain and back.
Public Security chief Major-General Abdul Latif Al Zayani yesterday announced the march would not be allowed to go ahead.
He asked organisers to postpone the event until after Sunday, when the Formula One is over.
But the Al Haq Movement of Liberties and Democracy’s media and international relations director, Dr Abdul Jalil Singace, yesterday insisted the event would go ahead.
He also warned police against trying to break up the march and urged them to stay away.
“We would like to show our protest silently and in a peaceful manner,” he told the GDN.
“We feel it (issuing passports) is very dangerous and we want those at the top to hear our voice. Many women and children will be present. The protest will be carried out in a very peaceful manner and any consequences of having the security forces present or the use of teargas may have repercussions and we will hold them responsible.”
Dr Singace also defended the right to hold the march, saying 10 people had signed the notification sent to the police and the organisers were well-known public figures.
He added that organisers had complied with a request to change the route of the march away from the Bahrain Financial Harbour.
“People want to stage their protest peacefully, but the Interior Ministry is resorting to repression and censorship,” said Dr Singace. “We hope there are rational decision makers to allow this protest to run peacefully.”
Among those calling for the march are the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights president Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, vice-president Nabeel Rajab, Dr Singace and Women’s Petition Committee head Ghada Jamsheer.
© Gulf Daily News
