Middle East News
Demonstrators clash with police in Bahrain
By DPA
Jun 1, 2007, 18:51 GMT
Manama, Bahrain – A picket against increasing poverty in Bahrain turned violent Friday when demonstrators and police clashed in the Shiite village of Sanabis, near Manama.
The protest was organized by the Islamic Action Society (IAS), which adheres to Shia followers of the Najaf-based Ayatollah, Hadi al-Mudarrisi, known as the Shirazi faction.
IAS president Shaikh Muhammad al-Mahfud criticized the government for failing to adopt sound economic policies during the past three decades which had led to a lack of development compared to neighbouring countries.
Middle East News
Demonstrators clash with police in Bahrain
By DPA
Jun 1, 2007, 18:51 GMT
Manama, Bahrain – A picket against increasing poverty in Bahrain turned violent Friday when demonstrators and police clashed in the Shiite village of Sanabis, near Manama.
The protest was organized by the Islamic Action Society (IAS), which adheres to Shia followers of the Najaf-based Ayatollah, Hadi al-Mudarrisi, known as the Shirazi faction.
IAS president Shaikh Muhammad al-Mahfud criticized the government for failing to adopt sound economic policies during the past three decades which had led to a lack of development compared to neighbouring countries.
‘When compared to the developed world, we are outside the circle of history,’ al-Mahfud told a rally, adding, ‘We live in an ocean of oil but we are at the tail end of the development caravan.’
Neighbouring countries had managed their oil wealth better than Bahrain. Around 50,000 Bahrainis live in poverty and 40,000 are presently unemployed. Fears are growing that unemployment could soar to 80,000 in the coming years.
‘The riches we see in Bahrain only reflect the wealth of certain few that gathered their wealth with the money of the poor,’ al-Mahfud said.
He also criticized a recent government move to remove subsidies from basic goods and demanded the minimum wage be increased to BD 500 (1,326 US dollars).
In a statement issued on behalf of political groupings, they criticized that average wages for men are three times higher than those for women.
IAS is the direct descendant of the militant organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain. The IAS boycotted 2002 parliamentary elections and did not win any seats in the 2006 elections.
© 2007 dpa – Deutsche Presse-Agentur
© Copyright 2006,2007 by monstersandcritics.com.
This notice cannot be removed without permission.
