Al Khalifa regime arrests prominent activist

Al Khalifa regime arrests prominent activist
Wed Jul 31, 2013 22:38:09

Bahrain's security forces have arrested a famous anti-regime activist as Al Khalifa regime's brutal clampdown on the opposition intensified.

Blogger Mohamed Hassan was arrested early Wednesday, president of the Bahrain Human Rights Center, Yousef al-Muhafedha, said.

Hassan also worked as an assistant to various foreign journalists visiting Bahrain.

The detention comes just days after Bahrain's loyalist-dominated parliament approved a bill empowering authorities to address what they called an upsurge in "terrorist" violence in the country, which in reality aims at quelling anti-regime protests.

The recommendation empowers authorities to revoke the citizenship of anyone "recognized as guilty of committing or inciting an act of terrorism."

During the extraordinary session on Sunday which was requested by King Hamad in the midst of a parliamentary recess, the lawmakers also approved a bill banning gatherings and rallies in the capital.

Bahrainis are preparing to hold mass anti-regime demonstrations on August 14. The Manama regime has warned that anyone participating in protests would face the "force of the law."

The Bahraini uprising began in mid-February 2011, when the people, inspired by the popular revolutions that toppled the dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, started holding massive anti-government demonstrations.

The Manama regime launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states.

Dozens of people have been killed in the crackdown, and the security forces have arrested hundreds, including doctors and nurses.

Bahrainis say they will continue holding demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically elected government is met.

NTJ/HH

string(1848) "[{"id":"1488558","sort":"3062890","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/27/alalam_635079570688771481_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Bahrain police fire tear gas to disperse protesters"} ,{"id":"1489399","sort":"3062900","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/30/alalam_635081871227658595_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Mosque comes under attack in Bahrain"} ,{"id":"1489425","sort":"3062899","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/30/alalam_635081934034438833_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Bahrain: A torturer’s paradise"} ,{"id":"1489439","sort":"3062891","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/30/alalam_635081959873988533_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Bahrain teen in jail over tweet against Al Khalifa"} ,{"id":"1492748","sort":"3062898","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/08/alalam_635088808940113873_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Bahrain regime forces raid dozens of homes"} ,{"id":"1494428","sort":"3062897","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/13/alalam_635093231388580575_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"In pictures: Anti-torture rally in Bahrain capital"} ,{"id":"1494752","sort":"3062896","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/14/alalam_635094069613011996_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Bomb blast injures 4 policemen in Bahrain"} ,{"id":"1496332","sort":"3062892","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/19/alalam_635098282809393372_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Bahrain regime keeps raiding protesters' homes"} ,{"id":"1496420","sort":"3062895","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/19/alalam_635098489342331097_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Protests flare in Bahrain after mosque blast"} ,{"id":"1496947","sort":"3062893","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/21/alalam_635099991735879843_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"100 wounded in Bahrain regime crackdown"} ,{"id":"1498114","sort":"3062894","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/24/alalam_635102786256776937_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Al Khalifa regime destroys another mosque"} ]"