Protesters denounce recent execution of Shia activists in Bahrain

Thu Jan 26, 2017 14:49:50

People have staged separate rallies in Bahrain to express their outrage at the recent execution of three pro-democracy Shia campaigners at the hands of the ruling Al Khalifah regime.

The protesters rallied across the streets in the village of Sanabis on Wednesday evening, chanting slogans like “Zealot martyrs will remain in our hearts”, “Far from us is disgrace” and “Our grandeur lies in martyrdom.”

They noted that the Manama regime’s attempts in terrorizing people could not frustrate the uprising in the Persian Gulf kingdom, calling for the downfall of King Hamad and the trial of the ruling dynasty.

A similar rally was held in Sitra Island, where participants stressed that they would not forget their martyrs.

On January 15, Bahrain executed Abbas al-Samea, 27, Sami Mushaima, 42, and Ali al-Singace, 21, by firing squad. The killings came a week after the Court of Cassation upheld death sentences over the killing of three policemen, including an Emirati officer, in the village of al-Daih in March 2014.

Bahraini regime forces on Wednesday attacked a group of people, who had gathered outside the residence of Sheikh Isa Qassim in the village of Diraz, to express their solidarity with the 79-year-old prominent Shia cleric.

Regime forces used live ammunition and pellet air rifles to disperse the crowd. A number of the protesters sustained injuries and several others were arrested.

The protesters, however, prevented the police to take those arrested away with them.

On June 20,2016, Bahraini authorities stripped Sheikh Qassim, who is the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s dissolved opposition bloc, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, of his nationality.

They later dissolved the Islamic Enlightenment Institution, founded by the clergyman, in addition to the opposition al-Risala Islamic Association.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the kingdom on February 14, 2011.

They are demanding that the Al Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and let a just system representing all Bahrainis be established.

Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.

Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a result of Al Khalifah regime’s crackdown.

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