Death of Bahrain activist sparks violent protest (VIDEO)
At least 12 protesters have been arrested in the north of Bahrain after a mass funeral of an opposition activist turned into a violent rally.
Protesters threw stones and street debris at riot police in the north of Bahrain, following a mass funeral of a 22-year-old activist in the village of al-Daih on Thursday, according to RT’s video agency, Ruptly.
Demonstrators, who blocked roads with burning tires and cement
blocks, were confronted by Special Security Forces officers, who
arrived on tanks and riot jeeps and fired tear gas at the rally
participants.
8- Massive funeral procession for Mohammed Abduljalil in #Bahrain#14feb#protest#franch#usapic.twitter.com/Oy98dXZtDE
— Sayed photography (@saydoofreedom99) September 12, 2013
Mohammed Abduljalil Yousif, an opposition activist, died on Wednesday and was immediately pronounced a ‘martyr’ by his fellow protesters, who believe he was run over by a police car.
An alternative theory concerning the young activist’s death has been put forward by unnamed sources, cited by Gulf Daily News. They say Mohammed Abduljalil was killed by a tree, which he and his friends were trying to cut down in order to block a road as part of their protest activity.
"His friends panicked when one of the trees fell on him and he
was lying in a pool of blood,” the daily is citing the
source. "They didn't call police, but took him to IHB [the
International Hospital of Bahrain] where he was pronounced
dead.”
23 - #picture of Violent clashes with police in #Bahrain after death of activist #usa#14feb#protest#franchpic.twitter.com/hhaK9aVXPF
— Sayed photography (@saydoofreedom99) September 12, 2013
It’s not the first time protesters are claiming their fellow
activist was run over by a police car. One of the most recent
cases was in November 2012, when demonstrators accused police of
killing a 16-year-old
boy. The incident caused rioting as well.
Situation in Bahrain has been volatile with regular rallies
staged by the opposition ever since the country’s ‘Arab Spring’
uprising was suppressed two-and-a-half years ago. The Shiite-led
revolt back then was crushed by security forces protesting the
Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty.
Picture of Martyr Mohammed AbdulJaleel held at #Alsanabis rally "our Mohammed went a martyr for our victory" #bahrainpic.twitter.com/voaaqDXBMw
— بنت السنابس (@14Feb_Freedom) September 12, 2013
Human Rights Watch says more
than 80 people have died in uprisings since they began in
February 2011.
One of the most vocal critics of the government, activist Nabeel
Rajab, has been serving a three-year term in jail since August
2012.
Reports of human rights violations in Bahrain have become a
loaded issue for Washington, as the kingdom is home to the US
Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
A series of massive and violent rallies took place in April,
while the country was hosting the Formula One race and protesters were trying to draw
the attention of the international community to the lack of
democratic freedoms in Bahrain.
Bahrain's parliament responded with new tough laws passed in
July. The legislation bans protests in the capital and gives authorities
the right to strip citizenship from those convicted of violence.
The UN has repeatedly called on Bahrain for it to
permit entry of the United Nation’s envoy to the kingdom to
investigate allegations of human rights abuse. Bahrain has
refused to comply.
