User:Bahraini Activist/Bahraini uprising overview
Bahrain is a tiny island that sits in the Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It's ruled by the Sunni Al Khalifa family since 1783 when they invaded the country. Bahrain has a Shia majority who have long complained of receiving poor treatment in employment, housing, and infrastructure, while Sunnis have preferential status. The ruling family doesn't trust Shia enough; they are blocked from serving in important political and military posts. Instead The Bahraini government has reportedly imported Sunnis from Pakistan and Syria in an attempt to increase the Sunni percentage.
As part of the revolutionary wave of protests in the Middle East and North Africa duped Arab spring, the uprising erupted in Bahrain last year on 14 February after calling for a 'Day of Rage'.
The uprising erupted in Bahrain last year on 14 February after calling for a 'Day of Rage' demanding political reforms. Protests were met with repression killing at least six, and after failing to quell protests, Government of Bahrain requested military help from GCC countries which arrived on 14 March 2011. The government response has been described as a "brutal" crackdown on peaceful and unarmed protesters. Since then, clashes continue to occur almost daily in the island kingdom, but mostly in areas outside the Manama's business districts with some rare marches in the center of the capital city. According to Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 63 people have died since the start of the uprising including 14 deaths as a result of suffocation with tear gas. Last year five detainees were tortured to death, an independent commission of inquiry appointed by King Hamad found.
Sources[edit]
- Staff writer. "Bahrain activists in 'Day of Rage'" — Al Jazeera English, February 14, 2011
- Staff writer. "Clashes rock Bahraini capital" — Al Jazeera English, February 17, 2011
- Martin Chulov. "Saudi Arabian troops enter Bahrain as regime asks for help to quell uprising" — The Guardian, March 14, 2011
- Bill Law. "Police brutality turns Bahrain into 'island of fear'" — BBC News, April 6, 2011
- Staff writer. "Al Jazeera live blog 25 Jan 2012" — Al Jazeera English, January 25, 2012
- Staff Writer. "List of people killed in Bahrain since 14th February 2011" — Bahrain Center for Human Rights, February 11, 2012