Bahrainis want detained activists freed

Fri May 20, 2011

Hundreds of Bahraini protesters have take to the streets in the Persian Gulf island, demanding the immediate release of detained anti-government activists.

Anti-regime protesters in the village of Sanabis near the capital, Manama, demanded an end to the rule of Al Khalifa dynasty.

Similar anti-regime protest rallies were also held in the village of Boori.

Meanwhile, Saudi-backed Bahraini troops rolled into Sitra and detained two teenagers.

According to witnesses, riot police and pro-government thugs also stormed the villages of Hamala, Daih and Diraz.

The Manama government has arrested hundreds of protesters, opposition activists, bloggers and doctors since the beginning of anti-regime protests in Bahrain in mid-February.

Rights groups and the families of those arrested during the government crackdown on protesters have blamed Bahraini security forces of mistreating anti-government protesters, saying they are being physically and mentally abused.

At least four detained activists have died under torture while in police custody.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have bitterly criticized the Bahraini government for its brutal crackdown on civilians.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which visits detainees in conflict situations, has been trying to see and contact those detained in Bahrain since mid-March. So far, however, Manama has refused to grant the organization permission.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180867.html.