Bahrain Protests Intensify Amid Allegations of Police Abuses

Photo Credit: Mohammed al-Shaikh/AFP

Protests have intensified in Bahrain, with demonstrators calling for an end to the reign of the ruling monarchy. Opposition groups claim that at least 25 demonstrations have occurred daily in the kingdom since the holy month of Ramadan began last week. According to the Bahrain Freedom Movement, a London-based Bahraini opposition group, chants of “Down with Hamad,” referring to King Hamad al-Khalifa,  have become commonplace.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s largest opposition party, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society,  has launched a “Gangs of Darkness” campaign to draw attention to the nightly raids perpetrated by regime security forces on the Bahraini people. Former MP Khalil Marzooq claimed that more than 270 houses had been raided by the police during the last two months. “Ten million dollars have been stolen during such raids, including cash, electronic equipment, appliances and property,” Marzooq said. Following the accusations, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa ordered an investigation into possible rights violations by police and said Bahrain is “fully committed to upholding human rights standards and maintaining transparency in its investigations.”