Local News

Rioters slammed

January 2 - 8, 2008
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More than 1,500 people demonstrated in Isa Town to condemn the riots and acts of sabotage during the National Day and Eid Al Adha holidays.

Protesters, led by Terrorism Victims Committee president MP Shaikh Jassim Al Saeedi, marched after Friday prayers from the Sabeeka Al Nasif Mosque at the Isa Traditional Market, calling for harsh punishments to be meted out to those involved.

Taking part in the march were MPs Shaikh Mohammed Khalid Mohammed and Samy Al Buhairy, municipal councillors and political and social societies' representatives.

Shaikh Jassim said that the demonstration showed that ordinary Bahrainis do not agree with what's going on. "These terrorist acts have affected locals and expatriates and damaged public and private property and instead of giving them amnesty as always, we want them to be punished," he said.

"Today's demonstration is peaceful and responsible, unlike the barbaric, uncivilised and hate-filled attacks by those who went on a rampage last week.

"We are here to express our love and loyalty to the leadership and country, and our stand against anything that would threaten our unity, or harm anyone in the community."

At least 39 people have been detained in Bahrain following the protests during which one person died.

About 500 protesters took to the streets last Thursday following the death of Ali Jassem from natural causes after teargas inhalation at a demonstration held on the previous Monday to mark the social unrest of the 1990s.

The protesters threw petrol bombs at police, who responded by firing rubber bullets.

A number of arrests were made after a police vehicle was torched and weapons stolen from it during Thursday's clashes.

They will face criminal charges. "They are not political activists," a police spokesman said.







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