page_title: Aftermath of the Bahraini uprising (January–August 2012)
section_title: 9 March
hierarchical_section_title: Aftermath of the Bahraini uprising (January–August 2012) / Timeline / March 2012 / 9 March
caption_attribution_description: English: Hundreds of thousands took part in this huge protest on Friday, called for by Sheikh Isa Qassim
context_page_description: The following is an incomplete timeline of events that followed the Bahraini uprising of 2011 from January to August 2012. This phase saw the first anniversary protest of the Bahraini uprising, the largest demonstrations in the history, and the escalation of violent clashes between youths and security forces.
context_section_description: Hundreds of thousands protested in one of the biggest anti-government rallies to date. According to CNN, the march "filled a four-lane highway between Duraz and Muksha". The government said 100,000 participated in the march while opposition activists estimated the number to be more than 200,000. The march was called for by Sheikh Isa Qassim, Bahrain's top Shia cleric. Protesters called for downfall of King and the release of imprisoned political leaders. The protest ended peacefully, however hundreds of youth tried to march back to the site of the now demolished symbolic Pearl roundabout, and were dispersed by security forces with tear gas. Nabeel Rajab, president of BCHR called the march "the biggest in our history".
  Information Affairs Authority said the march was "a prime example of how freedom of expression is guaranteed", while Isa Qassim said earlier during Friday sermons "This rally reflects the people's consensus on the political demands and their determination to not leave the streets until their demands are met".
  In Iraq, followers of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in Basra in support of the Bahraini opposition. Around 3,000 people chanted anti-Saudi slogans and waved Bahraini and Iraqi flags.
caption: Hundreds of thousands participated in the march
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