Bahrain police clear out protesters in Pearl Roundabout | The National Bahrain police clear out protesters in Pearl Roundabout Reuters Middle East unrest MANAMA // Helicopters flew overhead and Bahraini police fired teargas on Wednesday as they cleared protesters from a central roundabout that has become the main protest site by the island's Shiite majority. Advancing less than 24 hours after Bahrain declared martial law, police moved in thick lines from Bahrain Financial Harbour, the country's main financial district, to the Pearl Roundabout. Helicopters buzzed overhead as youths hurled petrol bombs at police and scattered when new rounds of tear gas hit. Two policemen were killed, a health official said, by protesters who knocked them down as they fled in their cars. Riot police blocked access to Manama's Salmaniya hospital, where many civilian casualties had previously been treated, and it was difficult to pin down casualty figures. However, Abdel Jalil Khalil, the head of Wefaq, the main opposition party, said at least five protesters have been killed and hundreds wounded in Wednesday's crackdown. The security operation came a day after Bahrain declared three months of martial law to help quell unrest that has drawn in troops from fellow Sunni-ruled neighbour Saudi Arabia.

It did not appear that Gulf Arab forces invited in by the government for support were involved in the operation. Thousands of protesters had been camped out at the Pearl Roundabout, near the financial district, during weeks of protests. On Sunday, they overwhelmed police and blocked a main thoroughfare leading to the financial area, crippling the economy. On Wednesday, Bahrain announced it had closed its stock market until further notice. * Reuters Bahrain: Protesters Continue to Camp at Pearl Roundabout · Global Voices and many people missing – and still unaccounted for (update: Missing people found ). The Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa then appeared on state television, ordering the end to bloodshed, and the opening of national dialogue, in which all Bahrainis will be party of. Meanwhile, some Bahraini officials continue to provoke the feelings of Bahrainis who witnessed bloodshed in their country, by totally denying the sad escalations and tragic turn of events.

Here's a CNN interview with Bahrain's Special Envoy to the US telling the world that “our forces did not fire rounds” and that the “kills are not yet confirmed”: After the protesters buried their dead, they returned to occupy Lulu , where they are still camping – many of whom are staying overnight again. Here are some pictures of the people of Lulu from last night and earlier today: @nadooi_wish : Found this! A woman protesting at #lulu #Bahrain #feb14 "I am a sunni & I support my people" @RedhaHaji : The martyr is his cousin. #bahrain #lulu #feb14 the yought man just looks so sad.

Full of heartache @alihashemii : صور التقطت قبل ساعة من دوار اللؤلؤ #Bahrain #Feb14 #lulu @TruthWitness :Prayers at #lulu roundabout #bahrain #feb14 @RedhaHaji : Why not talk from the start & saves lives #bahrain #lulu #feb14 @fahadjuma : Wind of Change for Democracy #Bahrain #Feb14 #LuLu Wind of change to democracy @nadooi_wish : “Our Demand Is A Constitution” #bahrain #feb14 #lulu @nadooi_wish : “We Won't Move Until He Moves” Deih Village Youth. Written in Egyptian slang. #Bahrain #feb14 #lulu @nadooi_wish : #lulu roundabout this morning. People are arriving there &most of them camped there.

#bahrain #feb14 @queendarksideup : Scene at 3:33am #bahrain #feb14 #lulu #bh @Bahrainiac : “One doesn't die twice” #lulu #bahrain #feb14 @khokhz : Last one for the night. Hope things calm down in beloved Bahrain soon #lulu #bahrain #feb14 @khokhz : Some of leftover tear gas cans and rubber bullet pellets found on #lulu #bahrain #feb14 @A7mdG : بعض ما وجد في ميدان اللؤلؤة بعد الرجوع إلية اليوم #bahrain #feb14 #lulu @OhoodAbdul : Wonderful image of the #Bahrain Salmanya Hospital medical team @ #lulu roundabout today #Feb14 @khokhz : A vigil held for lost victims “I love you, my country” #lulu #bahrain #feb14 @khokhz : Stunned by the resilience of people and how euphoric they seemed to b back #lulu #bahrain #feb14 @anmarek : The mother of martyr.

Earlier at #lulu circle #bahrain #feb14 #PearlRevolution @emoodz : From #lulu.. An hour or so ago.. #bahrain #feb14 #lulu This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011 . Bahrain protesters reclaim Pearl roundabout in central Manama | World news | The Guardian Bahrain Bahrain protesters reclaim Pearl roundabout in central Manama The standoff in central Manama ends with troops moving out and the return of jubilant demonstrators demanding change Anti government protestors march into Pearl roundabout in Manama after the military and police left. Photograph: Caren Firouz/Reuters Saturday 19 February 2011 14.34 EST First published on Saturday 19 February 2011 14.34 EST Close This article is 5 years old Protesters have reclaimed Pearl roundabout in central Manama as a hub of anti-government dissent after security forces abruptly surrendered the site they had violently seized three days ago. Bahrain's crown prince yesterday ordered troops and riot police to withdraw from the site they had blockaded since Thursday morning.

He announced a day of mourning for the seven protesters killed during a week of clashes between the tiny nation's Shia majority and forces loyal to the ruling Sunni dynasty. Around 200 more people have been wounded. By nightfall, one of the biggest public gatherings in Manama in more than 20 years had swelled to around 40,000 people, with thousands more streaming towards the roundabout that has taken on Tahrir Square-like significance in Bahrain's anti-government movement. The end to the standoff came suddenly, after brief skirmishes between scores of youths draped in Bahraini flags and retreating riot police, who peppered them with rubber bullets and tear gas before leaving. Crown Prince Salman Hamad al-Khalifa last night said the troops would not return, and protesters could remain in the area without fear. As several dozen protesters were being taken to hospital, hundreds more began descending on Pearl roundabout. By last night they were re-pitching tents. Thousands prayed, while others did victory laps, cheering ambulance drivers who were being hailed as heroes.

The jubilant atmosphere was tempered by widespread distrust among demonstrators, who began their protests several weeks ago, calling for political reform, and claiming that Bahrain's Sunni minority has discriminated against the Shia majority for decades. "They will come for us again, we know they will," said one protester, Sayed Majid, as he pointed out Indian food rations left on the square by the troops. The overwhelmingly Shia demonstrators are particularly incensed that the security forces they have clashed with are mainly foreign nationals who have been given citizenship and jobs by the regime. "I know the way they think. Their pride has been wounded and they will try to strike back," he said. Fatima Majid, who had returned to her homeland to join the protests, said: "It is a mercenary corps protecting an artificial regime. The more of us they kill, the more powerful we become." Yesterday, as in previous days since the toppling of autocratic leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, this sense of defiance was felt across the region. In Algeria, hundreds of protesters calling for more democratic freedoms from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's regime were thrwarted by riot police brandishing clubs.

In Yemen, mounting dissent worsened when supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, dressed in civilian clothing, opened fire on a group of students who had gathered outside the capital's Sana'a University, injuring at least four people, one critically. In the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, not far from Bahrain , Shia Muslims staged a protest to demand the release of prisoners detained without trial. The protest, reported on Rasid.com, a Shia website, was said to have been silent, with no banners for fear of provoking the authorities. There was no such restraint at Pearl roundabout, which last night had an almost folk festival feel to it, as well as a palpable sense that reform was possible. "The government is listening to us now," said Mohammed Najib. "Not because they like us, but because we are in a strong position. The world is watching us and international opinion matters." The order to withdraw troops came after a curt phone call on Friday night from Barack Obama to King Hamad al-Khalifa, in which the US president urged him to show restraint.

The government is facing challenges on multiple fronts: Britain indicated on Friday that it may stop selling arms to Bahrain; next month's Formula One grand prix could be cancelled, and neighbouring Gulf states have demanded that stability be restored. Perhaps more alarming for the 200-year-old dynasty is that demonstrators are no longer making a distinction between the ruling family and the government during their calls for reform. "Down, down with the Khalifas," they shouted in English as they teemed towards Pearl roundabout. "The regime must fall, they will kill us all," doctors and nurses chanted in the grounds of the Salmaniya hospital that had been the focal point of the revolt. A national dialogue, chaired by the crown prince, is due to begin this week. The demonstrators want the kingdom to be a constitutional monarchy, removing some powers from the king. The opposition party, which walked out of the government on Thursday in protests at the raid, is calling for parliamentary reforms, which would mean an end to the country's deeply unpopular prime minister of 30 years and many of his ministers. "We will not stop at regaining a piece of land," said Bassema Mousawi, draped in a banner that read in Arabic: Bahrain is me and I am Bahrain.

"They cannot buy us off and they cannot appease us. Real change is what we demand. Nothing less." Such intransigence was heard from protesters across the region. But in many instances it was mixed with desperation at the heavy-handed approach of authorities. Those wanting to protest in Iran and Morocco are preparing for demonstrations today to ram home their message to their countries' rulers. In the North African country, where the regime of King Mohammed VI claims to be more liberal than its regional neighbours, pro-democracy campaigners are urging people to take to the streets in the cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech and Tangier. "We want a government that represents the people, not the elite," said one of the organisers, Mont Asser Drissi. In Iran, the opposition has called for fresh street protests to commemorate the deaths of two pro-democracy youths killed during rallies last week. Saane Zhaleh, 26, and Mohammad Mokhtari, 22, died in Tehran last Monday. Today marks a week since they were killed.

"In response to the brutal suppression and killing of the supporters of the Green Movement, we will go out in streets in major squares [of Tehran and other major cities] on Sunday which will mark the seventh day after the death of our martyrs," said the website of former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. In the most rigorous crackdown on the opposition since the post-election unrest in 2009, the regime has launched a campaign to silence the leaders of the Green Movement. The protesters will hope to flout that. The regime has been criticised for hailing the Arab revolts abroad, while refusing to give permission for a peaceful demonstration at home. Muammar Gaddafi's son warns of civil war in state television address as regime tries to halt uprising Published: 20 Feb 2011 Libya's leader faces the worst unrest since he seized power, but no-one expects him to give up peacefully Published: 20 Feb 2011 Bahrain: forces ‘cleanse’ Pearl Roundabout protests – Channel 4 News Hundreds of Bahraini riot police backed by tanks and helicopters arrived early on Wednesday morning to move around 500 Shia protesters who have been camped out at the roundabout near the financial district for weeks.

Protesters threw petrol bombs at the security forces who responded by firing dozens of rounds of teargas. At least two protesters were reportedly killed and dozens more sustained injuries as the security forces moved in. Reports also suggest three policemen were knocked down and killed by protesters as they fled in their cars from the roundabout. Bahrain News Agency enraged protesters in the country with a news story in which it claimed security forced had ‘cleansed’ and ‘purified’ Peal Roundabout. The report read: “Bahrain Defence Force launched an operation to cleanse the Gulf Cooperation Council Roundabout, the Bahrain Financial Harbour, the Salmaniya Medical Complex and the areas surrounding them.” <!– –> Pearl roundabout had been mostly cleared within two hours as protesters fled to other parts of the city. State television showed the roundabout, which has been the epicentre of the pro-democracy campaign, completely empty of protesters. Abdel Jalil Khalil, the head of the Shia Muslim opposition bloc Wefaq, claimed the death toll was much higher than has been reported and that at least five protesters had been killed and many more injured. “This is a war of annihilation.

This does not happen even in wars and this is not acceptable,” he said He also claimed troops were surrounding several hospitals, cutting off access to medical facilities for injured protesters. Crackdown The crackdown came a day after a state of emergency was declared and at least two people were killed in clashes in the Shia suburb of Sitra outside Manama. Seven protesters were killed last week. An order by the king authorised the commander of Bahrain’s defence forces to “take all necessary measures to protect the safety of the country and its citizens,” a statement read out on television on Tuesday said. That order followed the arrival of more than 1,000 Saudi-led troops with a mandate from the Gulf Cooperation Council to support King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa’s regime in the Sunni- ruled, Shia-majority kingdom. The king reshuffled his cabinet on 26 February, replacing four ministers, including two royal family members. However, he did not sack Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifah ibn Salman al-Khalifah, who has held the office for more than 40 years. Hospital blocked Police and army forces took over the Salmaniya Medical Complex with reports emerging that injured people outside the hospital entrance were barred from entering.

Ambulances were also not allowed in or out of the hospital, according to doctors there. The doctors formed human chains at the entrance of the hospital in protest at the blockade, and said they would spread out to local health centres and mosques to help the injured there. Bahrain’s health minister resigned over the government’s crackdown. Nezar bin Sadeq al-Baharna, a Shi’ite, stepped down but did not announce his reasons. It has also been reported that Housing Minister Majeed bin Mohsen al-Alawi was “boycotting” government and 12 judges from the Shi’ite court also resigned. Curfew Bahrain’s military has announced a 12-hour curfew from 4pm to 4am local time across much of the capital Manama, and banned all public gatherings and demonstrations across the country. A statement from a military officer read: ”A curfew will be imposed from today, Wednesday 16 March 2011, until further notice.

It will be imposed from 4pm to 4am, starting from the Sword Bridge until the traffic lights before the Sheikh Issa bin Salman al Khalifa Bridge, and the areas to the left of it and to the right of it to a distance of 400 metres in either direction. Bahrainis in this area should comply with security checks to allow them to move legally in this area. Secondly, marches and gatherings in the kingdom of Bahrain are banned until the country returns to normal. Thirdly, citizens and residents are to cooperate fully with security checks for their safety, and the necessary legal procedures will be taken against all those who do not cooperate,” said a military officer in a live television appearance.” Tehran’s rhetoric darkens Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Bahrain’s crackdown was “unjustifiable and irreparable” and urged the region to heed the mistakes made by former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, who was executed in 2006 after his regime was toppled. “Their response to their people with rifles, machine guns and helicopters, with shells and tanks; not only is this an ugly, inhuman and unacceptable act, but also it will not have any results.

It is clear that it won’t have results,” Ahmadinejad said. He warned leaders in the region not to intervene in neighbouring countries. “It would be good to learn from Saddam’s destiny. Why do they send military powers to a neighbouring country to confront people. Saddam’s destiny can apply to everyone. Why do some insist on repeating Saddam’s mistakes within the region?” Washington ‘alarmed’ On Wednesday, The White House gave its clearest sign so far of its disapproval of Bahrain’s apparent use of force against protesters. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: “We find what’s happening in Bahrain alarming. We think that there is no security answer to the aspirations and demands of the demonstrators,” she said. “We have also made that very clear to our Gulf partners who are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council, four of whose members have sent troops to support the Bahraini government. They are on the wrong track”. Later, President Barack Obama called the kings of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and urged them to exercise “maximum restraint” with protesters and to pursue political dialogue.” “The president expressed his deep concern over the violence in Bahrain and stressed the need for maximum restraint,” a White House spokesman said.

Expats stream out Bahrain Airport remains open at the time of writing and British Airways and Qatar Air are continuing to run a normal service. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) told Channel 4 News that there are currently no plans to charter planes to Bahrain to evacuate British nationals. A spokesman said the FCO does not know how many Britons remain in Bahrain follwoing the announcement of martial law and a national curfew. Aircraft charter company Chapman Freeborn Airchartering is experiencing a surge in demand for charter flights out of Bahrain. Meanwhile, Banks HSBC and Standard Chartered have said they are closing all of their branch offices in Bahrain. The hero of bahrain break out Pearl Roundabout in sep 3 2011 !! - YouTube The hero of bahrain break out Pearl Roundabout in sep 3 2011 !! Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Uploaded on Sep 4, 2011 The hero of bahrain break out Pearl Roundabout in sep 3 2011 !! the hero Mohamed alhayki break out the pearl roundabout which surrounded by National Guard. he was holding the flag of Bahrain entered the ground and then was arrested by National Guard troops, the army and has beaten. Category World Report 2012: World Report 2012: Bahrain | Human Rights Watch Español In mid-February Bahraini authorities used lethal force to suppress peaceful anti-government and pro-democracy protests, killing seven and wounding many more. The crackdown resumed in mid-March, after troops from Saudi Arabia entered Bahrain and Bahraini military and security forces launched a systematic campaign of retribution, arresting thousands of demonstrators or individuals who supported the protests. Authorities fired hundreds of public sector employees suspected of supporting the protests, as did large private firms in which the state had a substantial stake. Security forces’ use of birdshot pellets, rubber bullets, and tear gas as well as live ammunition caused most of the deaths and injuries of protesters and bystanders. Attacks against protesters continued after authorities formally lifted the “state of national safety” on June 1.

At this writing more than 40 persons had been killed in connection with suppression of protests, including four who died in custody in April from torture or medical neglect, and several members of security forces. Right to Assembly During the early morning hours of February 17, security forces attacked peaceful demonstrators at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, the capital. Many were sleeping. The assault left four protesters dead and hundreds injured. On February 18, security forces and the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) fired live ammunition and rubber bullets at peaceful protesters marching towards the Pearl Roundabout—then occupied by BDF tanks, armored vehicles and police units—mortally wounding Abd al-Ridha Bu Hameed. On February 19, authorities ordered security and military forces to withdraw and protesters reoccupied the Pearl Roundabout. For four weeks protesters gathered at the roundabout and other areas to voice opposition to the government and ruling Al Khalifa family. Crown Prince Salma bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appeared on national television and guaranteed that protesters would be free to demonstrate at the Pearl Roundabout without facing arrest or attack by government forces.

On March 16—a day after King Hamad declared a “state of national safety,” akin to a state of emergency—security and military forces forcibly cleared the Pearl Roundabout, the center of anti-government protests. The same day, forces dispersed protesters in villages outside Manama and surrounded the Salmaniya Medical Complex, the country’s largest public hospital, preventing patients and medical staff from entering or leaving the hospital. At least six people were killed during clashes on March 16, including two police officers. After lifting the state of emergency on June 1, authorities permitted Al Wefaq, the largest opposition political society, to hold several rallies, which remained peaceful, but clashes with security forces regularly broke out when protesters held demonstrations in Shia villages. At least eleven protesters and bystanders, including two children under age 18, had been killed as a result of protest-related injuries between June 1 and this writing. Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions Since mid-March security forces have arrested over 1,600 people who participated in, or were suspected of supporting, the anti-government demonstrations. Some of those arrested and detained were children.

In many cases armed masked men, some in uniforms and others in civilian clothes, pulled people out of their homes in pre-dawn raids and transferred them to unknown locations. Others were arrested at work or pulled out of cars at checkpoints. Authorities held most detainees in incommunicado detention for weeks, in some cases months. Detainees had little or no contact with lawyers or family except when they were presented before a special military court. Those held incommunicado included doctors, teachers, students, athletes, a prominent defense lawyer, and leaders of legally recognized opposition political societies. Ibrahim Sharif, a Sunni who heads the secularist National Democratic Action Society, was one of the first arrested, in a pre-dawn raid on March 17. Matar Ibrahim Matar andJawad Fairouz—who represented Al Wefaq, the largest opposition bloc in parliament before its members resigned in protest in February—were seized on May 2. Authorities released Matar and Fairouz in August but they still face charges related to their political activities. Dozens remained in pre-trial detention as of October, in addition to the more than 250 who were convicted and sentenced by special military courts.

The government provided little information about the number of people arrested and typically gave reasons for arrest only when detainees were charged before special military courts. Torture, Ill-Treatment, and Abuse In April four people died in custody, apparently as a result of torture and medical neglect. The body of one—Ali Isa Ibrahim Saqer, arrested in connection with the deaths of two police officers—bore unmistakable signs of torture on his body. On April 28 Bahrain TV broadcast Saqer’s purported confession in connection with the trial of his co-defendants, although authorities notified Saqer’s family of his death on April 9. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a leading human rights and political activist, appeared before a special military court on May 8 with facial fractures and head injuries, apparently the result of severe beatings he sustained when authorities detained him on April 9. Several other co-defendants showed signs of possible abuse or ill-treatment. Since mid-February dozens of released detainees, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics arrested in March and April, have alleged they were abused or tortured during detention, often to coerce confessions.

On February 23, authorities released from prison 23 opposition leaders and activists arrested between mid-August and early September 2010 for alleged terrorist offenses. Several in the group described lengthy interrogation sessions during which they were blindfolded and subjected to both physical and psychological abuse, some of which amounted to torture. The abuse included threats, humiliation, solitary confinement, beatings to the head, chest, and other sensitive areas, beatings on the soles of feet with sticks or hoses, sleep deprivation, denying access to the bathroom, and electric shocks. Some said they were sexually harassed or assaulted. Most of the defendants have since been rearrested. Authorities denied requests for visits to detention facilities by independent human rights and humanitarian organizations as well as United Nations human rights mechanisms. Unfair Trials in Special Military Courts On March 15 King Hamad established by decree special military courts, called the “Courts of National Safety,” to try protesters and people perceived as supporting the street protests. BDF Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa appointed the military judge who presides over the court, along with two civilian judges, and the military public prosecutor who prosecuted the cases.

Since March, authorities have tried several hundred defendants before military courts and have convicted and sentenced more than 300 persons. Among those the special military court sentenced to prison terms ranging from five years to life were Sharif al-Khawaja, and 19 other protest leaders, seven of them in absentia, on June 22. The charges against them ranged from calling for a change of government, leading “illegal” demonstrations, “spreading false news,” and “harming the reputation” of the country. The trial record cited no evidence linking any of the accused to acts of violence or other recognizable criminal offenses. An appeals court upheld their convictions and sentences on September 28. On April 28 the special military court sentenced four defendants to death andthree others to life in prison for their alleged involvement in the murder of two police officers. Two of the death sentences were upheld by the Appeals Court of National Safety, while the other two were changed to life imprisonment. On September 29 the special military court sentenced another defendant to death for the alleged murder of a third police officer. Lawyers defending suspects before the special military court had extremely limited access to their clients and were unable to adequately prepare their clients’ defenses.

In many cases convictions were based solely on secret evidence that the military prosecution provided, the testimony of interrogators, and confessions that defendants claimed were coerced. The special military courts ended their operation on October 7, more than four months after a June 29 decree by King Hamad that supposedly transferred all protest-related cases to civilian courts. Attacks on Doctors and Other Health Care Staff Since the outbreak of anti-government protests in mid-February, Human Rights Watch documented restrictions on provision of emergency care at temporary health posts, sieges at hospitals and clinics by security forces, arrests and beatings of people with protest-related injuries, and arrests of doctors and other health care staff who had criticized these actions. Police attacked a volunteer medical tent in the February 17 raid on Pearl Roundabout, beating and arresting nurses and doctors as well as protesters. In response to this attack and to allegations that authorities prevented the dispatch of ambulances to attend to wounded protesters, demonstrators gathered outside the emergency facilities of Salmaniya hospital, with the support of some of the health care staff. For several weeks the grounds outside the complex became a staging ground for anti-government demonstrations, with posters, tents, photos of wounded protesters, and speeches by opposition leaders.

The BDF took over Salmaniya hospital on March 16 and restricted entry to and exit from the complex. Hospital staff and protesters being treated for injuries inside the hospital were subjected to harassment, beatings that sometimes rose to the level of torture, and arrest. Security forces also raided health care facilities elsewhere, where they interrogated and arrested medical staff. On September 29 the special military court sentenced 20 doctors and other health care staff charged with serious crimes, including kidnapping and storing weapons at Salmaniya hospital, and terms of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 15 years. The court denied the doctors and other health care staff a fair trial by relying on tainted or questionable evidence including coerced confessions, hearsay, and “secret evidence” submitted by interrogators, who often served as the prosecutor’s main witness. Judges also prevented the doctors and other health care staff from testifying in their own defense. At this writing a civilian court was scheduled to hear the doctors and health care staff’s appeal on November 28. Twenty-eight other doctors and health care staff faced misdemeanor charges before a civil court.

Summary Workplace and University Dismissals According to the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions, ministries, other official bodies, and private companies in which the state held a substantial interest dismissed more than 2,500 employees in the first half of the year. In most cases the stated reason for dismissal was absence from work during and immediately after street protests, but the dismissals appear to have been arbitrary and carried out in violation of Bahraini law. On April 19 the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported that the University of Bahrain had dismissed 200 students, academics, and other employees in connection with protests and clashes on the campus in March. On May 25, according to the BNA, Education Minister Majid al-Nuaimi confirmed that some students in Bahrain and abroad who participated in anti-government protests lost their government scholarships. The University of Bahrain required all students to sign a loyalty pledge to the ruling family before they could re-enroll when the university reopened in early May and again in September. Women’s Rights Unlike for Sunnis, there is no codified personal status law dealing with marriage, divorce, guardianship and child custody, and inheritance for Shias.

Such matters are left to the judge’s discretion in Shia courts. The penal code does not adequately deal with violence against women as there are no comprehensive provisions on sexual harassment or domestic abuse. Rape can be punished with life in prison, but marital rape is not recognized as a crime. Migrant Workers More than 460,000 migrant workers, primarily from Asia, work in Bahrain on temporary contracts in construction, domestic work, and other services. Abuses such as unpaid wages, passport confiscation, unsafe housing, excessive work hours, and physical abuse are common. A 2009 reform allowing workers to change jobs more freely has yet to be publicized widely and does not apply to domestic workers, who are also excluded from protection under the labor law. Bahrain voted to adopt the International Labour Organization Convention on Domestic Work, but has yet to ratify it or to pass draft national legislation on domestic work. Key International Actors Troops primarily from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates entered Bahrain on March 14 to support Bahrain’s crackdown against largely peaceful protests.

Bahrain hosts the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet, and the US sells military equipment to Bahrain, a “major non-NATO ally.” After the February attacks on demonstrators the United Kingdom and France announced they would cut off security and military sales and assistance to Bahrain, and the US announced it would “review” such sales. In September the US Department of Defense formally notified Congress of a proposed the sale of US$53 million in armored Humvees and other equipment to the BDF as well as $15 million in Foreign Military Financing for Bahrain. US President Barack Obama telephoned King Hamad on February 18 after Bahraini forces fired on demonstrators and, according to a White House statement, “reiterated his condemnation of the violence used against peaceful protesters,” and in a speech on May 19 criticized the government’s “mass arrests and brute force.” For the most part, however, Bahrain’s major western allies—the US and the European Union and its member states—were muted in their public criticism of Bahrain’s serious human rights violations in a manner that contrasted sharply with their public statements concerning other governments engaged in similar abuses in the region. They also failed to prompt any action at the UN Human Rights Council.

On June 29 King Hamad issued a decree establishing the Bahrain Independent Commission of Investigation (BICI) headed by M. Cherif Bassiouni and four other internationally recognized human rights experts. The commission’s mandate is to investigate “the events occurring in Bahrain February/March 2011, and any consequences arising out of the aforementioned events.” The commission was scheduled to issue its findings on November 23. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN secretary-general welcomed the establishment of the BICI. The US government has said it will wait for the commission’s final report and the government’s response before deciding on the $53 million arms sales. After the March crackdown the government sharply restricted access to the country by independent journalists and international rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch. Browse Countries Witnesses: King's supporters confront Bahrain students - CNN.com Witnesses: King's supporters confront Bahrain students By the CNN Wire Staff Bahraini police fired tear gas to disperse protesters demonstrating near Pearl Square on Sunday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: Bahrain's crown prince says security is not negotiable and calls for dialogue Riot police appear to shoot a man point blank with tear gas, a video shows About 5,000 university students demonstrate against the government It's one of several protests in Bahrain Sunday, eyewitnesses say RELATED TOPICS Bahrain (CNN) -- Supporters of the rulers of Bahrain threatened about 5,000 university students protesting against the government at Bahrain University Sunday, eyewitnesses said. The government denied that unjustified force was used. Elsewhere in the strategically important kingdom, riot police fired tear gas at protesters to break up the blockade of a highway, the government said. A video posted by an opposition party showed police appearing to fire two tear gas canisters at a man standing only a few feet from them. He doubles over after the first shot, and drops to the ground after the second, which appears to hit him in the face. The man is not obviously threatening the police in the video, which was posted Sunday by Wefaq. The opposition party told CNN it was filmed Sunday near Pearl Roundabout, the center of month-old protests in the kingdom.

About 150 supporters of the royal family tried to get onto Bahrain University campus during the protest there, but only some managed to get in. An unknown number of people were injured, but it's not clear how many or how badly. Security forces tried to prevent the regime supporters from entering the campus, and allowed people to leave the grounds but not to enter. According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency, security forces intervened for the safety of students after clashes broke out. "Some of the university's facilities have been vandalized by the demonstrators in breach of the allegedly claimed peaceful nature of the protests," the news agency reported. The tense standoff was one of at least three protests Sunday against the rulers of the small Gulf kingdom triggered by popular demonstrations that brought down the long-time presidents of Tunisia and Egypt earlier this year. The latest protests came a day after America's defense secretary said he's "convinced" that Bahrain's royal leaders are "serious about real reform and moving forward," but emphasized that they must move quickly. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was visiting the restive island kingdom, where he huddled with King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman and talked about the importance of engaging with opposition forces.

"I think that the concern now is that it's important that they have somebody to talk to and that the opposition be willing to sit down with the government and carry this process forward," he said. Sunday, the United States again called the government to pursue talks with the opposition and to refrain from using force. "In particular, we urge our GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) partners to show restraint and respect the rights of the people of Bahrain, and to act in a way that supports dialogue instead of undermining it," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. The crown prince similarly renewed his call for dialogue Sunday, calling on the opposition to negotiate. He said talks could include discussion of parliament and corruption and that any decision reached could be put to a vote in a special referendum. The crown prince also stressed, however, the significance of Bahrain's security. "Bahrain's security and the safety of its people have never been, and will never be, negotiable," he said in a statement. Also Sunday, some 250 young people organized a protest in front of Bahrain Financial Harbor in the capital Manama, witnesses said.

Text messages exchanged between them and others in the area warned of regime supporters approaching from Muharak, another island, but it's not clear whether the warnings were accurate. Police and anti-riot squads stationed near the harbor fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, leaving 20 injured, according to Salmanya Hospital. Al Wasat cameraman Mohammed Al-Mukharaq was among the seriously injured, his editor said. The government says protest camp tents were "removed," but did not say how. Many protesters mobilized to block off King Faisal highway to prevent the pro-regime groups from entering Bahrain's main island. The government and eyewitnesses disagree about how the blockade ended. Eyewitnesses and journalists say security officers asked them to disband and open the highway, and they complied. The government said attempts by uniformed police officers to persuade the protesters to re-open the road reached an impasse and that a group of protesters attacked unarmed police officers, resulting in one police officer being stabbed and another sustaining a serious head injury. Police then sought to disperse approximately 350 protesters by using tear gas in order to clear the road, the government statement said.

"The Ministry of Interior is currently undergoing operations to reopen the King Faisal Highway and advised all protesters to return to the Pearl Roundabout for their own safety," the government statement said. The roundabout has been the center of protests in the kingdom for a month. Bahrain, which sits in the Persian Gulf and is the base of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, has been wracked by anti-government protests since mid-February. Sunni Muslims -- a minority in the kingdom -- dominate the government of Bahrain. The Shiite Muslim majority has staged protests in recent years to complain about discrimination, unemployment and corruption, issues they say the country's Sunni rulers have done little to address. Many of them are in the anti-government coalition that has been demanding reform as part of the eruption of discontent sweeping across the Arab world for the past several months. They have staged dramatic protests and camped out in the capital's Pearl Roundabout Initially, protesters took to the streets of Manama to demand reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. But some are now calling for the removal of the royal family that has led the Persian Gulf state since the 18th century.

Bahrain is in the shadow of Iran, a predominantly Shiite country and antagonist of Bahrain's close ally, the United States. But Gates told reporters Saturday he "expressed the view that we had no evidence that suggested that Iran started any of these popular revolutions or demonstrations across the region." However, he said, there's evidence that Iranians "are looking for ways to exploit" the protracted processes unfolding in the region, "particularly in Bahrain." Three hard-line groups in the Gulf kingdom -- the Haq, Wafa and Bahrain Freedom Movement -- have united and called for the ruling family to step aside. The new coalition is calling for a democratic republic with no ruling family -- a step further than other opposition groups, which are calling for a constitutional monarchy. It appeared the hard-line groups represented a minority of the protesters at the roundabout. In response to the protests, the government has promised to build 50,000 new housing units and hire an additional 20,000 police officers, roughly doubling the size of the force. Members of Bahrain's majority Shiite Muslim community are not allowed to join the force. Bahrain's king reshuffled his Cabinet last month as protesters continued to call for reforms.

He has also touted a "national dialogue" and urged Bahrainis "to engage in this new process" and "move away from polarization." Journalist Mansoor Al-Jamri and CNN's Christine Theodorou, Dominique van Heerden, Mohammed Jamjoom and Jenifer Fenton contributed to this report. Share this on: Bahrain: The Revolution That Wasn't : NPR Enlarge this image Bahrain is the one Arab country where the government has suppressed a major uprising. Here, protesters wave flags at the Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama on Feb. 20, 2011, when the demonstrations were at their peak. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption John Moore/Getty Images Bahrain is the one Arab country where the government has suppressed a major uprising. Here, protesters wave flags at the Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama on Feb. 20, 2011, when the demonstrations were at their peak. John Moore/Getty Images Arab revolts against secular leaders have been much more successful over the past year than those against monarchs. The one monarchy that faced a serious threat was the tiny Persian Gulf island of Bahrain.

But after weeks of protests, troops from Saudi Arabia rolled into the country, the Bahraini regime imposed martial law, and a government crackdown followed. Kelly McEvers made several trips to Bahrain this past year and filed this report as part of NPR's series looking at the Arab Spring and where it stands today. Bahrain's uprising didn't get quite as much attention as some of the others in the Arab world last year. But it was one of the first, beginning on Feb. 14. One man, who has been in and out of jail since then and could only talk to me while hunkered down in his car, was there. "I remember the 14 February night — I cannot forget this night. Really I cannot forget," says the man, who asked not to be named. "Even my wife, she was telling me you'll be crazy. At the end, you will be crazy. Nothing will happen. A few people will protest and they will crush them and that's all." Article continues after sponsorship No, he told his wife. This time it's different. Bahrainis had protested before, mainly about the fact that the country's majority Shiites remain poor and disenfranchised by the Sunni monarchy.

But they'd never protested like this. At first the protesters asked for things like an elected Parliament, a new constitution. But then when demonstrators started getting killed, tens of thousands of Bahrainis converged on a place called the Pearl Roundabout to call for the fall of the ruling Al Khalifa family. Bahrain State TV called protesters traitors and agents of Iran, which is nearby and also has a Shiite majority. In Bahrain, pro-government thugs attacked protesters, and protesters fought back. Just one month into the uprising, Bahrain's ruling family authorized some 1,500 troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to enter the country. Helicopters circled overhead as authorities cleared the Pearl Roundabout of all protesters. The protesters were never allowed back. Enlarge this image An independent commission found that the Bahrain security forces used excessive force and tortured some of those detained. Here, family members look upon the body of protester Abdul Ridha Mohammed, who was shot in the head and died of his wounds on Feb. 21, 2011. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption John Moore/Getty Images An independent commission found that the Bahrain security forces used excessive force and tortured some of those detained.

Here, family members look upon the body of protester Abdul Ridha Mohammed, who was shot in the head and died of his wounds on Feb. 21, 2011. John Moore/Getty Images An Uprising Supressed And so Bahrain became the one Arab country whose uprising was definitively put down. One reason, argues Toby Jones, a professor of Middle East history at Rutgers University, is that the United States and its allies wanted it that way. For all America's talk during the Arab Spring about supporting those who seek freedom, Jones says, Bahrain was different. "If there is a place globally where there is not just distance but a huge gap between American interests and American values, it's in the Persian Gulf," Jones says. "And its epicenter is in Bahrain. Bahrain is ground zero for the Arab Spring in the Persian Gulf. And the United States has chosen sides. It has decided that it wants to see the Bahraini regime survive and endure. And that's important not only for the American relationship with Bahrain but for Saudi Arabia." The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain, giving the U.S. a major presence that has only increased in significance following the U.S. withdrawal of forces from Iraq.

In addition, Saudi Arabia didn't want protests in its own backyard, Jones says. And it didn't want a Shiite-led uprising to encourage its archrival, Shiite-dominated Iran. Bahrain's uprising was suppressed in a harsh crackdown. Thousands of people were rounded up, detained, and sometimes tortured. Two of those detained were elected members of Parliament. Others were doctors who treated protesters, journalists who wrote about them, and lawyers who defended them. Several people died while in custody. Bahrain largely silenced the uprising, but not entirely. Sporadic protests continued and human-rights groups condemned the government actions. Timeline: The Major Events Of The Arab Spring After The Revolt, An Investigation Eventually, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa commissioned a group of international jurists to investigate. The commission recently issued its findings at one of the king's palaces. More In This Series Part 6: The U.S. And The Arab Spring Nigel Rodley, a human-rights lawyer who served on the commission, says the group didn't have enough time to discover who ordered the crackdown. But it was clear the army, police and intelligence services were all using the same sinister tactics.

"They were all using the same methods of apprehension, detention, ill treatment, and so on, which suggested a policy across different branches of government," he said. For a moment, activists in Bahrain thought these findings might help revive their revolution. But while committees and commissions have been formed to implement some of the report's recommendations, no single high-ranking official has been held accountable for the deaths and the torture. Back during the protests, Sadiq Abdullah, a doctor, was interviewed by Al-Jazeera about protesters who had been shot by security forces. He eventually was called in for questioning by the intelligence service. Three months later and 40 pounds lighter, the doctor was released, but he still faces charges. He and his wife, Nidhal, recently took me to their private clinic, in a building that houses a dozen or so other clinics. "Everyone in this building was in jail," Nidhal said. Sadiq used to be the only doctor in Bahrain who could do kidney transplants. Now he has been fired from his position at the government hospital. One of his students does the transplants. "They've done two cases in the last eight months," Sadiq said. And there are 98 people on the waiting list.

Sadiq is furious at a government that would deprive its people of such care. Still, he has a lot to lose here in Bahrain. At the clinic he can earn in one day what he made in a month at the government hospital. The United States has chosen sides. It has decided that it wants to see the Bahraini regime survive and endure. And that's important not only for the American relationship with Bahrain but for Saudi Arabia. Toby Jones, professor of Middle East history at Rutgers University In fact, Sadiq and Nidhal are talking about expanding. "We have to think of other options," Sadiq said, noting that it could include performing private kidney transplants This is another way Bahrain differs from the other Arab uprisings. In Bahrain, the wall of fear hasn't been broken. People realize they have a lot to lose. Now, few public gatherings are allowed in Bahrain. Funerals are one of the exceptions, like a recent procession for a man who witnesses say was killed when riot police smashed into his car. As the man was buried, people started chanting slogans against the regime. The riot police approached. A few young protesters threw rocks. The police responded with rubber bullets, sound grenades and tear gas.

That's all that was left of Bahrain's uprising. The monument at the Pearl Roundabout has been demolished. All roads to it are blocked by armored vehicles. Protests are stopped before they make it out of the villages. This is what's happening in villages all over Bahrain. But each one is contained and individual. There's no large movement as was the case back in February and March. And from what a lot of people say, there's not going to be one anytime soon. The riot police eventually fell back, protesters went back into their houses, and the village started to put itself back together. For now, the uprising appears to be over. As the sun goes down, it's time for evening prayer. There is garbage on the streets, but somebody will come and clean it up. And then, life will get back to normal. Just like nothing ever happened. Clarification Jan. 9, 2012 The audio and the original text version of this story said that funerals are the only public gatherings now permitted in Bahrain. Some demonstrations have been permitted in recent months, however, applications for such gatherings are often denied.

| Politics , Middle East Security forces have clashed with protesters trying to march towards the Bahraini capital's symbolic Pearl Roundabout to mark the third anniversary of the country's anti-government protests, witnesses said. Protesters, who gathered in several Shia villages on Friday to walk towards the roundabout, where demonstrators camped out for a month in early 2011 before being violently dispersed by troops, were met with tear gas and bird shot, according to witnesses who spoke to AFP. Several demonstrators were wounded as forces beefed up security around the area and dispersed protesters emerging from nearby villages, sources said. "Down with Hamad," protesters, some wrapped in white shrouds and others covering their faces, chanted, referring to the king. "We will never surrender," they shouted as police helicopters hovered overhead and police forces manned checkpoints outside Shia villages, witnesses said. Earlier on Friday, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) announced that they had documented 36 arrests while seven were released from jail. The opposition has called for three days of protests to mark the anniversary as it seeks to give new momentum to its campaign for the ruling al-Khalifa family to surrender its grip on all key cabinet posts in favour of an elected government.

The Pearl Roundabout and its popular namesake monument, which were a symbol of the 2011 erallies, was later demolished in March the same year and the site remains heavily guarded ever since. Bomb attack The Ministry of Interior said a police bus was struck in a bomb attack in the Shia village of Daih, without reporting casualties. The ministry said on its official Twitter account: "Terrorist explosion in Daih damaged a bus transporting police personnel." Witnesses told AFP that a loud explosion was heard and police cordoned off the area. A ministry official near the scene of the blast told reporters that three police officers were injured in the explosion. He insisted on anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly. However, pictures posted by the ministry on Twitter showed the bus slightly damaged on its sides. Violent crackdown The "February 14 youth coalition" had called for the march to Pearl Roundabout. Bahrain announced in June that it had arrested leading members of the cyber-group, accusing it of links to Iran. Amnesty International on Thursday condemned Bahrain's "relentless repression" of dissent and said it feared a violent crackdown on the anniversary demonstrations.

The International Federation for Human Rights urged Bahrain "to take immediate measures to restore the rule of law, to put an end to ongoing human rights violations." Six opposition groups led by Al-Wefaq called in a statement on Friday for an "overall political process to rebuild the state... free elections.. and an independent judiciary." In a speech published on the day, King Hamad stressed his "commitment to complete reform in accordance with our circumstances, national interests, identity and values". Previous rounds of national dialogues have failed to significantly close the rifts between the two sides and the opposition is demanding amnesty for what they claim are more than 3,000 political prisoners held in Bahraini jails. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa met top opposition leaders last month to once again revive the talks. Source: Agencies

Question: In which country did the protests break out at the Pearl Roundabout?
Answer: Bahrain