Disarmed crowds of political protesters in Bahrain are being fired upon by Bahraini security forces. Protesters calling for democratic reform are turning the Middle East upside down, as several nations are seeing widespread protests against authoritarian rule comparable to recent events in Egypt. Lethal force has been used by Bahraini and Libyan forces in response to the peaceful demonstrations by disarmed civilians. Source of article – Bahrain protests turn deadly as army fires on unarmed crowds by Newsytype.com.
Protesters flood streets of Bahrain demanding reforms
Nations in the Middle East are increasingly more volatile currently. The demonstrations for democratic reforms have yet to cease. On February 14, just days after the resignation of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, protesters began taking to the streets of Manama, according to The Telegraph, and have been protesting for several days. Bahraini security forces have dealt with protesters harshly, using force to dispel demonstrators, and have opened fire on several occasions. Tear gas and live rounds were used Friday February 18 on protesters. This ended up killing two while the day before, five were killed with open fire. Bahraini protesters have been engaging in peaceful protests and have not been openly carrying weapons or firing on police.
Those in Bahrain simply want democracy and civil liberties
Civil rights for the Shi'ite group in the Middle East are what demonstrators are asking for in Bahrain. King Hamad bin-Isa al-Khalifa and the royal family of Bahrain are Sunni, and Shi'ites isn’t legally treated as fully equal to Sunnis, according to the New York Times. They also think that a democracy be the change where the country go. Demonstrators had been warned to stay out of Pearl Square, in the heart of Manama, however Bahrainis were emboldened after funerals of people slain by police during Thursday's demonstrations, proclaiming it as a "Day of Rage.".
More protests than in just Tunisia and Egypt
Both Tunisia and Egypt's rulers left after uprisings. This brought on protests in Yemen, Libya and Bahrain to start. Libyans have taken to the streets, calling for the ouster of the long time ruler of Libya, Muammar al-Gaddafi. Since 24 demonstrators from cities have been killed by Libyan security in the last few days, it is clear that the forces have had a bad response, USA Today reports.
Articles cited
The Telegraph
telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/bahrain/8334771/Bahrain-royal-family-orders-army-to-turn-on-the-people.html
New York Times
nytimes.com/2011/02/19/world/middleeast/19bahrain.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&src=me
USA Today
usatoday.com/news/world/2011-02-18-libya-protests_N.htm
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