Bahrainis Protest Normalization with Israel, Voice Support for Political Inmates
Hundreds of people in Bahrain have once again staged demonstrations to protest against the Manama regime’s normalization of ties with Israel and to demand the immediate release of political prisoners.
Bahrainis held a rally in the village of Sanabis late on Tuesday to voice strong protest against Manama’s concession to Israel and the opening of Tel Aviv’s embassy in the Persian Gulf country.
The demonstrators condemned the ruling Al Khalifah regime for making peace with occupying Israeli regime and reiterated their support for the Palestinian cause.
They carried signs that read, “Normalization of relations [with Israel] amounts to treason.”
They also renewed the call for Manama to release political prisoners from its jails immediately and unconditionally.
On September 30, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid arrived at the Manama airport to become the regime’s highest-ranking official to visit the Persian Gulf country since Israel and Bahrain forged formal relations last year.
He met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifah.
During the trip, Israel and Bahrain signed deals on cooperation in medicine, healthcare, sports, and water and environmental conservation. Tel Aviv also opened an embassy in Bahrain.
The Bahraini embassy in the Israeli-occupied territories was also agreed to be opened by the end of 2021.
Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed agreements with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani during an official ceremony hosted by ex-US president Donald Trump at the White House on September 15 last year.
Palestinians, who seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip with East al-Quds as its capital, view the deals as a betrayal of their cause.
Moreover, dozens of Bahraini people staged anti-regime rallies on Tuesday night in the northern villages of Abu Saiba and Shakhura in solidarity with political prisoners.
During the demonstrations, the protesters condemned the Al Khalifah regime’s intensified clampdown on political inmates being kept at various detention conditions across the Persian Gulf country.
People participate in a rally in the village of Sanabis, Bahrain, on October 19, 2021 to protest against normalization of ties with Israel and express solidarity with political prisoners. (Photo via Twitter)
They held up placards that read “Save Bahraini Prisoners” and “No retreat from political demands.”
Earlier in the day, Bahraini regime forces arrested another young after ordering him to appear for questioning.
Arabic-language Lualua television network, citing informed sources requesting not to be named, reported that Abbas Aoun was detained as part of the Manama regime’s ongoing crackdown on political dissent. The charges brought against him remain unknown.
Demonstrations in Bahrain have been held on a regular basis ever since a popular uprising began in mid-February 2011.
The participants demand that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.
Manama, however, has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent.
On March 5, 2017, Bahrain’s parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to the imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.
King Hamad ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3, 2017.
Source: Press TV