— More than 10,000 demonstrators joined Bahrain’s first public rally in months Saturday as the leader of the Gulf nation’s main Shiite political party urged backers to press ahead with peaceful protests for greater political rights after fierce crackdowns by security forces.
The event carried twin messages in a nation wracked by unrest since February when protesters took to the streets, inspired by successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
The Sunni monarchy controlling Bahrain allowed the rally in a bid to ease tensions and open dialogue with Shiite-led groups. For opposition forces, the gathering was a chance to voice their demands and show resolve after facing relentless pressure from the Western-backed government, including martial law-style rules removed earlier this month. “With our blood and soul, we sacrifice for Bahrain,” the crowds chanted. They later cried “we are the winners” as security forces stayed back in a mostly Shiite area northwest of the capital, Manama. Police helicopters passed overhead. No clashes were reported.
The strategic island kingdom — home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet — has been in lockdown mode for months as Sunni rulers launched massive arrest sweeps and military patrols to quell the protests. The crackdown included bringing in a 1,500-story Saudi-led military force to back up Bahrain’s embattled leadership, which claims that Shiite power Iran seeks to make gains by the unrest.
At least 31 people have died in the unrest since February. At the rally Saturday, demonstrators held a minute of silence for those killed.
Bahrain’s Shiites account for about 70 percent of the population but allege they are victims of systematic discrimination by the ruling Sunni dynasty, including being barred from top political and military posts. “We salute every mother who lived through the fear of having the door of her home kicked in by security forces or her children taken away. We salute every father who participated in the peaceful rallies,” said Sheik Ali Salman, head of the Shiite political party Wefaq, whose 18 parliament members resigned in protest of the security crackdown. “We have lived through black months.”
Bahrain’s rulers removed the martial law-style rules on June 1 and urged talks with Shiite groups. But Bahrain’s most senior Shiite cleric, Sheik Isa Qassim, told worshippers Friday that there is no chance for dialogue while security forces maintain clampdowns such as road blocks, arrests and trials of alleged protesters.
The cleric said the pressures were “building hatred among the people.”
At the rally, Salman repeated demands made in the early weeks of the uprising, including replacing the monarchy-appointed government with elected leaders. “Our demands are legitimate and the world stands by our rights,” he told the crowd.
Salman made a point of saying Bahrain’s Shiites have no outreach to Iran — directly challenging the views of Bahrain’s leaders and their Gulf Arab allies. But he called on followers to continue nonviolent protests, which could bring further pressures from authorities. “The national dialogue should be a real political solution, not a cosmetic dialogue,” he said.
