Bahraini Shiites continue their peaceful pro-democracy struggle despite crackdown

Bahrain regime forces raided more than 8 houses on Sunday and vandalized private belongings. The number of vandalized cars by the forces totaled to 22. Five citizens were arrested extra judicially amid the crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protests that took place in several areas around the country.

The delegates in the UN’s Universal Periodic Review called on Bahrain to respect human rights and freedoms, especially freedom of expression. Yet, only five days after the UPR on Bahrain, the suppression goes on.
The forces used birdshot (internationally prohibited shotgun) against protesters, alongside the heavy use of toxic tear gas that is usually aimed at houses, making it impossible to breathe.
Al-Wefaq has documented a large number of asphyxiation cases due to the repeated attacks in densely populated areas. A number of injuries caused by the direct targeting with tear gas canisters have also been documented. However, the forces continue to target people in this manner, even at close range, although it has led to death in at least 2 cases.
Despite the ongoing suppression of freedoms, the demonstrations went on in many areas across the country including; Sitra, Nabih Saleh, Ekr, Ma’ameer, Nuwaidrat, Malkiya, Dar-Kulaib, Shahrakan, Saddad, Duraz, Barbar, Bani-Jamra, Musala, Jidhafs, Daih, Bilad-Qadeem, Jid-Ali, Aali, Ghuraifa, Hamad Town and the Capital Manama.
Among the many raided houses was the house of Abu-Taki, whose son Mahmood, was martyred in the February 2011 crackdown on the Pearl roundabout. The forces threatened the family of Abu-Taki, vandalized some of the family’s belongings and ripped the martyr’s picture.
In Duraz, the forces raided a number of houses, and robbed items from 22 cars after they had damaged them. People demonstrated in solidarity with the prisoners of conscience and their families in Demistan, and demanded that they be released immediately.