Middle East

‘Bahrain rulers seek total institution’

bhereAt least 26 people have been killed during the anti-regime protests in Bahrain.

As the severe suppression of peaceful protesters continues in Bahraini, a national human rights activist says the Manama regime seeks to completely choke off influential figures in the popular movement.

“Bahraini authorities are not only arresting the opposition leaders, but also human rights defenders, doctors, a lot of religious figures … anyone who may affect the situation in Bahrain,” said Mohammad al-Maskati, the head of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, in a Wednesday interview with Press TV.

Maskati also commented on the presence of the Saudi troops in Bahrain, calling it a move “against the international law.”

“When foreign troops come to any country — especially when the leaders of the country ask them to come — it does not mean that the people accept the troops,” he said.

He pointed to the lack of “full power” in the Bahraini parliament in dealing with the presence of foreigners in the country.

“Here we do not have full power in the parliament. The parliament cannot say we accept or we do not accept these (Saudi) troops.” Maskati added.

Regarding the state of “emergency” in Bahrain, the activist said “a lot of people do not know what the emergency law is. One of the points of the emergency law is that the army can withdraw your Bahraini nationality and deport you to another country, or they can arrest you, and then kill you in another place without your nationality.”

“The emergency law is also against the international law,” he went on to say.

Maskati’s comments come as the regime of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s deadly crackdown on the popular movement has reportedly left at least 26 people killed and about 1,000 others wounded so far.

Bahrain’s leading opposition group, al-Wefaq, also says over 450 opposition activists, including 14 women, have been arrested since the uprising began in the tiny Persian Gulf state in mid-February.

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