Shia : affrontements à Sitra – 6 juin 2011
Bahrain police ‘target Shia processions’
aljazeera.net
06 Jun 2011
Tear gas and rubber bullets reportedly used to break up religious gatherings in villages across the country.
Bahraini police have clashed with Shia marchers at religious processions in villages across the country, the country’s opposition al-Wefaq movement and residents say.
Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, sound grenades and birdshot to break up Sunday’s marches, which were taking place in several Shia villages around Manama, the country’s capital, the witnesses said.
Residents said some gatherings were purely religious, while at others marchers shouted slogans against the ruling al-Khalifa family, including « The people want the fall of the regime », a chant that has become the symbol of similar protests in Tunisia and Egypt which dethroned long-time rulers.
In Sitra, residents said several people were injured and that a house was set on fire.
« We condemn this attack, this kind of attack will make the situation even worse, » said Sayyed Hady of al-Wefaq.
« This event is so, so normal in Bahrain, we’ve been doing it for centuries … the authorities said they won’t attack religious events, but this is what they did. »
A government official denied that widespread clashes had taken place.
« There are no clashes really, there were some outlaws who caused some problems but these were small incidents that were quickly stopped. The situation is stable and back to normal, » he told Reuters.
Journalists have been unable to verify the reports, as police have set up checkpoints sealing many Shia-majority areas. From outside those areas, the Reuters news agency reported that its reporters heard shouting and smelled tear gas.
The Shia villagers, some beating their chests and chanting religious verses, were marching to commemorate the festival of one of their 12 Imams.
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