SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- A two-day conference at the University of Bahrain in the capital Manama last week was intended to show the United States and the region that the Bahraini government is making progress toward democratic governance and addressing the grievances of the country's majority Shiite population. But the discussions were less than convincing because there was no empirical data or other direct evidence to support the participants' claims.Many participants -- Bahraini academics, some government officials, and…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the Bahraini regime has arrested 20 opposition activists ahead of the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix in the kingdom. Sarah Leah Whitson, the HRW's Middle East director, made the announcement in a statement published on Wednesday. The statement said: "Bahraini authorities are carrying out home raids and arbitrarily detaining opposition protesters in advance of the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend." It read: "These raids and detentions suggest that officials…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- As the Bahraini people continue their revolt against staging the Formula 1 race under the patronage of the Alkhalifa, the regime has intensified its crackdown against the pro-democracy activists, detaining and torturing them in revenge. At least fifteen people were arrested on Wednesday, taken to the torture dungeons and abused. More were snatched from Duraz, Sitra and other towns as pre-emptive desperate steps to stop people exposing Alkhalifa crimes to the world during the…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- Bernie Ecclestone is an appropriate person to be the public face of Formula 1, a ‘sport’ which is fast becoming known as the event of choice for autocrats who wish to launder their international reputation, as evidenced by the appearance of races in Bahrain and Dubai in recent years. Ecclestone famously praised Thatcher, Hitler and Saddam a few years ago, saying that he preferred strong leaders, that Hitler was a man who was ‘able to…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- Families of imprisoned prisoners of conscience in Bahrain, political leaders, since February 2011 events, went to prison on Saturday morning, March 6, 2013 to visit. According to previous agreement between prison management and the political leaders, visits were scheduled every two weeks, two hours long with no restrictions on the leaders' clothing. For the third time in a row the visit was barred after prison manager changed the conditions of the visit. He tried…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- The Bahrain Center for Human Rights, with the help of a medical consultant, gathered information and cases about the situation of medical services in Bahrain and the limited access to medical care. The report covered the following aspects of the medical situation in Bahrain: 1. The updated situation of the medics case2. The role of the Bahrain Medical Society3. The militarization of the hospitals4. Medical access for people injured by security forces5. Medical access…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt will answer your questions on Bahrain live via twitter on 8 April.Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, visited Bahrain on 11-12 March 2013 and took part in the inaugural meeting of the UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. Discussions covered human rights and Bahrain’s reform programme, trade and investment and cooperation on security and counter-terrorism. The Minister continues…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - A Bahraini protester has sustained head injuries in an attack by Saudi-backed security forces on an anti-regime demonstration in the kingdom. The incident occurred on Saturday when Hussein Kazem al-Halal came under direct fire from regime forces in the village of Wadian, in the eastern town of Sitra. The Bahraini youth was taken to a health center for treatment, as police surrounded the area. Protesters in the island nation have been staging rallies in…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - People of Bahrain protests in 2nd anniversary of Mosques demolished by Saudi troops and mercenaries police of Al-Khalifa . Sheikh Isa Qassim said in in prayer speech today 5-4-2013 Dr.Saeed Al Shehabi said in his twitter account :   source : bahrain.shafaqna.com End

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –Bahrain’s security forces used stun grenades and teargas to disperse anti-government demonstrators in the west coast town of Malkiya after a women’s protest was banned by authorities. Protesters came out to show support political prisoners who remain in jail and to demonstrate against the upcoming Formula One race in April. For the same reasons protesters in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, clashed with police who used teargas and sound bombs to disperse their demonstration against the regime…