Posts tagged bahrain
Islamic News Group Al-Jazeera Wins AMERICAN Journalism Award
Feb 20th
What we learned from 9/11: Not a thing.
You would have thought that Americans would have learned a thing or two about Islam and it’s goals on September 11th. Obviously, we have not.
From Reuters: Al Jazeera-English and Sara Ganim, the reporter who broke open the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal at Penn State, were among the winners of George Polk Awards in Journalism, announced Sunday by Long Island University.
Ganim is a 24-year old crime reporter for the Harrisburg Patriot-News whose dogged pursuit of a grand jury investigation helped her uncover one of the biggest scandals in the history of college athletics. She won for Sports Reporting.
A Polk Award for Television Documentary marks another substantial achievement for Al-Jazeera English, the burgeoning network that had its biggest year to date in 2011. AJE expanded its global reach to 250 million homes, penetrated major U.S. markets such as Chicago and New York, and continues to receive awards for its coverage of the Arab Spring.
AJE, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in November, took home its first DuPont award in December and won this prize for its documentary on Bahrain, titled “Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark.”
“We are delighted to have won such a prestigious and coveted award,” Al Anstey, managing director of Al-Jazeera English, said in a statement. “This recognition comes on the back of a series of high-profile award wins for the channel, and is a testament to Al-Jazeera’s commitment to put honest, eye-witness reporting at the heart of the global news agenda.”
The Polk Awards have been administered by Long Island University since 1949. They are named after George Polk, a journalist killed covering the civil war in Greece. source – Reuters
Protesters In Bahrain Drive Out Military
Feb 19th
Another one falls
With all the new lands being acquired by the Muslim Brotherhood, I’m thinking they are going to need to do some recruiting. Or maybe the hundreds of thousands of protesters already belong. Hmmm….
Bahrainis hold up shoes as thousands of anti-government protesters gather at Bahrain's Pearl roundabout in Manama on February 15 following the deaths of two protesters in clashes with Bahraini police, which sparked angry calls from young cyber-activists for regime change and a walkout of parliament by Bahrain's main Shiite opposition bloc. (ADAM JAN/AFP/Getty Images)
“Manama, Bahrain (CNN)– Thousands of joyous Bahrainis retook a major square in the heart of the island nation’s capital Saturday — a dramatic turn of events two days after security forces ousted demonstrators from the spot in a deadly attack. The sight of citizens streaming into Pearl Roundabout came as the Bahrain royal family appealed for dialogue to end a turbulent week of unrest and the crown prince ordered the removal of the military from the Pearl Roundabout, a top demand by opposition forces. Police were placed in charge but withdrew on the heels of the military.
The roundabout — the focal point of protests in central Manama, much like Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital of Cairo — was filled by people waving Bahraini flags, praying and honking horns. Many of the protesters are Shiite Muslims, who make up 70 percent of the residents of the island kingdom and have long harbored deep political and economic grievances against the Sunni ruling family. Bahrain is one of several countries in the Middle East and North Africa to face a surge of dissent following the revolts that toppled longtime autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt. This week’s ferment upended the kingdom, a tiny but strategically critical country that’s a key U.S. ally and home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and left 10 dead and many injured. source – CNN
Bahrain Forces Open Fire On Protesters
Feb 18th
Bang, bang, you’re dead…
The Bahraini security forces decided enough was enough, and showered the crowds of protesters with lead as they let the bullets fly. Over 50 people dropped wounded to the ground, and the region exploded into bloody, violent chaos. Of the 50 injured, seven were critically hurt, Health Ministry official said. Seven people have died in Bahrain’s unrest this week, including five on Thursday, and more than 200 have been wounded.
“MANAMA, Bahrain – Security forces opened fire Friday on Bahraini protesters for a second straight day, wounding at least 50 people as thousands defied the government and marched toward Pearl Square in an uprising that sought to break the political grip of the Gulf nation’s leaders.
Once again, Bahrain authorities showed no hesitation in using force against demonstrators who ramped up demands to bring down the whole ruling monarchy.
U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the use of violence against the protesters in Bahrain, as well as in Libya and Yemen, where heavy crackdowns by old-guard regimes were reported. A Libyan doctor said 35 protesters were killed in the eastern city of Benghazi during a confrontation with security forces, while four people were killed and 48 were wounded during protests called as part of a “Friday of Rage” in Yemen.
The continuing wave of anger in the Arab world followed successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, where hundreds of thousands of people celebrated the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak one week ago.
Critically injured protesters were again rushed to Manama’s main Salmaniya hospital, which also received the dead and wounded after riot police smashed a protest encampment early Thursday in the landmark square.” source – Yahoo News
Bahrain Imports Sunni Muslim Thugs to Savagely Beat Down Protesters
Feb 17th
Violent Sectarian Crackdown Unleashed
Sectarian divide is at the heart of the unrest in Bahrain. The Shiites are trying to rise up, and the Sunnis are scared to death. An overthrow of the Sunni rule in Bahrain could have a pretty negative impact on the Middle East and could cost the United States its Persian Gulf base located within the tiny Arab nation. A Shiite takeover could create what has been called the Shia crescent and it would run from Iran, through Iraq, Lebanon, and into the Gulf; this could turn Bahrain into an extension of Iranian influence. At this point, the Shiite protesters are mainly fed up with the lack of jobs and housing and have not been calling for an overthrow of the monarchy, but now the heavy hand of the Sunnis has dropped, and this very well could make the situation even worse.
“It’s not like a domestic police force or army,” said Barry Rubin, director of the Global Research in International Affairs Center in Herzliya, Israel. “These guys are paid to beat people such as these protesters and to do it without feeling.”
Shiite Muslims in Bahrain carry the coffin of a fellow protester killed in clashes with police.
Fearing an Egyptian-style inferno, Bahrain’s security forces have moved aggressively to douse a political brush fire that burned for several days in the capital. At least five people were killed and hundreds injured when the protest camp set up in Manama’s Pearl Square was levelled early Thursday morning.
It was a familiar pattern: In each of the past four decades, whenever people – usually Shia Muslim Bahrainis – protested too vehemently for political or economic reform, the government summoned the same forces.
And the forces have been specially chosen for the task. They are almost entirely made up of foreign nationals, mostly Sunni Muslims from Pakistan; often with contempt for Shiites whom they regard as heretics. The forces’ officers hail from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia or Jordan.
Security and armoured military forces remain deployed throughout Manama to enforce a ban on any and all protests
Arab Capitals Braced For Violence As Unrest Spreads
Feb 17th
The new Dark Ages descend upon the Arab world
“…but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53
For years they patiently plotted, built their power base, and waited for the right time and opportunity to strike. That time is now as in nearly every region in the Muslim/Arab world, violence is breaking out, pulling down governments, and soon the Muslim Brotherhood will fulfill Psalm 83:1-7
Bahraini demonstrator lies injured on a stretcher as unrest continues throughout the region. Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP
Killing of demonstrators in Bahrain and violence in Libya threaten an escalation of regional unrest
Arab capitals are expecting further violent clashes after the killing of three demonstrators in the Gulf state of Bahrain, and the reported death of 15 people in violence in Libya, threatened an escalation of regional unrest in the wake of the popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Fresh protests are expected on Friday after Friday prayers in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, in Cairo (in celebration of Hosni Mubarak’s departure a week ago), and in Sana’a, capital of the Yemen, and perhaps elsewhere.
Britain announced a review of licences granted for arms exports to Bahrain which it would “urgently revoke” if the sales criteria had been breached in their use, after it emerged that types of crowd-control weapons similar to those used in the crackdown were supplied by British companies. Despite concerns among activists over Bahrain’s rights record, British firms were last year granted licences, entirely unopposed, to export crowd-control weapons that can lead to fatalities in use.
Meanwhile the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, telephoned her Bahraini counterpart to express “deep concern” after riot police stormed a protest camp in central Manama, killing three people in what the opposition called a “massacre”. Bahrain is situated in the Gulf near Iran and is home to the US Fifth Fleet and also to the UK command which supports Royal Navy warships in the region. The island has a history of volatility because its Shia Muslim majority is ruled by a Sunni monarchy. William Hague, the foreign secretary, told MPs: “We have conveyed our concern about these events and the level of violence.” source – Guardian UK
United Arab Emirates Next Country To Fall
Feb 15th
And then there were four…
Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt…and now Bahrain in the UAE. The Muslim Brotherhood is working overtime these days, that’s for sure.
Bahraini demonstrators run from tear gas Monday, as riot police disperse a protest in the village of Duraz, Bahrain, outside the capital of Manama. - MSNBC
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Thousands of protesters poured into a main square in Bahrain’s capital Tuesday in an Egypt-style rebellion that sharply escalated pressure on authorities as the Arab push for change gripped the Gulf for the first time. Security forces have battled demonstrators over two days, leading to the deaths of two protesters. In a clear sign of concern over the widening crisis, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made a rare national TV address, offering condolences for the deaths, pledging an investigation into the killings, and promising to push ahead with reforms, which include loosening state controls on the media and Internet.
As the crowds surged into Pearl Square in the capital of Manama, security forces appeared to hold back. The dramatic move Tuesday comes just hours after a second protester died in clashes with police in the strategic island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. Oppositions groups are calling for greater political freedom and an end to the ruling Sunni monarchy’s grip on key decisions and government posts. The nation’s majority Shiites have long complained of discrimination. Many in the square_ which was quickly renamed the “Nation’s Square” by protesters — waved Bahraini flags and chanted: “No Sunnis, no Shiites. We are all Bahrainis.” Bahrain is one of the most politically volatile nations in the Middle East’s wealthiest corner. A prolonged showdown could draw in the region’s two biggest rivals: Saudi Arabia, as close allies of Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy, and Iran, whose hard-liners have spoken in support of the nation’s Shiite majority. source – Yahoo News
