Islam Times - Bahrainis stage anti-regime demos over woman’s killing

Islam Times - A large number of Bahrainis have staged anti-regime demonstrations in several towns and villages in the Persian Gulf kingdom to mourn the death of a female protester.

Angry protesters renewed calls for freedom and democracy and demanded the downfall of the Al Khalifa family of Bahrain, which has been headed by the Al Khalifas since 1783.

Forty-three-year-old Assia Hassan al-Madeh died on Sunday after inhaling toxic tear gas in the town of Jidd-hafs.

The exact details of the incident are not available yet but activists say she was attacked during a pro-democracy demonstration.

The Bahraini revolution began in mid-February 2011, when the people, inspired by the popular revolutions that toppled the dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, started holding massive demonstrations.

The Bahraini government promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring Persian Gulf states.

Dozens of people have been killed in the crackdown, and the security forces have arrested hundreds, including doctors and nurses accused of treating injured revolutionaries.

A report published by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2011 found that the Al Khalifa regime had used excessive force in the crackdown and accused Manama of torturing political activists, politicians, and protesters.

The protesters say they will continue holding anti-regime demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically elected government is met.