Islam Times - Bahrainis plan to rally near US embassy

Islam Times - Bahraini activists have planned to hold a demonstration near the US embassy in Manama in defiance of the regime’s ban on protests.

The protesters will gather outside the US embassy on Wednesday to take part in the move organized by Tamarod, the country’s protest movement.

In an open letter on August 1, the group called on Washington to tell the Bahraini authorities that the pro-democracy protest could be held at the doorsteps of its embassy.

The group also asked the American embassy to provide protection for the protesters, saying, the purpose of the move was a “real democracy in Bahrain.”

On August 7, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa banned protests in the capital, Manama, ahead of the August 14 celebration of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom.

Bahrain’s loyalist-dominated parliament has also approved a bill banning all protests in Manama.

The opposition is planning to hold a major protest on the same day. The Manama regime has warned that any protests would face the “force of the law.”

The Bahraini uprising began in mid-February 2011.

The Al Khalifa regime promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states.

The kingdom’s main opposition group al-Wefaq said last week that more than 200 people, including a woman and 19 children, were detained during the regime crackdown on protesters in July.

The opposition party also said that over 170 people were also wounded due to the excessive force used by the Manama regime forces.