Support Bahraini Students and Trades Unionists
Solidarity Protest 5.30pm - 7pm Friday 15th April
Outside the BBC Oxford Rd. Manchester
Defend the Right to Protest for Democracy and Human Rights
Bahrain is a small country next to Saudi Arabia, with close ties to Britain, and home to the US Fifth Fleet. It is ruled by His Majesty King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah. He is an absolute monarch, with powers to decide who lives and who dies, who studies and who does not.
Last month thousands of Bahraini people joined protests in the capital’s central Pearl Square. These were peaceful protests calling for one person one vote, a constitutional monarchy, and an end to corruption. They were met with a brutal crackdown. Many protesters were shot dead in the street, and hundreds have now disappeared, after Saudi soldiers joined Bahraini police in an attack. The central Pearle Square has now been bulldozed flat.
Doctors and surgeons at the hospital were beaten and taken to prison. British Surgeons groups have condemned this outrage. Eighteen women, including nurses are now in prison, including two who are pregnant. Teachers, professors and judges have also been detained.
The best players on the Bahraini football team have been arrested for supporting the democracy movement.
These outrages have been condemned by many human rights organisations. Motions have been placed with the European Parliament criticising the Bahraini King. He has withdrawn from attending the coming British Royal Wedding.
Sunni leaders who called for democratic change have been detained too. ‘This is not a Sunni - Shia thing. You are either for or against the government,’ is how one student explained the situation.
Many Bahraini students in Britain and across the world who joined solidarity protests have been hunted down and ‘punished’ by the King who has revoked their student sponsorships. Some who have returned to Bahrain have ‘disappeared.’
Come and support the Bahraini students, as they support those struggling for Human Rights and democratic change in Bahrain.
The British Government should be siding with those calling for democracy, not those using British made weapons to crush the democracy movement.
Called by Bahrain Solidarity Group and Greater Manchester Stop the War Coalition
