5th March 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

about seven kilometers (four miles) west of Manama. They waved Bahraini flags and banners calling for the overthrow of the ruling Sunni al-Khalifa family. "Down with Hamad," some banners read, referring to King Hamad. embattled Sunni monarchy is on public display.

Bahraini Shiites Launch Week of Sit-in Protests 03/03/12

Thousands of Bahrainis have launched what they said would be a week of daily sit-in protests in a Shiite village to commemorate an uprising crushed a year ago, witnesses said on Saturday. They said the protesters gathered on Friday at a rallying point renamed "Freedom Square" in al-Muqsha village,

Saudi exes Gulf grip with Bahrain 'union' plans - 05/03/12

During a sermon last week at Organizers said the rally would Bahrain's Grand Mosque, the last for a week and take place pro-government prayer every afternoon until midnight. leader offered sweeping praise for one of the Arab Read More Spring's counter-revolutions: Similar articles: Gulf rulers bonding together against dissent with powerful Gulf Times Qatars top-selling Saudi Arabia as their main English daily newspaper - Gulf/Arab guardian. World
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

Portraits of the Saudi King Abdullah some showing him praying dot the airport in Bahrain's capital Manama. Bahrain's red-and-white ag and the green Saudi colors are arranged with crossed staffs. State media continually lauds the Saudiled military force that rolled into Bahrain last year as reinforcements against the uprising by the kingdom's Shiite majority. Read More Reprinted here:
Saudi widens Arab Spring backlash with Bahrain `union' plans - 3/5/2012 12:43:36 AM | Newser Saudi widens Arab Spring backlash with Bahrain union plans - The Washington Post

Bahrain promises weekday visas to rights group - 03/03/12

Bahrain is promising to grant Amnesty International additional visas for a factnding mission but will not allow the rights group to remain during weekends when clashes typically escalate. Saturday's statement by Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority follows Amnesty's decision to cancel its trip to the Gulf nation because of a ve-day visa limit.

Bahrain has been gripped by more than a year of unrest from an uprising by its Shiite majority, which is seeking a greater political voice in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. Bahrain says it would give Amnesty additional visas to complete its work, but they would not extend fully through the Friday-Saturday weekend. Read More Reprinted here:
Bahrain promises weekday visas to rights group Bahrain promises visas to Amnesty International envoys, but not during turbulent weekends The Washington Post

The widening Saudi security stamp on the region is already taking shape in Bahrain, where more than a year of Shiite-led unrest shows no sign of easing and the Saudi inuence over the

Amnesty says cancels Bahrain visit over restrictions - 02/03/12

Amnesty International said on Friday it cancelled a visit to Bahrain after the Gulf state imposed restrictions on groups trying to monitor reforms including the handling of protests. Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and another group had said Bahrain's Human Rights and Social Development Ministry informed them this week of the new rules limiting them to five-day trips which must be arranged through a Bahraini sponsor. The U.N. investigator into torture has also postponed a visit, with the U.N. human rights office in Geneva saying Bahrain formally requested a delay until July.

"Regrettably we have cancelled the fact-finding visit to Bahrain ... as the new five day limit imposed by the Bahraini authorities for visits by international human rights organisations is a serious impediment," Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, a regional Amnesty deputy director, said in a statement. Read More Reprinted Here:
www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/ article.asp? cu_no=2&item_no=490198&versio n=1&template_id=37&parent_id=1 7 Amnesty says cancels Bahrain visit over restrictions - AlertNet www.kippreport.com/2012/03/ amnesty-cancels-bahrain-visitover-restrictions/ THE DAILY STAR :: News :: Middle East :: Amnesty cancels Bahrain visit over rights restrictions Amnesty cancels Bahrain visit over restrictions - Region - World Ahram Online Amnesty cancels Bahrain visit over rights - World News | IOL News | IOL.co.za

Observers urge Bahrain to lift visa restrictions - 02/03/12

Human Rights First today urged the Bahraini government to lift its visa restrictions on human rights observers wishing to monitor the situation in the

country. In a letter addressed to the Bahraini Minister of Human Rights and Social Development, Human Rights Firsts Brian Dooley, along with members of other human rights advocacy groups, called on the government to reconsider the five day limit currently placed on observer visas. Read More

Bahrain to compensate Arab Spring victims 05/03/12

Families of those killed during the social unrest in Bahrain last year are to receive compensation from the government, Gulf Daily News has reported. Ofcials have pledged to offer out-of-court settlements to those affected by the uprisings, including people

who were injured during the protests. The measure was approved by Bahrains cabinet yesterday as per stipulations in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report. Under the scheme, those who decide to settle will receive direct compensation, providing they surrender their right to seek civil compensation through the courts. Read More

Spotlight interview with Salman Jaffar Al Mahfoodh - 05/03/12

"We feel that people are supporting our ght" Unlike Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, the Arab spring in Bahrain did not lead to democratic reforms nor to the end of an autocratic regime. The authorities responded to the demand for freedom with harsh repression and unprecedented violence on

protesters, civilians and workers. An independent commission of inquiry recently conrmed the human rights abuses committed by the Security Forces during the unrest. Almost thirty-ve deaths occurred between February and April 2011, including ve cases of torture that have been attributed to the Minister of Interior. The trade unions supported the demand for reforms and, as a consequence, thousands of union members were dismissed, and many were arrested. Read More

Bahrains expats unhappy over new visa rules - 05/03/12

Bahrain's expatriates have expressed frustration over new visa rules which have caused a crackdown on foreign visitors, leading to many being detained for several hours before being either allowed into the country or sent home on return ights. Read More

Bahrain in new unrest compensation move 05/03/12

Out-of-court settlements are being offered to people affected by last year's unrest in Bahrain. The initiative was approved by the Cabinet yesterday. Under the scheme direct compensation will be paid to people who opt for cordial settlement, said a report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper. Read More

Bahrain and Syria. Read More

Iran's Deputy FM in Moscow to discuss Bahrain, Syria 05/03/12

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein AmirAbdollahian has arrived in the Russian capital, Moscow, to hold talks with Russian ofcials on the latest developments in

Bahraini troops clash with anti-regime protesters in Sanabis - 02/03/12

Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have clashed with anti-government protesters demanding an end to the rule of Al Khalifa dynasty in Sanabis, northwest of the capital Manama. Read More

200 attacks on Asians in Bahrain say activists 05/03/12

More than 200 attacks on Asians have been registered since the outbreak of last year's unrest, with 20 assaults since the start of this year, said human rights activists in Bahrain. Read More

expulsion of the Bahraini envoy to Egypt. Demonstrators also chanted slogans in solidarity with the people of Bahrain and Palestine. Read More

Bahraini Demonstrators Hold a Sit-in Protests Week - 04/03/12

On Friday, the Bahraini antidiscrimination demonstrators assembled at a monumental venue renamed "Freedom Square" in Al-Muqsha village, around seven kilometers west of the capital Manama, to commemorate their revolution. Read More

Anti-US Protest Holds in Cairo in Support of Bahrainis and Palestinians - 04/03/12

Shouting anti-US slogans, protesters demanded the