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| Arabia |
| Bahrainis Protest 'Sectarian Discrimination' |
| 2014-03-22 |
| [An Nahar] Thousands of Bahrainis, mainly from the Shiite majority, demonstrated near Manama Friday against what they described as "sectarian discrimination" in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. "No to discrimination," chanted protesters brandishing Bahrain's red-and-white flag as they marched along Budaiya main road, which links Shiite villages with the capital, witnesses said. Ali Salman, chief holy man of the main Shiite formation Al-Wefaq was among leaders of the opposition who participated, according to images the group posted online. They carried posters of prominent opponents locked away Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! over their roles in the short-lived uprising of February 2011, including the Sunni head of the secular Waed party, Ibrahim Sharif, who is serving a five-year sentence. "Sectarian discrimination is eating into the body of Bahrain in a systematic way applied by authorities," opposition groups said in a statement at the end of the demonstration, referring to the Al-Khalifa dynasty. The protest was held on the occasion of the U.N.'s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. |
| Posted by:Fred |