Bahrainis back to Pearl Square for revolution

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Bahraini protesters are returning to Manama’s Pearl Square to restart their revolution and change the regime on the anniversary of the Feb. 14 movement, a spokesperson for the 14 February Alliance has said.

Abdul-Raouf al-Shayeb, who is also the general secretary of the Bahrain Salvation Movement, told the Hürriyet Daily News that the mostly-Shiite protesters were trying to reach Pearl Square from periphery villages. “The revolution started in Pearl Square,” he said. “In one year many of us have been killed and injured there. Now, we will return there on the anniversary of the Feb. 14 movement, but this time we will start the revolution again to change the regime.” The “steadfast” rally began on the afternoon of Feb. 5 in al-Muqsha village, about 7 kilometers west of the capital of Manama, according to Al-Jazeera. Clashes with police have occurred in areas where police tried to block the protestors’ route to Manama.

The mostly Shiite protesters occupied Manama’s Pearl Square for about a month last year until they were driven out in a mid-March crackdown. “It will be the biggest rally in a year. The government is trying to release some political prisoners, but still we have the same person ruling. This time we will push for the overthrow of the government,” al-Shayeb said. During the month-long protest last year, the Shiite-led opposition demanded constitutional changes that would reduce the power of the Sunni al-Khalifa ruling dynasty, including by having an elected prime minister.