Bahrain Feature: Today's Revival of Mass Protests

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As expected, the end of the religious period of Ashura has brought an end to a quiet phase in protests against the Bahraini regime. An EA correspondent reports protests today in at least three locations: Al Daih, Sanabis, and the capital Manama. 

Thousands turned up in Al Daih, a few miles west of Manama, holding pictures and carrying a small blood-stained replica of the monument of Pearl Roundabout, the symbolic centre of the protests that was overrun in March by the security forces, with the monument demolished days later. The religious procession marked the Shia holy days of Muharram; however, at 4:30 p.m. (1330 GMT) protesters decided to march towards Pearl Roundabout, now known as Martyrs' Square, 3 1/2 miles from the village.

Other protesters gathered in Sanabis, to the east of Al Daih and even closer to Manama. Soon demonstrators in both locations were met by hundreds of security forces, who used tear gas and other weapons. One eye-witness said: 

It was a religious procession at Al Daih. This has been held since forever as people from around Bahrain gather to commemorate Imam Hussain. It lasted until around 4:45 PM, then, thousands decided to move to Lulu [Pearl Roundabout].

So we marched for about 10 to 15 minutes, carrying Bahraini flags. Children, women, youth, men, elders participated. Then when we almost reached a checkpoint there were dozens of police. They started shooting us. For about half an hour. Then they started moving toward us with their cars and chased us back into the village.

EA sources confirm that Mohamed Alhaiki, a protester who had been imprisoned for months and had just been released two weeks ago, was arrested again in dramatic circumstances. Carrying a Bahraini flag, he was severely beaten by police. Despite the blows, he refused to drop the flag.

Reports from Twitter and other social media suggest that the number of security forces were overwhelming. In Sanabis and in Al Daih, live rounds were used as well as tear gas --- including into the house of a member of the opposition party Al Wefaq --- to disperse the crowds. Security forces also reportedly injured protesters when they struck them in the head with iron rods.

A shot from Al Daih of the cloud of tear gas:

In Sanabis, hundreds marched after a religious procession, chanting against the regime, especially the King, "We don't pledge allegiance to [King] Hamad!":

Sanabis was attacked with the same brute force used in Al Daih. Tear gas and live rounds were used to the point where, according to one Bahraini, there were cars on the street covered in bullet holes. Hundreds of protesters also tried to get to Pearl Roundabout but were repulsed by police with stun guns, rubber bullets, and tear gas.

There are several reports of arrests from the two protests, with the number of casualties to be confirmed. Zeinab AlKhawaja reported the detention of three women, and at least two others were seized --- two of those arrested were the sisters of Zaynab Omran, whose narrative of her arrest in Manama in September was featured on EA. Journalist Mazen Mehdi was held, along with a Reuters photorgrapher, for about half an hour.

Video of police storming the village of Jidhafs and firing tear gas: 

The government continues to deny the existence of mass protests. Today's incident only deserved one tweet from the Ministry of Information:

About 350 individuals took part in illegal procession on Al Budaiya road after Ashoora rituals in Daih. Police interfered.

We are continuing to monitor the protests and will report more details in our LiveBlog.