One of the main issues in Bahrain is political representation. There is conflict between the Shiite and Sunni Muslim populations. The ruling family (al khalifah) are of the Sunni minority. This means most of the money and power in the country is controlled by the Sunni minority. Shiites, in turn want, more representation in the government. There has been minor violence between the groups two - dozen deaths have occurred since 1994. The tension between the populace, which is 70% Shiite, and the Sunni monarchy and ruling class. Shiites complain that they are excluded from top positions in the military and government and claim the government encourages immigration of Sunnis and give them preference in hiring. Sheik Hamad (the king) began democratization of the country which led to relatively relaxed censorship, draconian laws repealed, exiles repatriated and Bidoons (stateless people recognized as illegal immigrants) were granted citizenship (1999). Bahrain now has a Constitutional Monarchy and women can vote.
Recently the nation was inspired by protests and Anti-government demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia that occurred in 2011. In response to the protests, King Hamad offered each Bahraini a payment of about $2,700 and promised to increase jobs, which only emboldened the opposition. The protests began on February 14th. On Feb. 17, police fired their guns on the demonstrators in Manama's Pearl Square, killing at least two people. During the funeral the following day, government forces the attacked mourners. The attacks drew a strong rebuke from the U.S., a western ally, which bases the navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and stations troops in the country.
The government withdrew troops on February 18th, and for the next several days thousands of triumphant protesters poured into Pearl Square, reaching their peak on February 22th, with more than 100,000 protesters gathered in the square. The pro-democracy protests went on for three weeks. King Hamad, on March 14th, had Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates dispatch 2,000 troops break up the protests. Shiites labeled the deployment of the troops an "invasion." Violence broke out between protesters and troops. Hamad declared martial law and used force to remove protesters from Pearl Square ,began warrantless searches and mass arrests, and there were allegations of torture. King Hamad lifted the state of emergency on June 1st, but the country still remained tense and on the brink of violence.
In June, Hamad appointed an independent commission to investigate the crackdown by his security forces on protesters. The report found widespread human-rights abuses, saying prisoners—mostly Shia—were hooded, whipped, beaten, and given electric-shock treatment. Five prisoners died in their custody. The report was an embarrassment to the government and very critical but proved that the king followed up on his promise to fully investigate the abuse allegations. King Hamad said perpetrators would be fired.
Protesters who returned to Pearl Square in Manama in February of 2012 to mark the one-year anniversary of the uprising were pushed back by police firing tear gas and stun grenades at them. The protests continued through the year, and the government continued to stifle dissent and crack down on the movement. Many protesters and police were killed in the fighting. In October the interior minister banned demonstrations and forms of protest, saying protesters had taken advantage of the freedom of speech the government had granted them.
Attempting to quell the unrest, opposition and pro-government groups opened a national dialogue in February of 2013. The parties failed to even agree on an agenda, and the dialogue was suspended. They resumed briefly in September but ended when Shiite groups withdrew in protest over the arrest of a leader of Al Wefaq, the largest opposition group. The talks opened—and closed—again in January 2014.
Parliamentary elections were held in November 2014 and were boycotted by Shiite opposition. Claiming that monarchy failed to implement reforms and that the voting districts under-represented the majority Shiites and benefitted Sunnis.
More info and Source: http://www.infoplease.com/country/bahrain.html?pageno=4
http://www.voanews.com/content/funerals-could-spark-more-violence-in-bahrains-capital-116460333/135201.html
Recently the nation was inspired by protests and Anti-government demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia that occurred in 2011. In response to the protests, King Hamad offered each Bahraini a payment of about $2,700 and promised to increase jobs, which only emboldened the opposition. The protests began on February 14th. On Feb. 17, police fired their guns on the demonstrators in Manama's Pearl Square, killing at least two people. During the funeral the following day, government forces the attacked mourners. The attacks drew a strong rebuke from the U.S., a western ally, which bases the navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and stations troops in the country.
The government withdrew troops on February 18th, and for the next several days thousands of triumphant protesters poured into Pearl Square, reaching their peak on February 22th, with more than 100,000 protesters gathered in the square. The pro-democracy protests went on for three weeks. King Hamad, on March 14th, had Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates dispatch 2,000 troops break up the protests. Shiites labeled the deployment of the troops an "invasion." Violence broke out between protesters and troops. Hamad declared martial law and used force to remove protesters from Pearl Square ,began warrantless searches and mass arrests, and there were allegations of torture. King Hamad lifted the state of emergency on June 1st, but the country still remained tense and on the brink of violence.
In June, Hamad appointed an independent commission to investigate the crackdown by his security forces on protesters. The report found widespread human-rights abuses, saying prisoners—mostly Shia—were hooded, whipped, beaten, and given electric-shock treatment. Five prisoners died in their custody. The report was an embarrassment to the government and very critical but proved that the king followed up on his promise to fully investigate the abuse allegations. King Hamad said perpetrators would be fired.
Protesters who returned to Pearl Square in Manama in February of 2012 to mark the one-year anniversary of the uprising were pushed back by police firing tear gas and stun grenades at them. The protests continued through the year, and the government continued to stifle dissent and crack down on the movement. Many protesters and police were killed in the fighting. In October the interior minister banned demonstrations and forms of protest, saying protesters had taken advantage of the freedom of speech the government had granted them.
Attempting to quell the unrest, opposition and pro-government groups opened a national dialogue in February of 2013. The parties failed to even agree on an agenda, and the dialogue was suspended. They resumed briefly in September but ended when Shiite groups withdrew in protest over the arrest of a leader of Al Wefaq, the largest opposition group. The talks opened—and closed—again in January 2014.
Parliamentary elections were held in November 2014 and were boycotted by Shiite opposition. Claiming that monarchy failed to implement reforms and that the voting districts under-represented the majority Shiites and benefitted Sunnis.
More info and Source: http://www.infoplease.com/country/bahrain.html?pageno=4
http://www.voanews.com/content/funerals-could-spark-more-violence-in-bahrains-capital-116460333/135201.html