Bahrain defends police oppression of unemployed demonstrators

An official at the Bahraini ministry of the interior defended the police attacking and detaining several unemployed demonstrators during a march of protest on Sunday.

The official who was quoted by the Bahraini official news agency said that the demonstrators attacked policemen and injured many of them. A matter which obliged the security forces to disperse them, according to the law.

He said that the police asked the demonstrators to get away from the area close to the royal court in which gatherings are forbidden. He explained that most of the detained persons were released a short time after they were interrogated.

The Bahraini capital on Sunday witnessed demonstrations organized by unemployed persons or sympathizers with them, demanded providing job opportunities. The security forces arrested more than 30 persons among 50 who took part in the demonstrations which was staged near the royal court.

Witnesses said that the police used sticks against the demonstrators and this resulted in injuring many of them. One activist in human rights said that Bahrain human rights center chairman, which is currently close, Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja is among the detainees.

Bahrain witnessed demonstrations organized by the opposition on Friday, attended between 15,000 to 20,000 persons according to organizers and 450 according to the police, demanding the introduction of amendments to the constitution.

Unemployment rate is estimated at 15% and foreigners constitute two thirds of the labor force in the kingdom.