Bahraini regime forces launched a campaign of arrests in the Gulf Kingdom, just few days before a Formula One Grand Prix scheduled to be held on April 22.

Bahraini regime forces launched a campaign of arrests in the Gulf Kingdom, just few days before a Formula One Grand Prix scheduled to be held on April 22.

(Archives)

Bahraini activists on Tuesday that the Saudi-backed regime forces had at least 60 protest leaders in the villages of Bani Jamra, Sitra, Ghuraifa, Diraz, Ma'amir, and Sehla, Reuters reported.

“It started in Bani Jamra last Thursday, then Sitra, Ghuraifa, Diraz, Ma'amir, and Sehla," said Mohammed al-Maskati, the head of Bahraini rights group, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights.
Regime forces also used live bullets against peaceful protesters, activists also said.

The regime announced last week it was escalating its repression measures against protesters ahead of the controversial race.
Anti-regime demonstrators condemn the race, which is going to be held despite the regime’s ongoing violent suppression campaign against the protesters.

The situation has been more tense across the country as the regime forces were brutally curbing any attempt by people to protest against the regime.

‘RISONERS MUST BE FREED’

Abdulhadi Khawaja, (archives)

On Wednesday Germany's top human rights official called on Bahrain to free hundreds of political prisoners.

In an interview with Agence France Press, Markus Loening said there were still "a few hundred protestors in prison" more than a year after the uprising.
"They must be freed," he demanded.

He also appealed to the government in Bahrain to release people "who have been imprisoned due to unfair court verdicts."
Loening also reiterated calls for jailed Bahraini-Danish Shiite activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, to be freed.

Khawaja has been on hunger strike since February to demand his release from prison, where he is serving a life sentence over charges he conspired to overthrow Al-Khalifa.
His jailing has sparked concerns from the international organizations, including Amnesty International.

 

AMNESTY: CREDIBLE REPORTS OF TORTURE

Also on Tuesday, Amnesty International has said that it has received credible reports of the use of torture in the Bahraini jails, despite pledges of reform by the ruling Al Khalifa family.

"The authorities are trying to portray the country as being on the road to reform, but we continue to receive reports of torture and use of unnecessary and excessive force against protests," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, the Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa deputy director, in a statement.

Scores of people have been killed and many others injured in the crackdown on the popular revolution, which started in February, 2011.