On average there have been 2+ licensed demonstrations per week since January 2012, many of which expressed views critical of the Government. However, all too often these demonstrations devolved into violence and lawlessness as demonstrators dispersed and youths armed with petrol bombs and other weapons took their place, launching assaults on public security officers and civilians. In a 90 day period (May – July 2012) there were 91 injuries requiring treatment to members of the police force; averaging one a day.
The reality is that one would be hard pressed to find a protest that both begins and ends peacefully. Although, there are a few examples of that, they are now the exception rather than the rule. The fact of the matter is that there has been an escalation of violence by some elements of the opposition and those who regularly engage in riotous activity,” Fahad Albinali, Counselor for International Media Affairs and spokesman for the IAA, said. Meetings have been held with the organizers of these rallies to express concern over increasing violence. However, organizers maintain that they are not able to control those who engage in violence.
According to local newspaper Al Ayam, the BJS issued a statement yesterday supporting the decision by the Ministry of Interior to temporarily ban rallies and demonstrations that fall short of the requirements and standards of legitimate free expression. The statement underscored their rejection of any abuse of this right, particularly the infringement on the rights of others, which often leads to violence and damage to the economy and public interest of citizens and residents. The Society called on all to abide by and respect the law and regulations.
“Every person has the right to disagree with, or dissent from, their government, and to state that disagreement or dissent publicly and within the limits of orderly discourse in a democratic society,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa told Human Rights Council recent meeting in Geneva.
“The law delegates the authority to the relevant minister the assessment of the public interest and to make the appropriate decisions to maintain civil peace and national unity. I believe that this decision came as a pressing necessity to re-establish security and insure that the exercise of these rights is carried out in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework,” a legal expert and former MP Fareed Ghazi quoted saying by a local newspaper Al Ayam.
The Ministry of Interior is currently conducting a study to allocate zones around the country to be used for staging protests to preserve the right of political expression while minimizing the risk of injury or disruption to society at large.