Bahrain's interior ministry announced yesterday that it would "stop all rallies and gatherings" and arrest anyone participating in any demonstration, as it instituted new rules aimed at preserving "civil peace".
In an official statement yesterday, the interior minister, Lt Gen Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, said that recent rallies by the largest Shia opposition bloc, Al Wefaq, had been "associated with violence, rioting and attacks on public and private property that affected others and hindered public and private facilities, movements and commercial and economic sectors".
"It was decided to stop all rallies and gatherings until ensuring that security is maintained through achieving the targeted security to protect national unity and social fabric to fight extremism," the statement said.
The new regulations follow the deaths of two Bahraini policemen in the last two weeks.
A 19-year-old officer died on October 19 as the result of a petrol bomb near Al Eker neighbourhood.
A week later, an officer died in hospital from wounds he sustained during clashes in April.
Al Wefaq leaders have maintained that their group's protests are peaceful and that violence ensues only when the police use force to break up their demonstrations.
edickinson@thenational.ae
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
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Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
West Indies v England ODI series:
West Indies squad: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.
Fixtures:
1st ODI - February 20, Bridgetown
2nd ODI - February 22, Bridgetown
3rd ODI - February 25, St George's
4th ODI - February 27, St George's
5th ODI - March 2, Gros Islet
