MANAMA, 12 March 2005 — Protests organized to demand the release of three Bahrainis arrested for running an anti-government Internet forum escalated into a near clash between riot police and their supporters here on Thursday night.
Hundreds of protesters, including members of the families of the three Bahrainis, gathered in front of the Hoora police station to demand their release as riot police — who outnumbered the protesters — tried to prevent them.
Acting head of the Manama Security Directorate, Col. Isa Al-Musalam, tried to convince the protesters who gathered along Exhibition Avenue, one of Bahrainis busiest roads, where the police station is located, to call off their demonstration.
The situation escalated when police threatened to arrest the protesters and deployed riot police where a shoving match took place between the two sides after the protesters decided to turn their protest into a sit-in.
The protesters then decided to end their gathering after authorities pulled back the riot police and released four organizers who were earlier arrested on the scene.
Webmaster of Bahrainonline.org, Ali Abdul Imam, aged 27, and two of his technical assistants were arrested late last month on charges of inciting hatred against the government, spreading false information and rumors that harmed public interest and violating the communications and publishing laws. They had been remanded into police custody after the Ministry of Information pressed charges against them.
The trio is expected to appear before the public prosecutor again tomorrow. A committee of 13 lawyers, backed by the opposition, has agreed to represent them.
