Abdulhussain bin Ali Mirza, who also serves as the chief executive of the state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), said that 293 employees have been dismissed since the king declared martial law on March 15 to quell weeks of demonstrations.
Fifty employees were also suspended pending investigations by authorities, and 11 board members of the workers union were referred to the general prosecutor, Mirza told lawmakers on Tuesday.
Authorities have been aggressively pursuing Shiite opposition supporters who staged street marches, demanding greater freedom, equal rights and an elected government in the strategic island kingdom, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
At least 30 people have been killed since the protests began in February, inspired by revolts against autocratic leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. Hundreds of protesters, opposition leaders, human rights activists, athletes and professionals such as doctors and lawyers have been detained.
Dozens are being tried in the country’s special security court, set up under emergency rule. Late last month, four protesters were sentenced to death for killing two policemen in the unrest.
On Sunday, the king ordered a June 1 end to emergency rule. The decision appeared part of Bahrain’s international campaign to reassure financial markets and win back high-profile events — including the coveted Formula 1 grand prix, a major revenue earner, which was canceled in March after deadly clashes between the protesters and riot police.
