Bahraini Shi’ites protest against settling Sunnis
Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has seen weeks of protests by its disgruntled Shi’ite majority, which says it is discriminated against by the Sunni al-Khalifa ruling family.
No stranger to sporadic protests and rioting, Bahrain has been gripped by the worst unrest since the 1990s after a youth movement took to the streets last month, emboldened by revolutions that toppled the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt.
Protests have been peaceful after initial clashes but many of the protesters still occupying Manama’s Pearl Square are demanding the al-Khalifa family be ousted.
The bigger and more moderate Shi’ite opposition group Wefaq only demands a new government and a new constitution under which the government would be elected.
A thorny issue for all opposition groups has been Bahrain’s practice of giving citizenship to Sunni foreigners serving in the kingdom’s armed forces, which they see as an attempt to alter the country’s sectarian balance.
The protesters marched by the immigration authority in Manama, chanting anti-government slogans and holding up signs that read "Stop naturalization!"
"All those that are naturalized will be pro-government, and those in the police and army will follow their orders even if they are against the Bahraini people," said protester Khaled Ali.
Only half of Bahrain’s population of about 1.2 million are native Bahrainis. Protesters said they only oppose settling those foreigners who are recruited to serve in the armed forces.
The opposition also complains that families of naturalized Sunnis have better access to government services such as housing, education and health.
"We want them out because they’re sharing the services with original Bahrainis. We have to wait 15 years for (government) housing, and they get it immediately after arriving," said Ali.
Opposition activists estimate that up to half of Bahrain’s approximately 20,000-strong national security apparatus could be made up of Sunnis from Pakistan, Jordan and Yemen.
The interior ministry said this week it plans to create 20,000 jobs and said they would be open to Shi’ites.
The government says there is no plan to change the country’s sectarian balance and that all naturalization is done with full transparency and in accordance with Bahrain’s immigration policies.
Bahrain’s king said in December the government would start limiting the practice, in what observers said was a gesture to the opposition over a contentious issue.
"He said that, but what’s going on under the table is different," said protester Taha Alderazi.
Bahrain saw the first clashes between Sunni and Shi’ite residents last week when at least a hundred residents attacked each other with metal sticks and batons in Hamad Town, an area where both sects live, including settled Sunnis.
It was not clear what prompted the clashes that lasted about two hours before police and politicians calmed the situation, but residents said that Syrians settled in Bahrain had been involved.
Incident
Azerbaijan detains 75 foreigners living illegally in Baku and Sumgait -VIDEO
Azerbaijan prevents smuggling of 16 kg of drugs from Iran-PHOTO
Azerbaijan's ANAMA discovered 237 landmines, 7 421 UXOs in liberated territories last month
Azerbaijan detained 52 foreigners last month for border violation, seized contraband worth AZN 3,8 mln
NEWS FEED
German FM announces EUR 200M in humanitarian aid for Ukraine
Protest march is underway in Tbilisi
Azerbaijani, Iraqi FMs discuss situation in Middle East
Azerbaijani cadets familiarize themselves with South Korea's military education system
NATO Secretary General visits Germany
Putin meets with visiting North Korean foreign minister - Kremlin spokesman
COP29 Public Catering Sustainability Assessment complete
Moscow hosted event dedicated to contemporary Azerbaijani poetry - PHOTO
Azerbaijan Defense Minister pays an official visit to Slovakia -PHOTO
APA Journalism School starts to function-PHOTO
Azerbaijan, China discuss COP29 preparations
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport introduces COP29 section on website
Azerbaijan detains 75 foreigners living illegally in Baku and Sumgait -VIDEO
At least 10 dead after volcano erupts in Indonesia -UPDATED
Canada to provide Ukraine with $3.7 billion
IDF says it killed 2 Hezbollah commanders, including chief of elite anti-tank missile unit
Participants of Baku Summit of World Religious Leaders visit Alley of Honors -PHOTO
Iranian President to participate in COP29 set to be held in Baku - EXCLUSIVE
Maia Sandu wins Moldova presidential elections with 55.33% votes
NATO intends to fight ‘defensive battles’ thousands of miles from its territory — Lavrov
4 injured in axe attack on RER E train in France - media
German prosecutor drops probe against Russian-Uzbek billionaire Usmanov, lawyers say
Azerbaijan introduces ‘COP29 Special Visa’ free of charge for registered participants
Mastercard and ABB launch sustainability hackathon
Israeli military denies strike on Gaza vaccination clinic
Brent oil surpasses $75 per barrel, first time since October 25
EU'S Borrell visits Seoul amid alarm over North Korean troops in Russia
Azerbaijan-Armenia regulation on delimitation is greatest victory for both countries, Speaker Simonyan says
Azerbaijan, Iran hold joint exercise of naval forces in the Caspian Sea -PHOTO
Azerbaijan prevents smuggling of 16 kg of drugs from Iran-PHOTO
Azerbaijan's ANAMA discovered 237 landmines, 7 421 UXOs in liberated territories last month
At least 36 killed as bus overturns in India's Uttarakhand state
President Ilham Aliyev inspected facilities created for COP29 at Baku Olympic Stadium area - UPDATED
Germany's Scholz to meet NATO chief Rutte in Berlin
German foreign minister assures Kyiv of support on visit ahead of U.S. vote
Georgia deported 46 Azerbaijani citizens this year
Azerbaijani President appoints Head of Nakhchivan EP
Industrial production in Baku reached AZN 40 bln
Azerbaijan detained 52 foreigners last month for border violation, seized contraband worth AZN 3,8 mln
ICRC visited Garabagh separatists detained in Baku, created possibility to exchange family news
S&P discloses forecast for Azerbaijan's Banking Sector
Two of Iran's Revolutionary Guards die in gyroplane crash
Indonesia, Russia navies hold first joint drills in Java Sea
Annual inflation in Türkiye drops below 49%
Israel officially informs UN of end to relations with Palestinian relief agency
Oil prices surge on global markets
COP29 in Baku: Globally recognized climate advocate and leading climate finance authority, calls for historic action on Climate Finance and New Ambitious Funding Goal: “COP29 has the opportunity to make history!”
Hezbollah fires 105 rockets from Lebanon at Israel on November 3 — IDF
Natural gas prices drop at NYMEX
Enhanced digital platform unveiled for COP29