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Al Khalifa not allowing democracy in Bahrain: Analyst

Monday, 15 February 2016 5:13 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 15 February 2016 5:12 AM ]

A Bahraini protester shouts slogans during clashes with riot police in the village of Sitra, south of Manama, February 12, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Press TV has interviewed Sayed Yousif al-Muhafdah, with the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, and Nabil Mikhail, a professor at the George Washington University, to discuss the crackdown on protests in Bahrain.

Muhafdah says the Bahraini protestors have been calling for reform, democracy, an elected government, justice, human rights and freedom since 2011, but the Al Khalifa regime has resorted to heavy-handed suppression tactics against them.

He says the Manama regime wants to signal to the people that “democracy is not allowed in Bahrain,” as King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his men are promoting an absolute monarchy in the country.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Muhafdah says most of the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf region are supporting the Bahraini government to suppress the anti-regime protests because they are fearful of the spread of democracy to their own countries.

The activist also censures the United States and Britain for pursuing a hypocritical policy and double standards when it comes to democracy in the Persian Gulf Arab monarchies, especially Bahrain.

Mikhail, for his part, believes the Al Khalifa regime does not feel threatened by the opposition, because Manama thinks it has enough security forces to continue the crackdown on protests and can marginalize the opponents, relying on its resources.

Therefore, he says, the Bahraini government refuses to reach out to the opposition and hold serious talks.

He further criticizes the United States for neglecting the uprising in Bahrain and the situation in the Persian Gulf area as well as the conflict in Syria, which has repercussions on the Persian Gulf.

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