Latest update: 21/03/2011 

- Bahrain - demonstrations - shiite - Sunni


Bahrain: powder keg of the Gulf?

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The smallest kingdom in the Arab world is seeing protests against authorities go from strength to strength. The Shiite majority is demonstrating against the Sunni Al Khalifa dynasty, which has ruled Bahrain with an iron fist for two centuries. Shiites say they are victims of social and political discrimination.

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By Adel GASTEL / Cédric MOLLE LAURENCON
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I don't see a no-fly zone in

by Anonyme - 27/03/2011 - 03:31

I don't see a no-fly zone in Bahrain .... let's see Obama , GB & France impose one in Bahrain? Conflict of interest????? or just simple hypocrisy?

Bahrain

by Anonyme - 22/03/2011 - 08:22

Unlike many other gulf states, Bahrain does not have any oil revenues. Its national revenues come from tourism mainly from Saudi Arabia and other gulf states due to relaxed rules and fees received from the port. The Sunni population is still the majority in Bahrain. When I lived there in 1982, there weren't any discrimination or suppression toward Shiite minority and I do not know if that has changed since.The basic structure of Bahrain's Khalifa Royal family rule was based on relaxed rules to encourage tourism, the main source of its revenue. I feel that the conflict is due to the dissatisfaction from minority at the US naval presence in its port. It brings me back to the original point of contention which is US need to rethink its foreign policy priorities in the region.

france24, please have more

by Anonyme - 21/03/2011 - 19:18

france24, please have more coverage in Bahrain. Bahraini people are really victims of social and political discrimination. No one can support them and Arabic channels are not covering what is going on over there other than showing protester as criminals b/c Bahrain one of the Gulf countries

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