Bahrain police storm uprising exhibition
Bahrain’s riot police close down art exhibition depicting scenes from the Gulf country’s uprising.
Riot police in Bahrain have stormed an exhibition dedicated to the Arab Spring-inspired uprising in the Gulf nation, saying material inside was likely to incite further unrest.
The raid on Wednesday came two days after the opening of exhibition, which included scenes depicting protesters killed in clashes, alleged torture inside prisons and demonstrators running from tear gas attacks.
A statement from the Interior Ministry said the exhibition included “incitement material” and legal action could be taken against the sponsors of the event, which was set to close on Saturday.
The exhibition was held in a building operated by Bahrain’s main opposition group, Al Wefaq, and the exhibition was opened by its leader, Ali Salman.
“The theme of the museum irritated authorities as it documents many incidents since the uprising in 2011 until now,” said Al Wefaq’s lawyer, Abdullah al-Shamlawi.
More than 65 people have been killed in violence since Bahrain’s Shia majority launched protests in February 2011 for a greater political voice in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.
Some rights groups place the death toll higher.
Meanwhile, international rights groups have called on Bahrain to drop prosecution against a prominent Al Wefaq figure, Khalil al-Marzooq, who faces charges including allegedly encouraging violence.
He denies the claims.