The main Bahraini opposition group, al-Wefaq, has announced a week of daily demonstrations for democratic reform ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix auto race scheduled to be held on April 22.
Al-Wefaq announced on its website plans for sit-ins and demonstrations under the banner of “steadfastness and challenge,” AFP reported.
The demonstrations will begin on Sunday with a protest in the village of Bilad al-Qadim, east of the capital Manama.
Protests will also be held in several other villages near Manama within the next seven days.
Al-Wefaq also announced plans for a demonstration near Bahrain’s International Airport on Tuesday.
There will be no demonstrations near the Sakhir circuit, where the Formula One race will be held, the Bahraini opposition group said.
Meanwhile, the “Revolution of February 14” youth group has called for “three days of rage” from April 20 to 22 to protest against a decision to hold the auto race despite ongoing demonstrations against the ruling Al Khalifa family and the regime’s violent crackdown on peaceful protests.
Human Rights Watch has condemned the decision, saying it would be exploited by the Al Khalifa regime to “obscure the seriousness of the country’s human rights situation.”
The latest announcement by al-Wefaq comes one day after Bahraini activists said on Saturday Mohammed Radhi died in hospital a few days after Saudi-backed security forces ran him over outside Manama.
Radhi was the eighth victim of brutality exercised by Bahraini police since March 17, 2012. Seven other Bahrainis have also been killed due to inhalation of poisonous tear gas ever since.
Anti-regime demonstrators hold King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa responsible for the death of protesters during the popular uprising that began in the Persian Gulf state in February 2011.
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