Bahrainis hold anti-regime demo over death of activist

Bahraini protesters have held a demonstration to protest the death of an activist killed by regime forces. Hussein Abdullah Abdulkarim died after an explosive device went off near his house in the village of Saar near the capital Manama. His family accused the Bahraini regime of being behind his death. On Wednesday, a funeral procession was held at Hussein’s home village where protesters chanted slogans against the regime and called for its downfall. Activists say the 35-year-old man was arrested on several occasions for taking part in anti-regime protests. The Bahraini uprising began in mid-February 2011, when the people, inspired by the popular revolutions that toppled the dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, started holding massive demonstrations. The Bahraini government promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states. Dozens of people have been killed in the crackdown, and the security forces have arrested hundreds, including doctors and nurses accused of treating injured revolutionaries. A report published by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2011 found that the Al Khalifa regime had used excessive force in the crackdown and accused Manama of torturing political activists, politicians, and protesters. Bahrainis say they will continue holding demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically elected government is met.