(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The head of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, Mohammed al-Maskati, said the killing of protesters and the use of violence against revolutionaries are not accidental.
He noted how a 14-year-old boy was killed in the city of Sitra on Wednesday after he was directly shot in the head with a tear gas canister fired from close range. Ali Jawad was reportedly denied admission upon arrival at the city's hospital and died of his critic injuries shortly afterwards.
Maskati stressed: “It is not a personal act; it is something from upper authorities who are giving orders to attack the protesters.”
He also underscored the atmosphere of distrust overshadowing the country's upcoming elections.
He said: "No one is talking about the elections these days and most of the political society has boycotted the elections because they don't want to participate in the violations of human rights.”
Maskati described the elections as a ploy by the Bahraini regime to save face and called it an attempt to convince the international community that there is democracy in Bahrain.
On Sunday, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa announced a decision to pardon the demonstrators arrested during the country's popular uprising that broke out in February, a move viewed as an attempt to restore normalcy to the country.
He also promised to reinstate employees and students who have been dismissed for participating in anti-regime protests.
But Bahraini protesters took to the streets immediately after the king's televised speech, blaming him for the brutal Saudi-backed crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
The King's remarks came on the same day as a special security court resumed the trial of 20 doctors and nurses accused of treating injured anti-government protesters.
Scores of Bahraini people have been killed in the Saudi-backed repression of peaceful protesters, who have been staging massive demonstrations since mid-February demanding the downfall of the ruling Al Khalifa family.
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