News / Persian Gulf

UK sold Bahrain over $65mn in weaponry since 2011 uprising

Sunday, 14 February 2016 3:05 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 15 February 2016 12:01 PM ]

Bahraini protesters take part in a rally marking the fifth anniversary of the nation's popular uprising, on February 12, 2016 in the Sitra village. (photos by AFP)

The British government has supplied the repressive Bahraini regime with over $65 million worth of weaponry despite years of crackdown, torture and oppression in the Persian Gulf kingdom.

British arms sales to Bahrain since 2011 was estimated at 45 million British pounds ($65.3 million), UK-based daily Independent reported on Sunday.

The weapons included machine guns, assault rifles and anti-armor ammunition, the report added citing the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) organization. This is while the total UK arms sales to Bahrain prior to the uprising stood at only 6 million pounds.

Saudi Arabia also sent UK-supplied armored vehicles to Bahrain to safeguard infrastructure, allowing the Bahraini kingdom to violently repress the pro-democracy opposition movement.

The report came as Bahraini regime forces fired birdshot and tear gas canisters to suppress rallies across the country ahead of the fifth anniversary of the nation’s popular uprising.

Protesters at the Saturday rally in the northeastern village of Nuwaidrat responded to the violence by throwing rocks and petrol bombs at armored police vehicles.

The latest clashes erupted soon after the regime forces tried to suppress yet another demonstration in the village earlier in the day, during which the protesters demanded the release of all political prisoners held by the despotic regime, including the prominent head of the country’s main opposition group, Sheikh Ali Salman.

A Bahraini police vehicle patrols a street during clashes with protesters after a rally marking the fifth anniversary of the nation's popular uprising, on February 12, 2016 in the Sitra village. (AFP photo)

Salman was arrested in December 2014 on charges of attempting to overthrow the ruling Al Khalifah regime and collaborating with foreign powers. He has strongly denied the charges, insisting that he has only been seeking reforms in the kingdom through peaceful means.

Meanwhile, similar rallies were held across the oil-rich Arab country as part a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience in the run-up to the anniversary.

*Bahraini protesters take part in a rally marking the fifth anniversary of the nation's popular uprising, on February 12, 2015 in the Sitra village.*

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have waged numerous rallies on an almost daily basis, calling for the Al Khalifah family to relinquish power.

Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the persisting heavy-handed crackdown.

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