As protesters in Bahrain continue their daily peaceful marches pushing the regime to release the leader of Al-Wefaq opposition party, Sheikh Ali Salman, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has joined the call and criticized the West for its inaction, Russia today reported .
Sunday's rally follows a plea by Salman issued from prison, calling on his supporters to speak out against the Al-Khalifa regime. In his message, the 49-year-old cleric stressed that protests must remain peaceful. Salman has been kept behind bars since his arrest on December 28. Bahrain’s public prosecutor has extended his detention for an unlimited period .
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has urged the international community to pressure Bahraini regime to release detained activists, including Salman, or justify their detention .
"When it comes to punishing peaceful critics of the government or ruling family, Bahrain is a serial offender," said Joe Stork, HRW's deputy Middle East and North Africa director .
"Bahrain’s allies in London, Paris, and elsewhere have largely stayed silent as Bahrain has filled its jails with the people who hold the key to the political solution the UK and US claim to support," Stork said .
Salman’s arrest “seems calculated to send a message to Bahrainis and the world that political reconciliation and respect for fundamental rights is completely off the table,” said Stork, claiming that Bahrain has so far "failed" to release any evidence against the opposition leader justifying his detention .
Bahrain, ruled by King Hamad, was rocked by protests in 2011 by the country’s majority Shiite Muslim population, calling for more freedoms in the Sunni-ruled country. Although the government, backed by Saudi Arabia and the west, managed to suppress the protests very quickly, clashes between security forces and protesters still occur on a weekly basis .
