A few months ago a group of Bahraini students held a demonstration in the area behind me against the al Khalifa regime in Bahrain.
While they were doing this unidentified men were taking their photos. Soon after, they had their scholarships to study in the UK withdrawn.
The demonstration took place on March 20 in the northern English town of Manchester in response to the Bahraini regime's crackdown on pro democracy protests.
It was held outside the BBC to highlight the media silence over the issue.
The Bahraini students say their families were targeted by the regime. And now they say that Bahrainis in the UK who benefit from government scholarships have been pressured to sign pledges of allegiance to the king, and to promise not to take part in any protests against the regime.
Ali, a Bahraini student in Manchester who has just graduated, didn't want to be filmed because of fear of reprisals.
But at a conference on Bahrain at Manchester Metropolitan University, student leaders pledged to help the Bahraini students complete their education with or without Bahraini government funding.
Meanwhile, speakers at the conference outlined what they called the serial human rights abuses the Bahraini authorities have committed. These include killings, unlawful detentions, torture and the targeting of health workers, journalists and lawyers, among others.
And the former advisor to the Bahraini prime minister said the al Khalifas had no choice but to move towards a constitutional monarchy.
The Bahraini authorities deny human rights abuses and say they are simply ensuring the national security and stability of the nation. They also admit contacting students in Britain but say that those affected can appeal the decision to withdraw education funding.
Source : PressTV
The demonstration took place on March 20 in the northern English town of Manchester in response to the Bahraini regime's crackdown on pro democracy protests.
It was held outside the BBC to highlight the media silence over the issue.
The Bahraini students say their families were targeted by the regime. And now they say that Bahrainis in the UK who benefit from government scholarships have been pressured to sign pledges of allegiance to the king, and to promise not to take part in any protests against the regime.
Ali, a Bahraini student in Manchester who has just graduated, didn't want to be filmed because of fear of reprisals.
But at a conference on Bahrain at Manchester Metropolitan University, student leaders pledged to help the Bahraini students complete their education with or without Bahraini government funding.
Meanwhile, speakers at the conference outlined what they called the serial human rights abuses the Bahraini authorities have committed. These include killings, unlawful detentions, torture and the targeting of health workers, journalists and lawyers, among others.
And the former advisor to the Bahraini prime minister said the al Khalifas had no choice but to move towards a constitutional monarchy.
The Bahraini authorities deny human rights abuses and say they are simply ensuring the national security and stability of the nation. They also admit contacting students in Britain but say that those affected can appeal the decision to withdraw education funding.
Source : PressTV
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