Bahraini parliamentary by-election, 2011
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary by-election was held in Bahrain
on 24 September 2011 following the withdrawal of 18 members of the largest political party in parliament, al Wefaq
, in protest at governmental actions during the 2011 Bahraini uprising
. Security forces closed Pearl Roundabout
and attacked protestors in the village of Sanabis.
has the power to block legislation from the lower house. The minority Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty has ruled
the majority Shia country since 1783. The 2011 Bahraini uprising
started in early 2011, with massive protests, occupation of the Pearl Roundabout
, arrests and other responses by police, destruction of the Pearl Roundabout, and entry of the Peninsula Shield Force to Bahrain. MPs from Al Wefaq
, the largest party in parliament, resigned their seats in protest against the government's responses.
of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
reported that 38 women were detained for a 45-day period.
On the election day, 24 September, hundreds to thousands of protestors gathered in the village of Sanabis with the intention of marching to the Pearl Roundabout, which had been physically occupied by protestors during the 2011 Bahraini uprising and whose monument had been destroyed by the authorities in response. Security forces used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets against the protestors.
Graffiti near a voting station stated "Down with Hamad" and "The people want to bring down the regime".
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
on 24 September 2011 following the withdrawal of 18 members of the largest political party in parliament, al Wefaq
Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, in protest at governmental actions during the 2011 Bahraini uprising
2011 Bahraini uprising
The 2011 Bahraini uprising, sometimes called the February 14 Revolution is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain...
. Security forces closed Pearl Roundabout
Pearl Roundabout
Pearl Roundabout or Lulu Roundabout was a roundabout located near the financial district of Manama, Bahrain...
and attacked protestors in the village of Sanabis.
Background
The lower house of parliament has the authority to pass legislation proposed by the sovereign or the governing cabinet, as well as monitoring authority. The upper, unelected Consultative CouncilConsultative Council of Bahrain
The Consultative Council is the name given to the upper house of the National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain....
has the power to block legislation from the lower house. The minority Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty has ruled
History of Bahrain
Bahrain is a island country in the Persian Gulf. Although Bahrain became an independent country in 1971, the history of these islands starts from ancient times...
the majority Shia country since 1783. The 2011 Bahraini uprising
2011 Bahraini uprising
The 2011 Bahraini uprising, sometimes called the February 14 Revolution is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain...
started in early 2011, with massive protests, occupation of the Pearl Roundabout
Pearl Roundabout
Pearl Roundabout or Lulu Roundabout was a roundabout located near the financial district of Manama, Bahrain...
, arrests and other responses by police, destruction of the Pearl Roundabout, and entry of the Peninsula Shield Force to Bahrain. MPs from Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, the largest party in parliament, resigned their seats in protest against the government's responses.
Arrests, protests and responses
On Friday 23 September, dozens of people were arrested and some were badly beaten. Nabeel RajabNabeel Rajab
Nabeel Rajab was one of the founders of the first migrant workers protection committee in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the Migrant Workers Protection Group ....
of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is a Bahraini non-profit non-governmental organisation which works to promote human rights in Bahrain, which was founded by a number of Bahraini activist in June 2002...
reported that 38 women were detained for a 45-day period.
On the election day, 24 September, hundreds to thousands of protestors gathered in the village of Sanabis with the intention of marching to the Pearl Roundabout, which had been physically occupied by protestors during the 2011 Bahraini uprising and whose monument had been destroyed by the authorities in response. Security forces used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets against the protestors.
Graffiti near a voting station stated "Down with Hamad" and "The people want to bring down the regime".