Bahrain Feature: The Freedom Torch Protests

The son of a victim of protest violence holds the Freedom Torch in Al Eker village on Friday night

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An EA correspondent in Bahrain reports that the 14 February Coalition has launched a new wave of protests --- "Freedom Torch":

According to a statement that been released by the opposition, there is a full week of activities with different kind of protests, from prayer night for the martyrs to human chains in villages. The most important one is the "Freedom Torch".

A torch will be taken around all Bahrain villages and ending in Sanabis, the nearest village to Pearl Roundabout/Martyrs Square, on 22 November, with celebrations of "the continuous fight for freedom and dignity" at each stop.

The statement did not mention when and where the torch will be lit for the first time or the route until it reaches Sanabis. Questions were answered, however, when the torch appeared on Wednesday in the village of Mehaza on the island of Sitra.

The celebration started before the sunset, with the participation of the relatives of martyrs, as a stage was set with a big banner behind it. Youth wearing masks organised the rally, with Bahraini flags surrounding the area. The mother of the first Bahrain martyr, Ali Mushaima, who was killed on 14 February, gave a short speech to the crowd. After a masked youth rode a horse showed up with the flaming "freedom torch" and took it to the graves of the martyrs of Sitra, people chanted "Down down [King] Hamad", and the "people want the fall of the regime" until they reached the grave of Ahmed Farhan, killed by the Peninsula Shield Force [the Saudi-led military intervention] during the attack on Sitra in March.

It took the police some time to realize what was going on in the village. As the celebration came to an end, the village was attacked. I witnessed a police force surrounding the village and beginning to fire tear gas and rubber pellets. Protesters confronted them, giving time to women, children and old people to clear the scene.

Clashes continued until late at night, but the success of lighting the "Freedom Torch" gave an inspiration to many that the February 14 Coalition is capable of organising events --- just like those of official opposition parties --- and they do have the power to lead, even though they are totally anonymous except for Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Our source reports that the torch reached the village of Al Eker on Friday night.