Shiites face charges after street clashes
More than a dozen people detained in Bahrain during recent Shiite protests were charged with attempted murder or illegal assembly and rioting, a defense lawyer and a local rights group said. Defense lawyer Mohammed Jashi said three people were charged with attempted murder in clashes with riot police, and 11 with illegal assembly and rioting.
The Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy said in a statement that 31 people were charged with illegal assembly, rioting, theft of weapons and ammunition, and illegal possession of arms. The discrepancies could not immediately be reconciled.
Shiites account for about 70% of Bahrain’s more than 700,000 citizens, but the ruling family is Sunni. Last week’s demonstrations erupted after the death of Shiite protester who took part in a rally commemorating social unrest in the 1990s.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
