Pro-democracy protest (or ‘terror’?) rocks Bahrain

Bill Weinberg

We’ve noted before how the oppressive monarchy in Bahrain is intent on blaming all internal protest on external Iranian subversion. Now take a look at how the Bahraini and Iranian official media portray the latest upsurge of unrest (which has gone practically unreported elsewhere). First this, from Bahrain News Agency, Aug. 25:

Terror Attack on Sitra Police Station Foiled
The General Director of Central Governorate Police has announced that the police succeeded in foiling a terror attack on Sitra Police Station on Saturday…

Around 150 individuals attacked the station hurling a large quantity of Molotov cocktails from more than one side. He said that the police forces managed to deal with the attack and found a car with a stock of Molotov cocktails ready to be used. The driver was arrested.

He said that the front side of the station was damaged, while one of the policemen sustained minor injuries.

He said that investigation was launched to bring the suspects to justice. Anyone with information is asked to call the police hotline 80008008.

All calls are confidential. 

 

Uh, sorry guys, but when 150 people attack a police station with Molotov cocktails, you are looking at a popular uprising, not a terrorist attack. Now, for a little contrast, here’s how the Tehran Times plays it:

Bahraini forces attack pro-democracy protesters in Sitra
Saudi-backed Bahraini regime forces have attacked d pro-democracy demonstrators in the northeastern island of Sitra.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the anti-regime protesters on Thursday.

Anti-regime demonstrations continue in Bahrain despite a heavy-handed crackdown backed by Saudi Arabia.

On August 21, security forces arrested at least eight people in an attack on a funeral ceremony in the country’s third largest city of Muharraq.

The funeral was held to mourn the death of 16-year-old Husam al-Haddad killed during an attack by police on a peaceful demonstration in the city on August 17.

Bahraini demonstrators hold King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa responsible for the deaths of protesters during the uprising.

Funny, eh? In this particular instance, the Iranian account is probably closer to the truth.

  1. Orwell in Tehran
    And on the subject of propaganda. From Reuters, Sept. 2:

    Bahrain has criticised Iranian officials over a mistranslation of a speech by Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, which replaced the word “Syria” with “Bahrain” when he listed Arab states that had experienced revolts since last year…

    Mursi, a Sunni Islamist who was elected president this year, gave the speech on Thursday during a meeting in Tehran of the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of 120 mostly developing nations.

    He did not mention Bahrain, and the Bahraini government lodged a complaint with Iran’s charge d’affaires on Saturday over the mistranslation on Iranian state television and radio.

    “This is a violation, fabrication and unacceptable media behaviour that shows how Iranian media is interfering in Bahrain’s internal affairs,” Bahrain’s government-run news agency BNA said late on Saturday, adding that Bahrain had demanded an apology.

    The cynicism on both sides of Iran-Bahrain divide is equally sickening. As usual, these bitter enemies are birds of a feather…