Ali Jawad: Bahraini Teenage Martyr in Eid al-Fitr

Local Editor

Tensions are running high in Bahrain as large numbers of people attend a funeral ceremony for 14-year-old Ali Jawad, martyred by Bahraini security forces after Eid al-Fitr prayers.

Bahraini security forces resorted to firing tear gas and live rounds in vain to disperse angry people who poured into the streets on Thursday to condemn the killing of the teenager.

Jawad was killed on Wednesday when he was shot at close range, directly in the face, by a tear gas canister fired by Saudi-backed security forces in the southern city of Sitra.

The boy's father, Jawad al-Sheikh, told CNN that when he went to the morgue, his son was "hard to recognize because he was covered with blood."

He appealed for human rights groups to take steps against Bahrain's leaders, saying, "I lost my child. ... He does not deserve this destiny."

Meanwhile, large crowds of people, among them human rights activists, participated in the funeral for the youth victim, shouting slogans against the ruling al-Khalifa family. "Death to Al Khalifa," chanted the outraged protesters.

Similarly, people have held demonstrations in several cities and villages across Bahrain to condemn the murder of the teenage boy by the regime forces.

The brutal killing of Ali Jawad comes a few days after a televised speech by Bahraini King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa, who announced a decision to pardon the demonstrators arrested during the country's popular uprising that broke out in February.

During his Sunday speech, King Hamad also claimed to reinstate employees and students who have been dismissed for participating in anti-regime protests.

The remarks were immediately met with street protests by Bahraini people and activists, who deem the remarks as an insult to hundreds of political activists held in regime prisons and the majority of Bahraini public who have turned against the US- and Saudi-backed al-Khalifa regime.

"The picture of the situation on the ground is totally different from the speech he delivered," said President of Bahrain Center for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab, referring to the continued killing of protesters, attacking and looting of houses and the demolition of mosques and holy places b y Saudi-backed regime.

Source: News Agencies