MANAMA (Press TV) – Bahrainis have taken to the streets south of the capital Manama in solidarity with political prisoners, sparking clashes with regime forces.
The demonstrators rallied on the island of Sitra and several nearby villages against mistreatment of political detainees.
The protests broke out after some reports said inmates at a jail were assaulted by guards.
The gatherings followed similar demonstrations in several areas across the Persian Gulf state on Thursday against the detention of Sheikh Salman, who leads the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, the country’s main Shia opposition bloc.
There has been an escalation in anti-regime demonstrations in the sheikdom since Bahraini forces detained Salman on December 28 last year. The arrest came two days after he was re-elected as the party’s leader.
Salman is being tried on charges of seeking to overthrow the ruling Al Khalifa regime.
Bahrain has been a scene of daily protests against Salman’s detention, with protesters demanding his immediate release.