Bahrain: anti-government protests continue despite brutal crackdown (big photo gallery)

People gather to mourn and pray for demonstrators who were injured after riot police stormed an anti-government protest camp, outside the Salmaniya hospital where the casualties were sent to, in Manama February 17, 2011.

Family members of the protester who was killed this morning during police clashes mourn at a hospital after receiving news of his death in the Bahraini capital of Manama.

More photos below (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed).

Warning: graphic content.

The blood of a wounded Bahrain citizen is seen during clashes with policemen in Manama February 14, 2010. Small-scale clashes erupted in two Bahraini villages as security forces tightened their grip on Shi'ite communities for Monday's "Day of Rage" protests inspired by upheaval in Egypt and Tunisia. Helicopters circled over the capital Manama, where protesters were expected to gather in the afternoon, and police cars stepped up their presence in Shi'ite villages, breaking up one protest with teargas and rubber bullets. At least 14 people were injured in clashes overnight and on Monday.

People visit a family member who was injured after riot police stormed an anti-government protest camp, at the Salmaniya hospital in Manama February 17, 2011.

People carry the body of a protester killed during a protest on Monday, as they gather at a Shi'ite village cemetery in Sanabis, west of Bahraini capital Manama, February 15, 2011. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

Protesters set up tents at the Pearl Roundabout, a famous landmark of Bahrain, in the heart of its capital Manama February 15, 2011.

A protester collapses after inhaling tear gas during a demonstration in Manama February 14, 2011. Bahraini police fired teargas and rubber bullets to break up protests on Monday in Shi'ite villages that ring the capital Manama, dampening a "Day of Rage" stimulated by popular upheaval in Egypt and Tunisia.

Military tanks are seen on the road to the Pearl Roundabout in Manama February 17, 2011.

Bahraini anti-government protesters take a rest from demonstrations in central Manama, February 16, 2011. Protesters in Bahrain, emboldened by revolts that have toppled Arab rulers in Tunisia and Egypt, poured into the centre of the capital on Wednesday to mourn a demonstrator killed in clashes with security forces.

Riot police move to disperse a protest in a Shi'ite village near Manama February 14, 2011.

Protesters sit at a temporary media center area off the Pearl Roundabout, a famous landmark of Bahrain, in the heart of its capital Manama, February 15, 2011. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

Protesters serve coffee and tea at the Pearl Roundabout, a famous landmark of Bahrain, in the heart of its capital Manama February 15, 2011.

Protesters stand at the base of the Pearl Roundabout in the Bahraini capital of Manama, February 15, 2011.

Women pray for protesters who were injured after riot police stormed an anti-government protest camp, outside the Salmaniya hospital where the casualties were sent to, in Manama February 17, 2011.

• [ultranaut]

  These are some of the greatest living people on earth. Facing down authoritarians is scary as fuck and extremely dangerous. Whatever happens, never forget these heroes who risked everything trying to liberate societies from authoritarian oppressors. They are an inspiration to all freedom loving peoples on earth. I look forward to the day when Bahrain can provide friendly and constructive criticism to the USA about how to better operate a legitimate secular liberal-democracy. We live in an age of everyday heroes. Men, women, children, willing to stand up to any power and demand justice. They are some of the bravest people to have ever lived, and they are fighting for all of us.
  People of Eqypt, Sudan, Algeria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morrocoo, and wherever else you guys are liberating the masses from tyranny: One love. We are all in this together.
  Peace through justice, for all!

  • [turn_self_off]

    When the choice is starvation (rising food prices and unemployment, remember) or bullets, you put your faith in the human(ity of the person) holding the gun.

    • [Sapa]

      These people are unarmed and some are old , and some of the dead are women and children. If you really want to know whats happening look at the Facebook page that has pictures of how they look after the “police” have beaten them.

• [Peripatet]

  A month ago, I was walking through the souq and marvelling at how modern, progressive, and peaceful Bahrain was. There was no discontent, no hint of this anywhere. The streets are clean, the buildings are modern, and the people are friendly. Were it not for the Arabic, Manama could be anywhere in the US.

  This week, it’s a whole different world. Supplies are getting low and more businesses each day seem to be closing down because of the demonstrations.

• [Church]

  God bless, Bahrain. Be strong.

• [Anonymous]

  Obi-Wan Kenobi knew exactly what he was talking about.

• [dagfooyo]

  “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall – think of it, always.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi

  Our hearts and thoughts are with you, brave protesters. May freedom triumph in Bahrain as it has in Tunisia and Egypt.

• [oedrex1]

  They struggle to get to a democracy. Our democracy struggles with a population split 50-50 and on the verge of violence ourselves.

  Stand strong WI union members. We will prevail.

• [Anonymous]

  And let us remember the H-Block, the French Resistance, and Wounded Knee.

• [turn_self_off]

  And again the M113 makes an apperance.

• [kpkpkp]

  One Earth One Love

  Hang in there!

• [Sapa]

  Thank you for making this post. It is my birthday today and I have spent the whole day finding information about what is happening in Bahrain and mailing organisations such as Amnesty to find out what we, as the rest of the world, are going to do about these disgusting acts of terror and atrocity.

  I have cried for these people today.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJtapAw5HbQ

• [Anonymous]

  nonviolent struggle towards peace will win freedom and dignity.

  .~.

• [Sapa]

  These Photos are a bit different to those above and are from Thursday 17th. Today the 18th the police were joined by troops who used live ammunition. The photos on this link are from rubber bullets, beatings, and shotgun wounds, and from just police brutality.
  The Facebook name is Crimes against humanity in Bahrain URGENT APPEAL

  http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=154276417930276#!/album.php?aid=36761&id=154276417930276

• [Teller]

  Lovely big sentiments here. Seems like the age-old Sunni minority in power v Shiite majority not-in-power struggle.

• [ransom notes]

  thank you for posting this Xeni. it is important for the world to be aware of what is happening in Bahrain and for the protestors to know those on the outside care and are supportive of their struggles.