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On February 17, Press TV reported "a fierce overnight crackdown on anti-regime protesters across several regions of the country." Manama, Daih, Ma'ameer, Sitra, Sehla and other areas were attacked.
Earlier in the day, police used water cannons against thousands protesting a teenage boy's death. In Jidd Hafs, he died of severe burns inflicted while demonstrating peacefully.
Women were also assaulted. Homes were raided. Since February 2011 protests erupted, mass arrests, deaths, torture, imprisonments, and other abuses followed.
On February 17, Amnesty International (AI) issued an "urgent action" for "scores" of activists arrested on February 14, saying:
Police attacked, beat and arrested them. Their faces and legs showed signs of abuse. In custody, families have no contact with loved ones. Authorities freely torture and inflict other forms of abuse.
On February 17, Human Rights First said Mahdi Abu Deeb and Jaleela Al Saman (Bahrain Teachers Association president and vice president) will appeal their lawless military court convictions for protesting peacefully.
In custody, they were "tortured and ultimately convicted of unfounded charges and sentenced to prison by the discredited Bahrain military court." Hundreds of others faced the same abuse."Bahrain's crackdown and these baseless prosecutions continue as the United States considers a new military transfer to Bahrain." Obama's moving swiftly to approve it instead of condemning state terror.
Bahrain's a valued ally. While hypocritically vilifying Assad for confronting Western-backed insurgents, Washington facilitates Al-Khalifi brutality.
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