Bahrain Interior Minister condemns attacks on Indian, expat community

Manama, Feb 7(ANI): Bahrain's Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa has condemned attacks on the country's expatriate communities in the wake of an Indian and Britons being subjected to assaults.

"Attacks on the expatriates and members of the foreign communities are unacceptable by any standard," Gulf News quoted Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, as saying.

"They are against all religions and conventions and clash with Islam's values and tolerance and Bahrain's traditions in dealing with various peoples. All components of the Bahraini society, including political associations, should express their views openly on such criminal acts," he added.

His statement came following reports that a Briton lost two fingers on being attacked with a sword in a village as he lost his way while driving home. It comes following an assault on an Indian few days ago.

Meanwhile, a police car was gutted and a policeman injured after people hurled Molotov cocktails, Public Security Chief Tarek Al Hassan said.

"The patrol policemen showed the highest level of restraint in dealing with the attackers and used only tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd," Al Hassan said.

Activists from the Sunni and Shiite sects also took steps to bridge the widening gap now dividing the country by holding an open debate, the first of its kind since dramatic events unfolded in the country last year.

Nine speakers addressed the Bahrain Debate debate on the consequences of the tensions between different segments of society and suggested possible solutions to reunite Bahrainis and look in the same direction together.

Organisers of the Bahrain Debate said that the event was "conceptualised by many people in Bahrain over the past few weeks."

"The organisers are completely independent and funded the event personally. They are not affiliated with any societies, political parties, or government entities in Bahrain," they said.(ANI)