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The March of loyalty to martyrs ((アラビア語:مسيرة الوفاء للشهداء)) was a protest on 22 February 2011 in Manama, Bahrain. Tens of thousands participated in the protest, one of the largest in the Bahraini uprising. Named after the seven victims killed by police and army forces during previous protests, the march filled the space between Bahrain mall and Pearl Roundabout. Protesters carried Bahrain's flag and demanded the fall of the government, implementation of a constitutional monarchy and other reforms, with some of them also demanding the end of the regime. The march was named the largest in the country's history by organizers; sources estimated that over 100,000 protesters (8 percent of Bahrain's population) participated, although other sources gave higher and lower estimations. A number of ambulance drivers, police and army officers joined the protest. Security forces were not present and unlike previous protests, it ended peacefully. ==Background== Protests inspired by the successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia erupted in Bahrain on 14 February.〔("Bahrain activists in 'Day of Rage'" ). Al Jazeera English. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.〕 Security forces responded by firing tear gas, rubber bullets, sound bombs and birdshot into the crowd of protesters.〔 More than thirty protesters were injured and one died from birdshot injuries in his back.〔 ("قتيل وأكثر من 30 مصاباً في مسيرات احتجاجية أمس" ). ''Al Wasat''. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.〕 Another protester was killed the same way the next day, on 15 February,〔 when over 10,000 protesters occupied Pearl Roundabout.〔〔 〕 On 17 February, police launched a pre-dawn raid on sleeping protesters. Four protesters were killed and more than 300 were injured.〔 Health workers and a journalist were allegedly attacked by security forces. The army was deployed after Pearl Roundabout was cleared of protesters and checkpoints were set up. Protesters moved to Salmaniya Hospital's car parks where thousands protested against the government.〔 The following day, army forces stationed in the Pearl Roundabout fired live ammunition on hundreds of protesters who tried to re-occupy the site. At least 120 protesters were hurt and one was fatally wounded,〔("Bahrain troops 'fire on crowds'" ). BBC News. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.〕 bringing the number of deaths to seven.〔 The Crown Prince offered dialogue with opposition parties. On 19 February, tens of thousands of protesters re-occupied Pearl Roundabout after the army was ordered to withdraw.〔("Protesters return to Pearl Square as army withdraws" ). France 24. Reuters. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.〕 On 21 February, the king canceled the Formula 1 race originally scheduled for 13 March. The ''Associated Press'' named the decision "another victory" for protesters who had called for its cancellation. "We felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain's Formula One race to a later date", the king stated.〔 In the evening, tens of thousands of government supporters, borrowing the anti-government protesters' slogan "no Sunni, no Shia, only Bahraini", gathered in Al Fateh Mosque in Juffair. One participant interviewed by ''The New York Times'' said, "The democracy they have been asking for is already here, but the Shias, they have their ayatollahs, and whatever they say, they will run and do it. If they tell them to burn a house, they will. I think they have a clear intention to disrupt this country".〔 The next day, appearing on Bahrain's official news agency,〔 the king ordered the release of 50 political prisoners, including 25 Shia activists arrested during the 2010 crackdown and accused of forming a "terrorist network" whose goal was to overthrow the government. Ali Abdulemam, a prominent blogger and founder of Bahrain Online opposition forum, was among those who were released. Blogger and human rights activist Abduljalil al-Singace, who called the move "a good step" and a "positive gesture", was also released.〔("Bahrain king orders release of political prisoners" ). ''The Independent''. Associated Press. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.〕〔 However, according to human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, about 400 more activists remained in prison on "politically inspired charges".〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「March of loyalty to martyrs」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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