Rights group pushes Bahrain to investigate firings

An international human rights group says more than 2,000 workers have been fired from state-linked firms and government jobs in Bahrain in apparent punishment for participating in Shiite-led protests.

The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates —
An international human rights group says more than 2,000 workers have been fired from state-linked firms and government jobs in Bahrain in apparent punishment for participating in Shiite-led protests.

Human Rights Watch says the workers were dismissed from jobs at government ministries, schools, hospitals and companies including the state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company. The New York-based group on Friday urged authorities to investigate.

Bahrain's security forces have smothered an uprising by the kingdom's majority Shiites seeking greater rights from the Sunni rulers.


(2011-7-15/seattletimes)