Quote:
Originally posted by NousDefionsDoc
Bahrain rioters hit streets, torch cars of Arab playboy boozers
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, March 22, 2004
ABU DHABI – Shi'ite attacks against foreigners are now targeting playboys from neighboring Arab states who come to Bahrain for the more readily available alcohol.
Western diplomatic sources said last week's street violence appears to have shifted its focus from Westerners to Gulf Arab nationals who use Bahrain as the watering hole of the region. The kingdom is the only Gulf state that approves the public sale and consumption of alcohol, banned by Islam.
Most of the patrons in the La Terrasse restaurant, one of the targets of last week's rampage, were Gulf Arabs, particularly Saudi nationals. Two cars owned by Saudi nationals were torched.
The diplomatic sources said the Shi'ite vigilante campaign appears to be supported by members of Bahrain's parliament, dominated by fundamentalists. Many parliamentarians have called for a ban on alcohol and the expulsion of the U.S. military presence in the kingdom.
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Another reason behind the incident at La Terrasse was that teh owner (a Muslim) did not hang a banner out before Ashura.
I'll tell you one thing, once that island host the Grand Prix next month and the local see how much money is made off the sale of booze, parliment will not stand a chance of banning it.