Masked men threaten expat shopkeepers to close stores in Bahrain

Masked men threatened and forced expatriate shopkeepers to close their stores in some villages in Bahrain, the GDN learnt.

Shopkeepers in a number of villages, including Ras Ruman, Jidhafs and Barbar, told the GDN they were threatened with attack if they refused to close their businesses.

They described the thugs as wearing black clothing and gear and looking scary “like terrorists”.

“We are usually open until 10pm, but on (Tuesday night) at around 6pm six masked men came and switched off the lights and told us to shut down,” said an Indian tailor, aged 48, who works in a shop in Ras Rumman.

“They loudly banged on the table and threatened us by saying they will attack us if we open (the shop) and said it was strike for Bahrainis until February 15.

“They took our pictures and said they will monitor us and did the same to a nearby cold store and laundry shop.

“The men looked scary with their face and body covered in black and only their eyes seen, like the terrorists we see in videos.

Defiance

“I’ve (been in Bahrain) for 18 years and this has happened every year since 2011, but this way of masked men threatening us is new.”

Another expatriate, who owns a construction materials shop in Barbar, said his employees were also threatened yesterday.

“(There is) a Bahraini who runs a cold store next to our shop and he usually objects to riot calls and opens his shop (in defiance),” explained the Indian man.

“I told my employees to open the shop if the (Bahraini man) opens and they did as he opened the cold store as always around 7am.

“Around 10am, some masked men who terrorised people in the area by shouting, forced all the shops in the area to shut down.”

Sources told the GDN that power was out in parts of Sitra yesterday after rioters cut the electricity lines.