Tasnim – A huge number of Bahrainis poured into streets in various cities and towns to voice their outrage over the Al Khalifa regime’s continued crackdown on dissent and protest at the country’s move to host the 2017 Formula One World Championship.

They held the rallies in various cities and towns, including Diraz, Buri, and Samaheej, to emphasize their right to self-determination, the Manama Post Arabic-language newspaper reported.

Bahraini opposition groups had called on people to participate in the demonstrations to prevent the 2017 Formula One World Championship, known as the Bahrain Grand Prix.

They also carried placards saying that the Bahraini authorities are holding the race to cover up their human rights violations over the past years since the popular uprising in 2011.

Rights activists also say that the Formula One event is used as a political tool by Manama to make the world believe that the situation in the country is normal.

Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.