National Guard (Bahrain)

The National Guard of Bahrain (Arabic: الحرس الوطني‎) is a separate military force in Bahrain that serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats. It was established in 1997, through a royal decree by then Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.[1]

External images
Photo showing members of the Bahraini National Guard arrest Wall Street Journal reporter Alex Delmar-Morgan as he walks towards Pearl Square on March 16, 2011 from the Daily Mail, March 17, 2011

The National Guard is currently commanded by Major-General Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, brother of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.[2][3] It consists of about 1200 personnel.[4]

The National Guard has been involved in the Bahrain government's violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters during the 2011 Bahraini uprising.[5]

The National Guard consists of many non-Bahraini personnel, and during the 2011 Bahraini uprising recruited heavily from Pakistan through the Fauji Foundation.[6][7][8][9]

References

  1. ^ "Decree No 1 of the Year 1997 on the Establishment and Formation of the National Guard". Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 7 January 1997. http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=O0197. 
  2. ^ Monroe, William (2007-04-09). Prominent Shias Paint Gloomy Picture of Shia Outlook in Bahrain. WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks cable:07MANAMA328. http://wikileaks.org/cable/2007/04/07MANAMA328.html#par4. Retrieved 2011-09-06. 
  3. ^ "HM King Hamad Visits the National Guard". Bahrain News Agency. 3 March 2011. http://bna.bh/portal/en/news/448952. 
  4. ^ "Bahrain". The 2011 US Department of State Background Notes. United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26414.htm. Retrieved 5 September 2011. "Bahrain also has a national guard that consists of about 1,200 personnel." 
  5. ^ "Bahrain Defence Force General Command". Bahrain News Agency. 16 March 2011. http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/450034. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  6. ^ "Pakistani troops aid Bahrain's crackdown". Aljazeera.com. 30 July 2011. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/07/2011725145048574888.html. 
  7. ^ "Overseas Employment Services: Fauji Foundation headhunts for Bahrain’s security units". The Express Tribune. 11 March 2011. http://tribune.com.pk/story/130961/overseas-employment-services-fauji-foundation-headhunts-for-bahrains-security-units/. 
  8. ^ Riedel, Bruce (2 August 2011). "The New Bahrain-Pakistan Alliance". The National Interest. http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/bahrain-calls-mercenaries-silence-protestors-5689. 
  9. ^ "Bahrain's Foreign Police Add to Tensions". The Wall Street Journal. 25 March 2011. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703784004576220762563363574.html. 

See also