The Libya Effect in Bahrain

The uprising against Gaddafi is part of a larger movement. The “Arab Spring” began with the toppling of the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt. Protests then spread to Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain. Those regimes remain in power but the Libyan uprising could embolden protesters in all three countries. Matar Matar was a member of parliament in Bahrain, when the uprising began there. He resigned in May to protest the government crackdown. He was detained until his release this month. Matar Matar is in the Bahraini capital, Manama.