Bahrain shiite protests shia sunni 2011 2 26

Bahraini Shiite opposition leader Hassan Mashaima, left, greets anti-government protesters gathered at Pearl Square in Manama on February 26, 2011 upon his return from self-imposed exile following assurances from the Gulf kingdom that he had been pardoned of terrorism-related charges. Bahrain's protests put it at the center of the bitter divide between Sunnis and Shias in the Gulf.