The Bahraini Uprising began in February 2011 as part of the wider wave of protests across the Arab world. Citizens, primarily from the Shia majority, demanded political reforms, greater freedoms, and an end to discrimination by the ruling Sunni monarchy. The protests were marked by peaceful demonstrations, but tensions escalated, leading to clashes with security forces. In response to the unrest, the Bahraini government declared a state of emergency and called in troops from neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia. The crackdown on protesters resulted in numerous arrests, injuries, and deaths, drawing international attention and criticism regarding human rights violations in the country.