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Fire Walk With Me

(38,893 posts)
Tue Feb 26, 2013, 06:29 PM Feb 2013

Anti-protest: Bahrain bans import of plastic Guy Fawkes masks

Hell☠Fawkin☠Bound ‏@HellFawker

"Anyone caught importing the V for #Vendetta Guy Fawkes mask now faces arrest, as anti-government protesters in... http://fb.me/2OIco7nY3


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/antiprotest-bahrain-bans-import-of-plastic-guy-fawkes-masks-8510615.html

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Industry and Commerce Minister, Hassan Fakhro, issued an unusual decree this week: he banned the importation of a plastic face mask. Anyone caught importing the V for Vendetta Guy Fawkes mask now faces arrest, as anti-government protesters in the country have been using them to stay anonymous.

The stylised visage of Guy Fawkes became popular among protesters after the 2005 Hollywood film depicted thousands marching on Parliament wearing them.

Yet, while it has became an icon for protesters from members of the Occupy Wall Street movement to London demonstrators taking on the Church of Scientology, it has also been a key part of protests in the Arab Spring and Middle Eastern protests that have continued since the heady days of 2011.

Sadly, though, it is but a mask. And the thing about a masks is, you can print them, paint them or draw them yourself. Unless the minister plans to ban all such activity it seems an action as futile as the real Guy Fawkes’s.


(Aside from a photo, that is the entire article.)

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Anti-protest: Bahrain bans import of plastic Guy Fawkes masks (Original Post) Fire Walk With Me Feb 2013 OP
They didn't just ban the wearing of masks while protesting like NYC does ? n/t PoliticAverse Feb 2013 #1
They Should Have Masks Made of KevlarŪ Instead AndyTiedye Feb 2013 #2

AndyTiedye

(23,533 posts)
2. They Should Have Masks Made of KevlarŪ Instead
Tue Feb 26, 2013, 07:06 PM
Feb 2013

Plastic masks do not provide any protection against police bullets, which can be a problem at protests in those parts.

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