In recent days, authorities in Bahrain have released some detainees, announced a commission to scrutinise government reaction to the protests, and launched a National Dialogue day.

Jane Kinninmont, senior research fellow on the Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, and Dr Jasim Husain, of the main Shia opposition party in Bahrain, al-Wefaq, debate "whether there is political will to empower the parliament in future".

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