Bahrain has torn down a monument of symbolic value to pro-democracy demonstrators in the Persian Gulf country.

The New York Times reports the statue in Pearl Square in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, was destroyed today (March 18).

“We did it to remove a bad memory,” said Bahrain foreign minister Sheik Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, the New York Times reports. “The whole thing caused our society to be polarized."

Pearl Square had been a key gathering point for protesters, who have reportedly faced a crackdown by security forces.

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