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l a n o i t a n r e t n I y t s e n m bloodied A © but unbowed Unwarranted state violence against Bahraini protesters Mass peaceful protests demanding political reform have shaken the gulf state of Bahrain since mid-February. in response, the security forces initially sought to suppress the protests with brutality, killing seven protesters, injuring hundreds of others and assaulting paramedics. proper, transparent investigations that ensure accountability and justice for the victims, and a strong government commitment to respect human rights are needed now. On 14 February 2011, thousands of people bAckground gathered from across Bahrain. They Inspired by the popular protests in Egypt l a n planned to walk to the centre of the capital and Tunisia, the “Day of Rage” was o i t a Manama for a peaceful “Day of Rage” organized on Facebook and Twitter by n r e t demonstration in support of their demands human rights activists and two Bahraini n I y t for greater freedom and social justice. Yet opposition groups. The protests were s e n peaceful protest soon turned to panic as the planned to coincide with the 10th m A security forces resorted to unwarranted anniversary of the national referendum that © violence. Within a week, seven protesters endorsed Bahrain’s National Action Charter were dead, hundreds of others were injured – political reforms proposed by the King, and Bahrain had reached a tipping point. Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa, to end charged them with supporting and funding widespread popular unrest in the 1990s. “terrorism”. All denied the charges and Since then, like many people elsewhere in most told their trial court that they had been the region, hundreds of thousands of The reforms paved the way for elections to tortured (see Amnesty International’s report, Bahrainis have continued to demand the National Assembly and for the country Crackdown in Bahrain: Human rights at the political reforms, including a new to become a constitutional monarchy. crossroads – Index: MDE 11/001/2011). constitution, an elected government, a However, the opposition boycotted the 2002 greater share of the country’s wealth and elections to protest against the power of the The violent crackdown in mid-February 2011 the release of all political prisoners. Shura Council, the upper chamber whose shocked but did not deter demonstrators, members are directly appointed by the who strengthened their resolve. Protests Following the killings and reports of other King, to veto legislation. The reform drive continued and the political climate in Bahrain serious abuses, Amnesty International subsequently stagnated and the began to shift. In late February, the King delegates, including a medical doctor government continued to be dominated by replaced four ministers in a cabinet reshuffle. specialized in emergency care and public the ruling Al Khalifa family. The Crown Prince, who had ordered the army health, visited Bahrain between 20-26 and riot police to withdraw from central February. They interviewed witnesses to the In recent years, the authorities have attempted Manama on 18 February, promised to initiate violent events of mid-February, victims and to stifle opposition by closing critical websites a national dialogue with opposition groups, their relatives, and hospital and mortuary and banning publications, even by authorized and discussions began in early March. On 23 staff. They also met government officials and political associations, and by arresting February, the 23 detained opposition activists human rights activists. They found disturbing, government critics and opponents. Yet, were released mid-trial. Hasan Mushaima’, even damning evidence of excessive use of opposition has continued to grow, particularly Secretary-General of the opposition Al-Haq force by riot police and soldiers against among the majority Shi’a population, many organization, who had been charged in his peaceful protesters and medics. of whom say they are economically and absence with the 23 activists, was politically marginalized by the ruling family “pardoned” by the King and returned to and the country’s Sunni minority. Bahrain from the UK. In August-September 2010, the authorities On 3 March, Bahrain’s Minister of Social detained 23 opposition political activists and Development, visiting London, told Amnesty Amnesty international March 2011 index: Mde 11/009/2011 Women protesters marching to Pearl Roundabout, 22 February 2011. “The protesters are being attacked! Women and children are running around screaming and there is nowhere to run. Riot police are everywhere and are attacking from every corner. Many are wounded. There is a panic and chaos at the roundabout. Everyone is running and screaming.” witness to events on 17 February at pearl roundabout, central Manama International that 408 prisoners and the protests Among the injured were people clearly detainees had been released and that only The “Day of Rage” began with several identified as medical workers who were seven or eight were still held. She said the demonstrations in predominantly Shi’a targeted by police while trying to help Deputy Prime Minister was leading an villages. Demonstrators later converged on injured protesters in or near the roundabout. investigation into the killings and would Pearl Roundabout in central Manama. Riot report directly to the King, and that two police responded almost immediately using Those evicted from the roundabout then members of the security forces had already excessive force, killing two protesters within 48 gathered near al-Salmaniya medical centre been arrested. hours. In protest, a camp comprising dozens and were soon joined by thousands of other of tents and thousands of protesters was protesters. At the time of writing in early March, the established at Pearl Roundabout, and the security forces had tempered their use of largest Shi’a political association, al-Wefaq, In the afternoon of 18 February, some force. However, the situation remained tense, suspended its participation in parliament, later protesters tried to march towards Pearl with protesters still camped out in central withdrawing from it completely. Roundabout but were confronted by riot Manama and demonstrations occasionally police. According to reports, the police being staged elsewhere, including large pro- The worst violence happened during a raid pulled back behind military personnel, who government protests by Sunni Bahrainis. On on those camped at the roundabout in the then fired at protesters without warning. 3 March, Sunni and Shi’a youth clashed in early hours of 17 February. In a clearly Several were seriously injured and taken to Hamad Town, south of Manama. planned and coordinated action, massed al-Salmaniya medical unit. ranks of riot police stormed the area to evict the peaceful and mostly sleeping protesters, On 19 February, after the Crown Prince had “At 1am last night they started firing live ammunition and using tear gas, ordered the security forces’ withdrawal from opening the gates and the 23 batons, rubber bullets and shotguns to the roundabout, the protest camp was re- disperse the crowd. Tanks and armoured established. left one by one. We were so vehicles then blocked access to the happy seeing him!” roundabout. the sister of one of the 23 political opposition activists detained since august-september 2010, speaking to amnesty Five people were fatally wounded and at international on 23 February 2011 least 250 were injured, some critically. index: Mde 11/009/2011 Amnesty international March 2011 Right : The body of 'Ali 'Abdulhadi Mushaima' being carried in a funeral procession from the hospital to the cemetery for burial, al-Daih village, 15 February 2011. According to witnesses, as people gathered at the gates of the hospital to join the procession, riot police fired tear gas and shotguns at them to disperse the crowd. s t h g i R n a m u H l a r n o f o i r t e a t n n r e e t C n I n i y a t r s h e a n B m A © © e t a v i r Khadija ahmed (left), an 18-year-old killings of protesters P © medical student who was volunteering at Riot police and soldiers fatally wounded the medical tent in the roundabout, seven people between 14-18 February by sayed al-wadaei, a 24-year-old described to amnesty international what reacting to legitimate and peaceful protest underemployed university graduate, told happened early on 17 February: with deadly force without warning. The amnesty international what happened to him pattern of fatal and serious injuries shows early on 17 February at pearl roundabout: “After 3am we heard shots. Some injured that the security forces used live arrived at the tent straight away with tear ammunition, including at close range; fired “I was sleeping in the roundabout. Without gas problems. Then police threw or fired two medium-to-large calibre bullets from warning the [police] attacked. A friend woke tear gas canisters inside the tent and pulled high- powered rifles; and apparently me. I saw children and women crying. So I the flap down. People were crying ‘Save me, targeted people’s heads, chests and went to stand by them, to try to protect save me from them’. ” abdomens. them. Then 10 to 12 policemen arrived and kicked me and hit me with sticks. I was on her twin sister Zeinab (right), a business 'Ali 'Abdulhadi Mushaima ', aged 21, the ground, trying to protect my head, student who was volunteering in the media suffered multiple gunshot wounds while at screaming, but they wouldn’t stop. Then I centre at the roundabout, said: a demonstration on 14 February in al-Daih acted dead but they continued kicking me “Then they attacked the tents and the village, east of Manama. He died soon after all over my body. Then they stopped… medical tent… People were shouting in hospital.