24th Dec, 2012 –
Citizens for Bahrain looks back at major 2012 events associated with the Bahrain unrest. We start with a call by Bahrain’s leading Ayatollah for his followers to “crush” security forces – and end with the opposition welcoming the Crown Prince’s call for dialogue. So let’s hope that this is a sign of things heading in the right direction for 2013.
Ayatollah calls to “crush” the police – January
During his Friday sermon, leading Shia cleric Ayatollah Isa Qasim called on his followers to “crush” policemen. This sermon gained notoriety; viewed by many as incitement of hatred; while militant supporters took this as religious sanction of violence – with the status of a fatwa.
Attacks on policemen significantly increased in the following months, with dozens of officers requiring hospital treatment. Ayatollah Qassim had been seen as a moderate religious figure who could wield a calming influence; but the speech led to him being demonized in loyalist circles as a radical cleric who supported violence by declaring war on police.
Protests anniversary – February
On the 14 February anniversary of the 2011 protests many Bahrainis breathed a sigh of relief. The inevitable protests weren’t particularly well attended and police performed well in calmly managing these events. The rallying figure for these protests was Nabeel Rajab and it was him who gained most media attention.
Al-Wefaq’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Isa Qassim called for a demonstration on 9th March and the results were very different. While the numbers of protestors on this second march is disputed, it is clear that many times the number of people turned out compared to 14 February. The organization of this second march was more impressive than the shambolic events led by Nabeel Rajab.
For many, the stark difference between these two protests was an indication of how the liberal and secular segment of the opposition had vanished; with the movement now dominated by religiously inspired sectarian militants.
Drive by shooting of protester – March
Ahmed Ismael was shot at a protest in Salmabad on 31 March. According to eyewitnesses he was taking photos of the protest when he was shot from a civilian car, raising suspicions that the assailants were militants hostile to the protest movement.
Ahmed’s death came during a period when there had been few protest casualties; therefore his “martyrdom” was exploited by the opposition to the full. Because he was taking photos, opposition and Iranian media outlets lauded him as a “citizen journalist”.
Ahmed’s funeral was delayed by the opposition for a fortnight until the eve of the Grand Prix (see next section) so that the global media could attend rallies to commemorate Ahmed’s “martyrdom”. During the funeral radicalized youths pelted the police with firebombs.
Throughout 2012 funerals became major opposition rallying points, with the aim of reinvigorating the protest movement, and an opportunity for radicalized youths to attack police with firebombs and makeshift weapons. Mercifully, there were only a handful of protest casualties during 2012, so funerals were few in number.
Manama Grand Prix – April
The Grand Prix successfully went ahead without incident – despite calls by the opposition to boycott the race. The 2012 race was judged to be a success following its cancellation in 2011.
The Bahraini opposition strongly campaigned against the event in an attempt to damage the country’s economy and further undermine the Government.
Many journalists observed that despite expectations Manama was not in fact a war zone; and that with the exception of a few well-known areas of unrest, Bahrain was safe and returning to normality. Sebastian Vettel, who won the race, stated “This is not only my victory but also the victory of the Bahraini people”.
Loyalist “martyr” – April
18 year-old Ahmed Al-Dhafeeri was fatally injured when trying to clear tyres placed by protesters near his home in Hamad Town. The tyres contained an explosive device, which exploded in his face.
Ahmed’s family has been lobbying for action against “terrorist leaders” of the opposition. Ahmed aroused sympathy amongst loyalists because he died trying to prevent sabotage.
Al-Khawaja hunger-strike – April
Prominent opposition leader Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja ended his hunger strike in April after 100 days protesting his detention. Al-Khawaja was jailed in 2011 on charges of forcibly seeking to overthrow the monarchy and “organizing and managing a terrorist organization”
Al-Khawaja had been pardoned by King Hamad in 2001 after nearly two decades in exile; following a failed coup by his organization the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain, a radical Iran-backed group dedicated to the overthrow of the monarchy.
Nabeel Rajab jailed – May
In May 2012 leading opposition figure Nabeel Rajab joined Al-Khawaja in jail charged with staging illegal protests and inciting others to illegal activity. Although Rajab in one of the prominent faces of the protests overseas, his secular profile has left him out of step with an increasingly sectarian opposition which lacks Rajab’s more liberal credentials.
Implementing BICI recommendations – May
During the UN’s Human Rights Council’s periodic review for Bahrain, the Bahraini Government was credited with implementing ambitious human rights-related reforms, including:
· Over 17 officers face trial over torture or violence charges, including senior figures. A further 30 security personnel face charges; over 122 further cases are under investigation.
· Unfair dismissal: 98% of protesters dismissed from jobs have been reinstated.
· $6m compensation disbursed to the 36 families of those who died; & 116 cases of injury.
· Thousands of police have received human rights training, with a new code of conduct, prohibiting all forms of torture. Installation of CCTV cameras at police centres.
· Transfer of all trials to civilian justice. Training for judges in international legal standards.
· Freedom of expression legislation protects journalists and civilians.
Constitutional reform – May
In an attempt to meet the protest movement half way, the King announced a series of far-reaching constitutional reforms for empowering the elected house of Parliament based on the recommendations of the National Dialogue held in July 2011:
· MPs have new powers to question Ministers and to remove Ministers.
· The Parliament has the power to reject policy proposals from the Cabinet.
· Elected MPs have the right to take a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
· The King must consult heads of parliament before dissolving the legislature.
Explosive factories in Manama – July
Bahrain’s police discovered more than five tonnes of explosives in warehouses in Salmabad and Hamad Town. This was part of numerous seizures of terrorist materials across the Kingdom, including large stashes of Molotov Cocktails and other explosive materials. Several of those involved were arrested and the British Government provided assistance in investigating the terrorist bomb-making materials.
Detention of children? – August
Eleven year-old Hassan Ali was briefly held by police after admitting receiving payment to block roads. Human rights groups denounced the detention of such a young child.
However, it turned out that there had never been any prospect that under-age Hassan would face charges. Following some brief questioning Hassan was released to his mother. Subsequently, a social worker determined that he was an “at risk” child because of his family circumstances and the court was mandated to take a decision regarding his long term care. This court never had the authority for taking a judgement on criminal charges against a minor below the age of criminal responsibility.
Hassan appears to have been yet another one of dozens of youngsters targeted by militants to burn tyres, block roads, write slogans on walls and vandalize property – for small amounts of cash. While the global media was quick to seize on Hassan’s story, the real tragedy behind the opposition propaganda wasn’t reported on.
“Seige” of Al-Eker – October
Police officers were on patrol in Al-Eker when youths attacked them with Molotov Cocktails and an explosive device which was thrown at 19 year-old police officer Imran Mohammed, killing him and causing serious injury to several others. Imran’s family mourned the death of the third policeman in their family in less than two years
There had been several attacks with rudimentary explosives in the area, so police set up check points around Al-Eker and detained suspects. Al-Wefaq issued a statement calling for the world to intervene to “save the lives of Bahrainis in Al-Eker”, a town which they said was subject to “official systematic terrorism”, “collective punishment” and “besieged from all-sides”. Protesters were mobilized with the aim of “liberating Al-Eker”. However, after around 48 hours checkpoints were removed and life returned to normal.
Review of cases of detained medics – October
Bahrain’s top court confirmed sentences of nine doctors for their role in last year’s protests, although some had sentences reduced. Nine medics had in June been found innocent.
Following a lengthy appeals process, sentences range from a few months up to five years. This court upheld the accusations made against these medical personnel, which are to a large extent backed up by the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.
The BICI report described the actions of these medics as “highly disruptive” to the operation of Salmaniya Hospital. This included “leading demonstrations”; breaking patient confidentiality through facilitating media access; and using ambulances “to transport protesters”.
Bombings in Manama – October
Two weeks after a policeman was killed in a bomb attack there were multiple casualties in coordinated bomb attacks. Five explosions killed two expatriate workers and injured a third.
Banning protests & revoking nationality – October/November
Following deaths of policemen and explosions across Manama the Government announced a series of controversial measures including revoking citizenship of 31 figures accused of involvement in terrorist activity, and the temporary suspension of licensing for protests.
Throughout 2012 there had been an average of more than two licensed anti-Government protests per week in Bahrain. However, these events were often hijacked by militants wielding firebombs and weapons which they used to attack the police. And for every licensed protest there were tens of riots and disturbances.
Declaration of Non-Violence – November
Following the violence during October, five opposition societies including Al-Wefaq issued a declaration condemning violence “in all its forms”. This was by far the most explicit statement to date distancing these groups from the violent tactics used by opposition militants.
Crown Prince calls for dialogue – December
After months of political stalemate, the Bahraini Crown Prince called for the sides to return to National Dialogue. He stressed that “only through face-to-face contact will any real progress be made”. This call was welcomed by opposition party Al-Wefaq. It remains unclear how this dialogue proposal can go ahead, but this provides a ray of hope that 2013 may see a more conciliatory approach from the two sides.
“We faced worst of our troubles with wisdom, patience and determination; opening the doors of dialogue, and calling for forgiveness and tolerance… It is through dialogue that we have unified our patriotic stances in the face of external threats and interference. Through dialogue we have laid down appropriate foundations for our constitutional system. We have even written our Constitution together” – King Hamad, 2012 speech