Bahrain

Bahrain unrest death toll – September 2014 update

admin April 13, 2014 one Comments

(Please note that some of the statistics have been altered since the previous edition of this report, based on access to additional information and the opportunity to cross-check a greater range of sources)

Over the past two years – since mid-2012 – there have been six rioters who died during clashes with police. Over the same period nine police were killed as a result of bomb attacks by militants.

Here we look at the available statistics in order to better understand the patterns of fatalities in Bahrain after three and a half years. The starting point has been to take information provided by opposition NGOs, like the BCHR and Bahrain Watch; qualified by the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and then cross-checked by information provided by the Bahrain Ministry of Interior (MoI) and medical sources; as well as media reporting.

The death toll is particularly significant, because the opposition has consistently sought to portray an unjustifiably inflated impression of the number of deaths in Bahrain; using every alleged “martyr” to insight further social unrest and raise tensions, while trying to convey a false picture of violent repression to international audiences.

This “violent repression” hypothesis is clearly false when we reinterpret the opposition’s own statistics to reveal the relatively small number of protesters who died as a result of police use of force, particularly from 2012 to 2014.

The below bar graph shows the number of rioters, protesters and opposition militants killed by police; or who died in detention since February 2011.

Eight deaths over the past two years were due to militants killed during terrorist or criminal acts. Several of these died when the explosives they were carrying detonated too early.

It is difficult coming up with an accurate figure for how many died during the unrest. Opposition statistics say over 100; but these figures are problematic because they include many cases whose links to the unrest is vague at best. For example, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights statistics includes Yusuf al-Nashmy and Jaafar Mohammed Jaafar; one of whom died of a brain tumor and the other while hospitalized as a result of sickle cell anaemia.

The BCHR statistics for early 2012 are greatly inflated by people who they claim died as a result of exposure to tear gas. The BCHR’s list of “tear gas victims” is highly problematic. It includes several people who had been in hospital for a prolonged period suffering from other symptoms before they died, people suffering from respiratory disorders; elderly victims and one unborn baby. Reportedly, opposition figures encouraged families of the deceased to link these deaths to the unrest, pointing out the substantial compensation payments available for those deaths linked to these events.

While we cannot discount the likelihood that tear gas was a complicating factor in the symptoms of some of these individuals; with others the link to tear gas is highly speculative. These lists of “martyrs” also include several individuals who were killed in car accidents. Over this same period, nine police officers were killed; often as a result of explosive devices planted by opposition militants.

We should also recall here a number of South Asian workers who were killed by protesters, or by explosive devices planted by terrorists and Ahmed al-Dhafani who died in April 2012 while trying to clear burning tyres near his home. A hidden device left by opposition militants detonated and killed him. Zahra Saleh died in late 2011 after being hit in the head by a metal rod thrown by protesters while on her way home.

Total fatalities since February 2011

Explanation of categories

Security forces fatalities: Police killed by rioters or by explosive devices.

Deaths during criminal acts: Militants killed by their own actions while engaged in acts of crime or terrorism (see full list and explanation below)

Deaths not attributable to security forces: This includes people who died during 2011 for whom the BICI could not confirm a link to the security services; as well as expatriates and civilians killed by protesters. This includes two cases where the opposition and MoI versions were in disagreement, such as Yousif Ahmed Muwali whose death was attributed to drowning by an MoI autopsy, while opposition sources claimed he’d died in detention.

Car accidents: Including individuals who ran in front of traffic while being pursued by police and those who were involved in traffic accidents during protests or rioting incidents; as well as one car crash following a police chase.

Tear gas/illness: Deaths where the opposition have claimed tear gas as a factor. This includes people with respiratory disorders, asthma, epilepsy, sickle cell, hereditary disorders; as well as the elderly and the very young; and several who died after a prolonged period in hospital for other disorders. This list also includes those who died of illness in police custody; for example, one prisoner who was taken to hospital with a brain tumor.

Rioter deaths: Rioters or protesters who died during confrontations with police or in police custody.

Total fatalities since May 2012

Death toll for rioters during clashes with police

Security forces fatalities

Deaths of militants during criminal & terrorist acts

Individuals killed during involvement in criminal or terrorist activities
Ali Abbas Ahmed & Ahmed Mohammed Rasoul	19 Apr 2014	Two killed one injured when their car carrying bombs exploded in Al-Muqsha
Hussain Sharaf	1 Apr 2014	Wanted for murder of policeman. Died after an explosion in the location where he was hiding in Al-Eker
Fadhel Abbas Muslim	25 Jan 2014	Shot after driving vehicle at police with intent to kill during weapons-smuggling operation in Diraz
Ahmed Abdulamir	30 Nov 2013	Died from burns after the Molotov Cocktail he was about to throw exploded, in Sanabis
Ali Khalil Al Sabbagh	22 Oct 2013	Killed by homemade bomb he was carrying, presumably with intention of killing police & civilians; in Bani Jamra
Mohammed Al Kasoor	13 Sep 2013	Hit by falling palm tree while building road block in Al-Daih during preparation for rioting
Hussein Kadhem	29 Jul 2013	Police car overturned with him inside after being detained on charges of theft
Hussein Abd-al-Kareem	26 Jun 2013	Killed while building bomb in workshop in his home in Saar

Policemen killed by terrorist bombs
Mahmoud Fareed	4 Jul 2014	Killed by explosion in East Al-Eker
Ammar Al Dhalei	3 Mar 2014	All three killed on in an explosion in Al-Daih
Tariq Al Shehi
Mohammed Arslan
Abdulwahid Al Balooshi	15 Feb 2014	Killed by explosion in Al-Deir
Muhammad Amir Abdulkhaliq	18 Sep 2013	Dies of his injuries caused by a bomb blast
Yasser Dhaib	6 Jul 2013	Killed by a homemade bomb explosion
Mohammed Asif Khan	14 Feb 2013	Shot with a flare gun at close range
Ghulam Mustafa	25 Oct 2012	Died of burns following firebomb attack on 22 Apr
Ahmed Mohammed	18 Oct 2012	Hit by an “explosive projectile”
Aziz Jumaa Ayyad	24 Mar 2011	Killed during violence during first two months of unrest; period covered by BICI report
Jawad Shamlan	20 Mar 2011
Ali al-Miraisi	16 Mar 2011
Mohammed al-Balooshi	16 Mar 2011
Kashef Mundher	16 Mar 2011

Appendix: Available statistics

The following list is in the first instance based on lists provided by the BCHR and Bahrain Watch; supplemented by material from the BICI, the Ministry of the Interior and media reporting. This has been cross-checked with a list of casualties provided by the opposition Al-Wasat newspaper.

Citizens for Bahrain has serious reservations about many of these sources; in particular the tendency of the BCHR and Bahrain Watch to attribute “tear gas” as a cause of death in many cases where the evidence doesn’t support this.

We chose to use opposition sources as our starting point as these tended to be the widest-ranging and most extensive sources on casualties. However, where possible, we have sought to qualify this data from alternative sources.

Citizens for Bahrain has not been able to independently verify the data below and the judgments on the causes of death are the judgments of the sources quoted.

Aug-Sep 2014

No fatalities during this period

May-Jul 2014

Policeman Mahmoud Fareed (4 Jul) – Killed by terrorist blast in East Al-Eker

Mahmoud Mohsin (21 May) – Reportedly killed by birdshot during rioting in Sitra

Feb – Apr 2014

Ali Abbas Ahmed & Ahmed Mohammed Rasoul (19 Apr) – Two killed one injured when their car carrying bombs exploded in Al-Muqsha

Husain Sharaf (1 Apr) – Wanted for murder of policeman. Died after an explosion in the location where he was hiding

Jawad Ahmed al-Hawi (17 Mar) – Opposition sources say tear gas / official sources say heart failure

Policeman Abd-al-Wahid al-Balooshi (15 Mar) – Killed during explosion in Al-Dair

Three police deaths (Tariq al-Shuhi, Ammar al-Dhalei, Mohammed Arslan – All three killed on 3 Mar in an explosion in Al-Daih

Jaafar al-Dirazi (26 Feb) – Complications due to sickle cell anaemia (transferred from detention to hospital). Opposition sources claimed “medical negligence”

Abdulaziz al-Abbar – Reportedly hit by birdshot and/or a tear gas canister during rioting at a funeral in Saar on 23 Feb 2014, died 18 Apr

Asma Hussein (11 Feb) – Heart attack; reportedly after a raid on her home

Nov 2013 – Jan 2014

Fadhel Abbas Muslim (25 Jan) – Shot during involvement in weapons-smuggling operation. Attempted to kill policemen by ramming them with vehicle

Ahmed Abd-al-Amir (30 Nov) – Died from burns after throwing a Molotov

Aug – Oct 2013

Ali Khalil al-Sabbagh (22 Oct) – Killed by homemade bomb he was carrying

Yusuf Ali al-Nashmy (11 Oct) – Brain tumor (transferred from detention to hospital)

Policeman Muhammad Amir Abdulkhaliq (18 Sep) – dies of his injuries caused by a bomb blast

Mohammed al-Kasoor (13 Sep) – Hit by falling palm tree while building road block

One car accident-related death (Sadeq Jaafar Sabt 1 Sep)

May – Jul 2013

Hussein Abd-al-Kareem (26 Jun) – Opposition sources: “Mysterious explosion”/ MoI: killed while building bomb in workshop

Hussein Kadhem (29 Jul) – Police car overturns with him inside after being detained on charges of theft

Policeman Yasser Dhaib (6 Jul) – killed by a homemade bomb explosion

Feb – Apr 2013

Abdul Ghani al-Rayyes (1 Apr) – Hypertension. Died after son detained by police

Mahmoud al-Jazeeri (22 Feb) – Hit by tear gas canister

Policeman Mohammed Asif Khan (14 Feb) – shot with a flare gun at close range

Hussein al-Ahmed Ebrahim al-Jazeeri (14 Feb) – Killed by birdshot pellets

2 alleged tear gas-related deaths (Amina Mahdi 13 Feb; Jaafar al-Tawil 25 Mar)

Nov 2012 – Jan 2013

3 alleged tear gas-related deaths (BCHR) (Health sources say Qassim Habib Jaafar 26 Feb; died of pneumonia; Basil al-Qattan 20 Dec; Habbib Abdallah 12 Jan)

1 car accident (Ali Abbas Radhi 9 Sep – hit by car during pursuit by police)

Aug – Oct 2012

Policeman Imran Ahmed Mohammed (18 Oct) – hit by an “explosive projectile”

Hussain Neamah (29 Sep) – Killed by birdshot pellets

Hussam al-Haddad (17 Aug) – Killed by birdshot pellets

3 alleged tear gas-related deaths (Health sources say Hassan Abdullah Ali 18 Sep, died of blood circulation failure /Mohammed Ali Mushaima 2 Oct, died from sickle cell complications; Mehdi Marhoun 17 Oct)

2 expat workers killed by explosive blast

May – Jul 2012

1 alleged tear gas-related death (Maryam Abdullah 9 Jun)

Feb – Apr 2012

Ahmed al-Dhafiri (7 Jun) – Killed by explosive while clearing tyres

Salah Abbas Habib (21 Apr) – Killed by birdshot pellets

Ahmed Ismael al-Samadi (31 Mar) – Shot by “armed civilians”

Fadel Mirza al-Obeidi (10 Mar) – Hit by tear gas canister

Policeman Ghulam Mustafa died of burns on 25 Oct 2012 following firebomb attack on 22 Apr

Hussein al-Baqali (17 Feb) – Died of burns after burning tyres

10 alleged tear gas-related deaths (MoI contests all these cases; Health sources say Sabri Mahfouz Yousef 18 Mar, died of pneumonia; Ahmed Abd-al-Nabi 24 Mar; Abdeh Abd-al-Hussein 24 Mar; Jaafar Jasim 17 Mar; Sakinah Marhoun 6 Mar; Habib Kadhem 29 Feb; Zeinab Issa 25 Feb; Salman Mansour 17 Feb; Abdali Abdullah 6 Feb; Ali Issa 6 Feb)

Nov 2011 – Jan 2012

Abbas al-Sheikh (25 Jan) – Killed by birdshot pellets

Badria Ali (14 Jan) – Set herself on fire following prolonged depression; after her son was arrested

Yousif Ahmed Muwali (13 Jan) – MoI says drowned; opposition said tortured

Sayed Hashim Sayed Saeed (31 Dec) – Hit by tear gas canister

Zahra Saleh (7 Dec) – Metal rod projectile thrown by protesters

Ali Hasan al-Dehi (3 Nov) – Reported by BCHR as assaulted by police; MoI claimed he suffered a heart attack

5 car accident-related deaths (BCHR) (Muntadher Saeed Fakhar 25 Jan, MoI say he died after collision, Al-Wefaq claims he was tortured; Mohammed Yaqoob 26 Jan – BCHR says he was run over – MoI said he died of natural causes/ sickle cell; Ali Baddah 19 Nov; Abd-al-Nabi al-Aqil 23 Nov; Ali Ahmed al-Qusab 15 Dec)

5 alleged tear gas-related deaths – (Abdali al-Muwali 17 Dec, MoI says he died a natural death; Salma Abbas 14 Jan, health sources cited blood circulation complications; Fakhriya al-Sikran 1 Jan; Mohammed al-Khanizi 20 Jan; Yasin al-Asfour, 20 Jan)

Aug – Oct 2011 (Based on BICI findings)

Ahmed Jaber al-Qattan (6 Oct) – Killed by birdshot pellets

Jaffar Hassan (18 Sep) – Reported by family as assaulted by police; BICI unable to confirm excessive use of force

Ali Jawad al-Sheikh (31 Jul) – Struck by tear gas canister

2 alleged tear gas-related deaths (Sayyed Jawad Hashim 14 Sep, Health sources cited pneumonia & sickle cell; Jaafar Lutfallah 30 Sep)

May-Jul 2011 (Based on BICI findings)

Majid Mohammed Abd-al-Aal (30 Jun) – shotgun pellets fired by “armed civilians” (BCHR)

Jaber al-Elewat (12 Jun) – Reportedly mistreated in detention; died after release after suffering stomach pain (BICI)

Salman Abu-Driss (3 Jun) – Reportedly beaten by police; health sources cited heart attack

4 tear gas-related deaths (Zainab Jumaa 2 Jun, refuted by BICI as non-related to tear gas; cause of death cardiac arrest; Sayyed Adnan Hassan 23 Jun; Zainab Hassan 15 Jul; Issa al-Tawil 31 Jul)

Feb – Apr 2011 (Based on BICI findings)

13 protestor/civilian deaths – attributable to Security Forces (Ali Mushaima 14 Feb; Fadhel al-Matrook 15 Feb; Isa Abd-al-Hassan, 17 Feb; Ali al-Mumin 17 Feb; Ali Kudhair 17 Feb; Mahmoud Makki 17 Feb; Abd-al-Redha Buhmeid 21 Feb; Ahmed Farhan 15 Mar; Jaafar Salman 16 Mar; Jaafar Ma’youf 16 Mar; Isa al-Radhi 19 Mar; Hani Jumaa 24 Mar; Bahia al-Aradi 21 Mar;

4 police & 1 BDF officer dead. (Ali al-Miraisi 16 Mar; Mohammed al-Balooshi 16 Mar; Kashef Mundher 16 Mar; Aziz Jumaa Ayyad 24 Mar; Jawad Shamlan 20 Mar)

4 deaths allegedly resulting from torture in detention (Hasan Makki 3 Apr; Ali Saqer 9 Apr; Zakariya al-Asheri 9 Apr; Abdulkarim Fakhrawi 11 Apr)

8 civilians dead – not attributable to perpetrator: Ahmed Abdullah Hassan 16 Mar; Abd-al-Rasool al-Hujair 20 Mar; Sayyed Ahmed Shams 30 Mar; Isa al-Abdullah 25 Mar; Khadija Abd-al-Hai 5 Apr; Al-Sayyed Mahfoudh 6 Apr

6 expatriate workers dead (Abd-al-Malik Ghulam Rasool 13 Mar; Mohammed Tozzumul Ali 15 Mar; Mohammed Ali Ikhlas 15 Mar; Aklas Miah 15 Mar; Stephen Ibrahim 16 Mar; Fareed Maqboul 19 Mar)

Main sources

Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report

http://www.bici.org.bh/BICIreportEN.pdf

Full death toll list by opposition newspaper Al-Wasat

http://www.alwasatnews.com/4236/news/read/875494/1.html

Bahrain Centre for Human Rights: List of Killed people since Feb 14, 2011

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApabTTYHrcWDdE0yMXJTYk5saFJVYW1vYi1xZzJzcXc&hl=en_US#gid=0

Bahrain Watch: List of fatalities

https://bahrainwatch.org/bici/deaths.php

Bahrain’s Feb14 Revolution Martyrs List

http://feb14media.no-ip.info/martyrslisteng/

Physicians for Human Rights: Tear gas casualties