Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
had reached parts of the diplomatic area, passed by the offices of the Council
of Ministers and driven down the Khalifa bin Salman Road. Estimates placed
the number of trucks participating in this demonstration at over 100.
336. At SMC, a demonstration of over 100 people, including some
members of the medical staff, was organised. It proceeded towards the GCC
Roundabout.
337. The 18 Al Wefaq members of the Council of Representatives
submitted a joint “final” resignation to the President of the Council, Mr
Khalifa Ahmed Al-Dhahrani.
338. Meanwhile, following discussions concerning the biased coverage of
the ongoing events by Bahraini Television, the President of the Information
Affairs Authority, Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, agreed to air a
programme that would host Al Wefaq representatives. However, Al Wefaq
declined this opportunity. Later that day, 40 political societies, community
leaders and social organisations were invited to attend the national dialogue
initiated by HRH the Crown Prince. Official letters were sent to
organisations, while individual figures were invited by telephone. All parties
and individuals invited accepted the invitation during the next three to five
days. The response from six of the major opposition political societies,
including Al Wefaq, arrived on 3 March 2011 (see below).
339. No invitations were extended to unregistered political societies such
as the Haq and Wafa’a opposition movements.
340. Throughout the day, HRH the Crown Prince held consultative
meetings with groups and prominent Bahrainis, including business persons
and civil society leaders. During these meetings, participants, especially from
civil society, called for reforms to ensure that employment policies were based
on merit rather than nepotism and that steps were undertaken to make the
political system more just. Demands were also made to form a committee to
amend the Constitution. Representatives of the Shia Ajam community held a
meeting with HRH the Crown Prince to reaffirm their loyalty to the monarchy
and to urge that they be represented in future parliaments.
341. Later that evening, a senior Al Wefaq member met with HRH the
Crown Prince at HRH the Crown Prince’s Court. During the meeting, Al
Wefaq was encouraged to join the national dialogue.
Monday, 28 February 2011
342. In a continuation of the previous day’s demonstrations, hundreds of
students participated in protests in various parts of Bahrain. Another convoy
of heavy vehicles was organised as part of the ongoing protests.
343. Between 07:30 and 08:30, around 400 students left their schools in
different areas and marched through the main access roads in their
neighbourhoods. Among the schools in which students participating in these
protests were enrolled were the Ahmed Alomran Commercial High School for
Boys, the Jidhafs Industrial High School for Boys and the Al-Jabreya
Industrial High School for Boys. Later in the morning, at around 10:20,
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