Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
The dialogue must not reach general recommendations
that would then need an implementing mechanism.
xi. By having a Constituent Assembly, the GoB would not
be able to renege on the commitments that it makes
during the dialogue.
380. Later that evening, Bahrain witnessed the first major sectarian clashes
between Shia and Sunnis in Hamad Town, which has a mixed population of
both sects. The exact sequence of events and the circumstances that led to that
outbreak of sectarian violence remain unclear. The available information
indicates that the spark for the confrontation was a fight that broke out
between Shia students who had been participating in demonstrations during
the day and teenagers from naturalised Sunni families residing in Hamad
Town. The situation quickly escalated, and by 21:30 a street battle broke out
between Shia and Sunnis wielding sticks, knives, swords and metal rods.
Most of the confrontations occurred in the vicinity of Roundabout 7 in Hamad
Town, although reports indicated that clashes also spilled over into
neighbouring streets and alleys. At this point, the MoI dispatched riot police
who intervened to stop the clashes and dispersed the crowds. Eleven people,
including three police, were injured during these clashes. 247
381. At 22:15, violence erupted again in Hamad Town, during which
around 100 individuals were reported to have clashed with police deployed in
the area. Reports indicated that vehicles, buses and pickup trucks from other
areas of Bahrain, including Zallaq, Riffa and the GCC Roundabout, began
transporting hundreds of people to Hamad Town in an attempt to provide
reinforcements to those involved in the confrontations. Many were armed
with knives and other similar objects. As the night proceeded, more cars and
individuals headed towards Roundabout 7 from the surrounding areas and
roundabouts. For example, at 23:30 groups of individuals carrying knives,
swords and other similar weapons marched from Block 1208 in Hamad Town
towards Roundabout 7. Isolated incidents, involving the harassment of people
in their residences, were also recorded in the vicinity of Roundabout 7.
382. Later that night, Al Wefaq issued a statement calling for restraint and
encouraging residents of Hamad Town to reject any attempts to provoke
sectarian discord in Bahrain.
383. In light of the deteriorating situation in Bahrain, the Fitch Ratings
Agency announced that it was downgrading Bahrain’s investment-grade credit
rating, and said that the outlook was negative due to recent economic and
political uncertainty.
Friday, 4 March 2011
384. Throughout the early hours of the day, more confrontations occurred
in areas surrounding Roundabout 7 in Hamad Town. Reports indicated that
unidentified individuals had damaged private vehicles parked in the area,
especially targeting vehicles that had pictures of the political leadership of
247 See Chapter VIII, Section B.
108