Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
b. The peacefulness of the protests is laudable and has garnered
the respect of the international community. He urges the
demonstrators to remain peaceful and not to allow themselves
to be provoked into resorting to violence.
c. He denounces attempts to incite sectarianism and undermine
national unity, and encourages every Shia to go to their Sunni
neighbour and reassure them that their safety and security is
of paramount importance.
d. The purpose of the demonstrations is not “to end the
dictatorship of the Al Khalifa family to establish a Shia
dictatorship” in its place. Rather, the objective is to establish
a polity that will respect the rights of all citizens on the basis
of equality.
401. Among the other political leaders participating in the demonstration
were Mr Hassan Almeshaima, former Member of the Council of
Representatives Mr Jawad Fayrouz, Mr Ibrahim Sharif from the Wa’ad
movement, and Abdulla Saleh from the Amal political society.
402. Later that afternoon, demonstrations in various neighbourhoods
proceeded towards the GCC Roundabout. One of these protests started at
SMC at 17:15 and involved around 100 demonstrators, including a number of
medical personnel. Another demonstration took the form of a convoy of 50
vehicles that departed from the A’Ali district and headed towards the GCC
Roundabout. At 16:00, a procession of horses went from the Seef district to
the GCC Roundabout. Another demonstration, reported to have included 200
students and unemployed individuals, began at the Dana Roundabout and then
proceeded to the GCC Roundabout.
403. At the GCC Roundabout, political figures, community leaders, human
rights activists and representatives of professional syndicates and trade unions
addressed the demonstrators and shared their views about the situation in
Bahrain. Some of the speeches were delivered from the stage set up at the
roundabout. The range of views expressed reflected the diversity of positions
among the various opposition forces and civil society organisations. Some
speakers reiterated the call to remove the regime, some focused on the need
for the Prime Minister and the cabinet to resign, while others discussed the
developments relating to the ongoing dialogue between opposition parties and
HRH the Crown Prince and whether this dialogue should proceed without
conditions. Many speakers also underlined the necessity of rewriting the
Constitution to limit the powers of the King and increase legislative oversight
of the executive. Meanwhile, some activists demanded accountability for
those implicated in the killings of peaceful protests and those responsible for
the mistreatment of detainees, both during the ongoing crisis and in previous
years. Many protesters also voiced allegations of corrupt practices by senior
government officials, including the Prime Minister. People would gather
around the tents of the various political and civil society groups to participate
in discussions about the unfolding situation.
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