Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
Prince should not attend the meeting. Therefore, HRH the Crown Prince’s
representatives proceeded alone to the meeting, which was held at the
residence of Sheikh Abdulla Al-Ghurafi. During the meeting, the
representatives of HRH the Crown Prince explained that they were seeking
Sheikh Issa Qassim’s blessing of the 12 March MoU so that Al Wefaq could
join the national dialogue on that basis. Sheikh Issa Qassim seemed unaware
of the existence of the MoU or the seven principles announced by HRH the
Crown Prince, and stated that he did not have control over the streets. Sheikh
Issa Qassim affirmed that while his role was religious rather than political, it
was his view that the solution to the ongoing crisis should be the election of a
Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution.
487. After this meeting, the representative of HRH the Crown Prince met
with Al Wefaq Secretary General Sheikh Ali Salman to urge him to endorse
the 12 March MoU and accept the seven principles included in HRH the
Crown Prince’s statement. Sheikh Ali Salman reiterated that there was no
need to enter into a dialogue with the GoB, and that the election of a
Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution was the only solution to the
unfolding crisis. Later that evening, HRH the Crown Prince called Sheikh Ali
Salman to persuade him to reconsider his position. Sheikh Salamn reiterated
the views he had expressed earlier that day.
488. At that point, HRH the Crown Prince and his team concluded that the
opposition was not interested in engaging in a dialogue with the GoB. In the
view of HRH the Crown Prince and his team, the insistence by the opposition
on the drafting of a new constitution by an elected Constituent Assembly
would allow the opposition, which espoused a more conservative and religious
outlook, to dominate the Constituent Assembly. The view of HRH the Crown
Prince was that a constitution drafted by this assembly would alienate other
members of Bahraini society. Therefore, the position adopted by Sheikh Issa
Qassim and Sheikh Ali Salman was unacceptable to HM the King and HRH
the Crown Prince.
489. A group of independent members of the Council of Representatives
issued a statement calling on HM King Hamad to declare a State of Martial
Law and to order the intervention of the BDF to maintain security and stability
in Bahrain, protect private and public property and confront any illegal acts
that incite violence, terrorism, harassment of individuals, sectarianism,
disruption of social order, harming the national economy or threatening the
national interest of Bahrain. The statement urged HM the King to impose a
curfew to be enforced by the BDF. It also urged the King to intervene “at this
critical juncture after the opposition rejected the calls to maintain calm and the
invitations to enter into a dialogue, and instead resorted to escalation and
sectarian incitement, which threatened the breakdown of security.” The
statement warned against the continuation of “provocative” unauthorised daily
demonstrations and rallies, which were threatening to lead to a “civil war”.
This, according to the statement, necessitated the immediate intervention of
the BDF to contain the situation and maintain law and order in Bahrain.
131