Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
577. Searches and arrests continued to be undertaken at SMC throughout
the day. At 01:00, while searching the corridors of the facility, security forces
reported finding two Kalashnikov rifles and three ammunition caches. A
number of persons were also arrested for disguising themselves as patients.
During the day, the security services deployed at SMC moved all patients who
had been involved in the protests of the previous weeks to a ward on the sixth
floor of SMC. Allegations later emerge that those patients were subjected to
various forms of mistreatment, including beatings, kicking, slapping, and
being dragged in the corridors of the sixth floor. 265
578. That evening, while riot police were dispersing a group of
demonstrators in Al-Khamis, Mr Hani Abdulaziz Abdulla Jumma was fatally
injured. He was pronounced dead at 23:30. Reports indicate that he had
sustained gunshot wounds and was pursued by police into an empty apartment
building where he was severely beaten. He was later taken to the Bahrain
International Hospital and was then transferred to BDF Hospital, where he
died. His body was released to his family on 25 March. 266
579. At 19:00, the BDF issued a detailed statement including instructions
for pedestrians and drivers when approaching BDF checkpoints and
roadblocks. The statement also included details of traffic diversions for
drivers to avoid areas of Manama that had been cordoned off by the BDF.
580. The BDF announced the establishment of a closed maritime zone off
the coast of Bahrain in which all forms of navigation and shipping were
prohibited. The BDF issued a statement identifying the exact coordinates of
this zone. During the following days, BDF naval patrols arrested a number of
individuals who entered the zone.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
581. Bahraini security services continued their operations aimed at
restoring order, reopening roads and ending all forms of demonstrations that
were reported in various areas of Bahrain.
582. Throughout the day, police patrols and checkpoints stopped and
searched individuals and vehicles. Many of those found to be carrying antigovernment
material were arrested and transferred to the nearest police
station. Cars were searched for posters, leaflets, flags and other objects
indicating that an individual sympathised with protesters. Personal property,
such as laptop computers and mobile phones, was routinely confiscated.
Earlier patterns of mistreatment at these checkpoints continued, including
insulting the religious and sectarian beliefs of persons believed to be Shia.
583. Police and riot control units continued to cordon off neighbourhoods
and districts in which demonstrations were reported, such as Sitra, Sanabis,
Nuwaidrat and Karzakan. These units continued to use tear gas, sound bombs,
rubber bullets and occasionally shotgun rounds to disperse crowds.
265 See Chapter V.
266 See Chapter VI, Section A.
153