Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
584. A number of expatriate workers reported being harassed and, in some
cases, assaulted by unidentified individuals. Ras Ruman and Al-Lozy were
among the neighbourhoods in which these incidents were recorded.
585. Despite the MoI operations that were ongoing in various areas of
Bahrain and the reports of attacks on individuals in a number of locations, life
gradually began to return to normality in Bahrain. Many roads were cleared
of roadblocks and debris, and most government ministries, offices and
businesses reopened.
586. At 06:30, the body of Mr Abdulrasoul Hassan Ali Mohamed Al-
Hujjairi was found in the vicinity of al-Askar Road in the Awali district. He
was taken to BDF Hospital where he was pronounced dead. While the exact
circumstances leading to this fatality are unclear, reports indicated that the
deceased had gone missing around sunset the previous day. He suffered
severe injuries all over his body and to his head caused by beatings.
587. During the day, security forces continued to search the floors and
wards of SMC. Eleven megaphones and three sound systems were reported to
have been found during these searches. A Kalashnikov rifle was also reported
to have been found in the vicinity of the entrance to the Accident and
Emergency Department.
588. The seven main opposition parties (Al Wefaq, Wa’ad, the Islamic
Action Society, the National Democratic Assemblage, the Nationalist
Democratic Society, Al Ikha’ National Society and the Al Menbar Progressive
Democratic Society) held a joint press conference in which they announced
the following:
a. They do not place any preconditions on the commencement of
a national dialogue. Rather, they identify principles that
should govern the dialogue.
b. They call upon the international community to stop the human
rights violations being perpetrated in Bahrain.
c. They deny either receiving or rejecting mediation initiatives
from Turkey, Qatar or any other country.
d. Bahrain needs the army to return to its barracks and the GCC-
JSF to be withdrawn. An investigation must be undertaken
into what happened in Bahrain, and all detainees must be
released.
e. When the circumstances are right for a dialogue, the
opposition parties will be the first to engage in a dialogue.
Indeed, they were among the first to present their views on the
dialogue to HRH the Crown Prince’s Court. They also
affirmed to representatives of HRH the Crown Prince on 15
March their readiness to engage in a dialogue. However, any
dialogue will fail if it does not commence in the right
circumstances and on bases that would put the country on the
right track towards democratic rule.
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