Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
Sheikh Ali Salman concluded his sermon by requesting that those intending to
participate in a planned demonstration at the Egyptian Embassy should remain
peaceful and refrain from attacking police.
192. The demonstration at the Egyptian Embassy was held to express
support for the ongoing popular uprisings in Egypt, which eventually led to
the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February 2011.
193. The calls to organise demonstrations starting on 14 February and the
ongoing popular protests in other Arab countries led the Ministry of Interior
(MoI) to take precautionary measures in anticipation of any protests that might
be organised in Bahrain. These steps included the following: increasing the
preparedness of police units; deploying more patrols in various
neighbourhoods; and heightening security at important locations such as
government offices, diplomatic premises, banks, religious sites and public
works facilities.
Friday, 11 February 2011
194. Leading Shia cleric Sheikh Issa Qassim delivered a Friday prayer
sermon in which he reportedly discussed the ongoing popular unrest in
Tunisia and Egypt and stated that the winds of change in the Arab world were
unstoppable. In relation to Bahrain, Sheikh Issa Qassim reaffirmed the call to
redraft the Constitution in accordance with the principles of a constitutional
monarchy in which the government is elected by the people. He also called
for efforts to combat crime, release political prisoners and end practices like
torture, religious discrimination and harassment of activists.
195. Similarly, Sheikh Ali Salman dedicated his Friday prayer sermon at
the Al-Sadek Mosque to discussing regional developments and their relevance
to Bahrain. The sermon expressed the view that Bahrainis had voted in favour
of the National Action Charter in 2001 because they aspired to establish a true
constitutional monarchy in Bahrain. This aspiration, according to Sheikh Ali
Salman, had not yet been achieved. This was seen, for example, in the reality
that unlike other constitutional monarchies, the Prime Minister of Bahrain was
from the Ruling Family. Sheikh Ali Salman also criticised the broad
legislative powers granted to the unelected Majlis Al-Shura. These and other
aspects of the Constitution were seen as contradicting the spirit of the National
Action Charter. Sheikh Ali Salman declared that Al Wefaq’s position
regarding the call for popular protests on 14 February was that the right to
demonstrate was legally guaranteed and should be exercised peacefully.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
196. Several limited incidents of unrest were reported in various parts of
Bahrain. These included an attack against a police patrol in Al Dair, a small
fire in Sahel Al-Bahr and an assault on a private vehicle in East Riffa.
197. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a Royal Decree
granting each Bahraini family a Royal bequest of 1,000 BD on the occasion of
the tenth anniversary of the approval of the National Action Charter.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
67