Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
around 800 by 08:30. At that point, the victim’s body was released to his
family and the funeral procession started at SMC and marched towards the
Um Al-Hasm cemetery. The procession gradually increased in size until it
included approximately 1,500 people. No confrontations between police and
mourners were recorded.
221. At around 13:00, a gathering of people was reported near the Al-
Fateh mosque in the Juffair neighbourhood of Manama. This gathering
quickly turned into a procession of about 100 vehicles expressing their support
for HM King Hamad. There was no recorded attempt by police to block or
disperse this rally.
222. The Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and
the Minister of Justice gave separate press conferences in which they
expressed regret for the two deaths that had occurred during the previous two
days and reaffirmed that Bahrain was governed on the basis of the rule of law.
They also emphasised that dialogue was the solution to the unrest in Bahrain
and that such dialogue should happen in the National Assembly.
223. Meanwhile, the number of protesters at the GCC Roundabout
increased and reached around 6,000 by 16:00, according to some estimates.
The participants in the demonstrations represented, according to many
accounts, a cross-section of Bahraini society, and their demands and slogans
varied. Some participants called for revision of the Constitution, some
demanded democratic reforms and some expressed grievances relating to
economic and social disempowerment. Some eyewitness accounts described
the mood at the roundabout as “festive” with tea, coffee and food being passed
out to protesters as they exchanged views on the situation in Bahrain.
224. Political figures and prominent personalities are reported to have
visited the roundabout, some of whom gave statements and made speeches
outlining their views on the situation in Bahrain and their demands for
political and economic reform. These included the leader of the Al Wafa’
opposition movement, Abdulwahab Hussein, and the Al Wefaq Secretary
General, Sheikh Ali Salman.
225. Despite the large number of demonstrators in the vicinity of the
roundabout during the afternoon, they did not yet completely obstruct the flow
of traffic. On the nearby Sheikh Ali Salman overpass, however, there were
reports of unidentified individuals impeding traffic. Some of these people
were seen distributing leaflets and posters, while others were reported to have
been stopping private vehicles and removing any pro-government posters
placed on them. Traffic was also obstructed or diverted in various parts of
Manama, including at the King Faisal juncture in Al Budaiya, the Dar Kulaib
club in Dar Kulaib and Mahmoud Al-Elwi Street in Al Suwaifiya.
226. At the political level, a meeting was held between the Crown Prince,
HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and representatives of the
Al Wefaq, including its Secretary General Sheikh Ali Salman. According to
the latter’s account, this meeting was held on the basis of an understanding
that the Crown Prince was prepared to consider the significant demands for
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