Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
Wefaq’s leadership declined, however, to make any political concessions,
citing their inability to control the streets.
301. Later that night, it was announced that HM King Hamad had
pardoned 308 individuals who had been convicted of various crimes relating
to state security. Among those pardoned were leading opposition figures,
including the Secretary General of the Al-Haq Movement for Liberty and
Democracy, Mr Hassan Meshima, who had been living in London. The royal
pardon allowed him to return to Bahrain. Among the other political figures
released were Dr Abduljalil Alsankis and Sheikh Mohamed Habib Alsafaf
(also known as Almekdad).
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
302. Demonstrations continued at the GCC Roundabout on 23 February.
Early in the morning, many of the political opposition leaders who had been
released by royal pardon the previous day went to the roundabout to celebrate
their release and express their support of the ongoing demonstrations. They
gave speeches at the roundabout in which they outlined their positions and
views regarding the unfolding situation in Bahrain.
303. Meanwhile, a large demonstration was organised at the headquarters
of the CID to demand the release of other prisoners who had not been
included in the royal pardon. The demonstrators, among whom was Sheikh
Mohamed Habib Alsafaf, raised slogans including, “The people demand the
removal of the regime”, “Step down Hamad”, and, “Down with the GoB”.
They also expressed their rejection of calls for dialogue before the regime was
removed. Many of the protesters also demanded an end to impunity, and
specifically called for the prosecution of those responsible for the killing of
protesters and of security personnel who were alleged to have engaged in
torture during the civil disturbances of the mid-1990s. At the end of the
demonstration, the protesters marched towards the GCC Roundabout.
304. Smaller demonstrations and gatherings were recorded in other areas
of Manama, most of which proceeded towards the GCC Roundabout. For
example, at 10:20 a group of demonstrators, mostly students, reportedly
gathered on Road 28 in the Sanabis district and then marched to roundabout.
Later in the day, a procession of more than 2,000 people was reported to have
begun in the vicinity of the Al-Jamal mosque in the Al-Balad Al-Qadeem
district and moved towards the GCC Roundabout at 15:00.
305. As the number of protesters at the roundabout increased, many of the
leading opposition figures gave speeches. For example, Mr Abdulwahab
Hussein gave a speech in which he identified two main demands of the
protesters; the first was the removal of the regime, while the second was the
establishment of a constitutional monarchy. He affirmed that the removal of
the regime was an attainable goal, and that establishing a constitutional
monarchy would remain impossible without first removing the regime. Mr.
Hussein also stated that if political societies entered into a dialogue with the
GoB, this would undermine the existing “revolutionary momentum” and
would allow the GoB to impose its will on the people by using tools like the
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