- Death of Ali Jawad al-Sheikh
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Ali Jawad al-Sheikh Born علي جواد الشيخ
Sitra, BahrainDied 31 August 2011
Sitra, BahrainResting place Sitra, Bahrain Residence Sitra, Bahrain Nationality Bahraini Known for 2011 Bahraini uprising Religion Muslim Parents Jawad Ahmad al-Sheikh (Father)[1] Ali Jawad al-Sheikh (Arabic: علي جواد الشيخ) was a 14-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on 31 August 2011 after reportedly being hit in the head by a tear gas canister shot by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising. The Bahraini government denied security force involvement in his death and offered a reward for information on the incident. Activists, however, began a series of large protests after his funeral.
Contents
Background
Further information: 2011 Bahraini uprisingAs part of a string of protests that occurred across the Arab World following the self-immolation and eventual death of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia, the mostly Shia population of Bahrain took to the streets demanding greater freedoms.[2] The move was seen as potentially destabilising to the Sunni-led regime of Bahrain, following which a brutal government crackdown led to widespread suppressions of the Shia people across many sectors,[3] epecially the medical field after the invasion of Bahrain by Gulf Cooperation Council soldiers led by Saudi Arabia.[4] The Bahraini government also hired Pakistani mercenaries to maintain security against the protesters, however, lesser intermittent protests continued.[5]
Death
A number of protesters, including Isa Hassan, Ali's uncle, took part in a demonstration in Sitra, Bahrain on 31 August just after morning prayers. They stated that they were "confronted by the police, who fired tear gas at them from roughly 20 feet away" and causing Ali Jawad al-Sheikh's death. In an interview with the Associated Press, Isa explained that "they are supposed to lob the canisters of gas, not shoot them at people. Police used it as a weapon."[1][6][7]
After his death, Ali's body was removed from the hospital and moved to the morgue, where an autopsy was carried out.[8] In the afternoon, Osama al-Asfoor, the head of public prosecution, stated that the autopsy had shown that "Ali had died of injuries to the back of his neck" and that "the boy had injuries under his chin and bruises on his face, hand, knees and pelvic area." However, he also added that a "blood examination showed no effects of tear gas exposure."[6]
Aftermath
Photographs of Ali directly after being injured were released by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights. Mohammed al-Maskati, the leader of the Society, said that, "The picture is affecting people." A videotape had also been made of Ali's family around his body in the hospital. Nabeel Rajab, the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, explained that the video was a "a gift to the people".[6] The father of Ali, Jawad al-Sheikh, asked in an interview with CNN for "human rights groups to take steps against Bahrain's leaders, saying, 'I lost my child. ... He does not deserve this destiny.'"[8]
The government acknowledged Ali's death, but stated in a report from the state-run news agency that "no reported police action against lawbreakers in Sitra" had occurred the morning of that day and that the security forces had last been involved in "dispersing a small group of around 10 people at 1:15 a.m." that day. The Ministry of the Interior then also set out a "reward of more than $26,000 for information about those responsible for his death."[6]
Activists who had taken part in the uprising stated that police had surrounded the hospital where Ali had died, effectively preventing any gatherings of people in the area. The activists also stated their intention to have a protest on 1 September 2011, after attending Ali's funeral earlier that day.[6] Clashes with police, however, began on 31 August and continued into the morning of September 1.[8]
Funeral and protests
The funeral procession was held early on 1 September, with photographs of Ali both before he died and of his dead body covering the coffin. It had already been delayed for some hours, as Ali's father was unwilling to sign the death certificate for release of his son's body, since the cause of death listed was stated to be "unknown." It is uncertain if the certificate was ever signed or if the body was just released.[9]
Activists stated that thousands of people attended his funeral. Afterwards, the mourners began marching in the streets of Sitra carrying pictures of Ali and chanting 'Down, down, Hamad!'". No security personnel were present at the protest and the protesters had dispersed by the afternoon. However, extensive protests were held in the national capital of Manama that night as the protesters tried to take back control of the Pearl Roundabout, which was the site of protests earlier in the year until a government crackdown and the destruction of the monument. Government forces used tear gas and blocked roads with buses to stop the protests.[9]
Local reactions
Sheik Isa Qassim, a senior Shiite cleric, has blamed security forces for the death of Ali Jawad, saying, "the killing of a 14-year-old boy by security forces during an anti-government demonstration Wednesday shows that the island nation’s Sunni rulers are not listening to people’s demands for greater rights."[10]
See also
- Death of Ahmed Jaber al-Qattan
- Death of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
- Death of Khaled Mohamed Saeed
- Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb
- Death of Neda Agha-Soltan
References
- ^ a b "Bahraini boy killed in protest". Al Jazeera. August 31, 2011. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/08/2011831132740548678.html?utm_content=automateplus&utm_campaign=Trial5&utm_source=SocialFlow&utm_term=tweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (14 February 2011). "Bahrain Activists in 'Day of Rage' – Anti-Government Protests in Shia Villages Around the Capital Leave Several People Injured and One Person Reported Dead". Al-Jazeera English. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011214925802473.html. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ Cockburn, Patrick (18 March 2011). "The Footage That Reveals the Brutal Truth About Bahrain's Crackdown – Seven Protest Leaders Arrested as Video Clip Highlights Regime's Ruthless Grip on Power". The Independent. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (15 March 2011). "Bahrain King Declares State of Emergency after Protests". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12745608. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ Nadir Hassan (17 March 2011). "Meddling in Bahrain’s internal affairs". The Express Tribune. http://tribune.com.pk/story/133492/meddling-in-bahrains-internal-affairs/. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d e J. David Goodman (August 31, 2011). "A 14-Year-Old Boy Is Killed in Bahrain as Security Forces Break Up a Protest". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/world/middleeast/01bahrain.html?_r=2. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ "Shiite teenager killed in Bahrain demo: opposition". Agence France-Presse. August 31, 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hNosFeJn1CDW-5tkxxaV7gkw63sg?docId=CNG.ee159abe0e0b3f7c4e870162182b6233.3a1. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Police, protesters battle in Bahrain's streets after boy's death". CNN. August 31, 2011. http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/08/31/bahrain.death/. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ a b J. David Goodman (September 1, 2011). "Large Protest in Bahrain After Boy’s Death". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/world/middleeast/02bahrain.html. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ Brian Murphy (September 1, 2011). "Bahrain cleric blames police for protester's death". Associated Press. http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-09-01/world/30104623_1_bahrain-s-shiite-sitra-senior-shiite-cleric. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
Part of the Arab SpringEvents 2011 Bahraini uprisingOpposition groups Opposition Figures Activists Nabeel Rajab • Abdulhadi Alkhawaja • Maryam Alkhawaja • Ayat Al-Qurmezi • Mohammed Albuflasa • Mahmood Al-YousifRegime figures Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (King) • Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifa (Prime Minister) • Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Crown Prince) • Khalid ibn Ahmad Al Khalifah (Foreign minister)
Deaths Other International reactions • Timeline • Qorvis • Pearl Roundabout • Bahrain: Shouting in the darkSee also Arab Spring "Ash-sha`b yurid isqat an-nizam"Events by country Algeria • Bahrain • Egypt: revolution - transition • Iraq • Israel • Jordan • Lebanon • Libya • Morocco • Oman • Saudi Arabia • Sudan • Syria • Tunisia • Western Sahara • YemenNotable people Algeria: Abdelaziz Bouteflika • Bahrain: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa – Hasan Mushaima – Ali Salman – Ali Jawad al-Sheikh • Egypt: Hosni Mubarak – Omar Suleiman – Wael Ghonim – Khaled Mohamed Saeed – Gigi Ibrahim – Essam Sharaf • Mohamed ElBaradei – Jordan: King Abdullah II – Marouf al-Bakhit – Samir Rifai • Morocco: Mohammed VI – Abbas El Fassi • Libya: Muammar Gaddafi – Saif al-Islam Gaddafi – Mustafa Abdul Jalil – Mahmoud Jibril – Mohammed Nabbous • Saudi Arabia: Manal al-Sharif • Sudan: Hassan al-Turabi • Syria: Bashar al-Assad – Riad Seif – Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb • Tunisia: Zine El Abidine Ben Ali – Mohamed Bouazizi • Yemen: Ali Abdullah Saleh – Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi – Tawakel Karman – Abdul Majeed al-Zindani – Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar – Sadiq al-AhmarGroups Bahrain: Al Wefaq • Egypt: April 6 Youth Movement – Kefaya – Muslim Brotherhood – National Association for Change – National Democratic Party – Revolutionary Socialists • Libya: National Liberation Army – National Transitional Council • Saudi Arabia: Umma Islamic Party • Syria: Free Syrian Army – Hizb ut-Tahrir – National Council of Syria • Tunisia: Constitutional Democratic Rally • Western Sahara: Polisario Front • Yemen: Alliance of Yemeni Tribes – Al-Islah – HashidImpact Occupy movement • Albania • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Belarus • Burkina Faso • Croatia • Djibouti • Georgia • Greece • India • Iran • Iraqi Kurdistan • Maldives • Mexico • People's Republic of China • Portugal • Spain • Turkey • United Kingdom • United States (2011 Wisconsin protests, Occupy Wall Street)International reactions United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 • United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 • United Nations Security Council Resolution 2009 • United Nations Security Council Resolution 2014Categories:- 2011 deaths
- 2011 in Bahrain
- Police brutality
- Deaths by person
- 2011 Bahraini uprising
- Deaths during 2011 Bahraini uprising
- Bahrani people
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