- Global Voices - https://globalvoices.org -

Bahrain: A Video Timeline of Police Brutality

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Bahrain, Digital Activism, Humanitarian Response, Media & Journalism, Politics, Protest, Youth

This post is part of our special coverage Bahrain Protests 2011 [1].

As the international media focus shifts toward Libya and the rapidly unfolding events there, Bahrain government is unleashing a violent assault on pro-democracy protesters. Five people have been killed on Wednesday when security forces attacked anti-government demonstrators who have been rallying on Pearl (Lulu) Roundabout in the capital Manama. A three-month state of emergency was declared this week and a daily curfew was put in place. Many human rights activists, political activists and protesters were arrested, while others were reported missing. Amid media blackout, citizens are taking their cameras out and filming what the state-run media doesn't want you to see.

Here's a video timeline of Bahrain protests as posted by blogger Chan'ad Bahraini 2.0 [2] who comments:

[S]ince the start of this latest uprising on 14th of February, dozens of […] cases of excessive force have been captured on video. It has finally given solid proof of the type of abusive practices that the security forces — and by extension the regime in Bahrain — have been employing for years.

Warning: some of the videos posted here are graphic in nature. Viewer's discretion is advised.

February 14, 2011

The first day of the protests was marked by a violent crackdown as shown in this video from Diraz showing Riot police fire rubber bullets and gas canisters at unarmed protesters (video posted on Youtube by smohd92 [3]):

In Daih, Riot police fire on protesters at short range (video posted by margadoosh [4]):

In Sehla, riot police attack protesters unprovoked (video posted by albahrain2011 [5]):

Sehla – the same scene from a different angle (video posted by alsehlawy12 [6]):

In Sitra police brutalizes unarmed protester carrying Bahraini flag (video posted by retman96 [7]):

February 17

The government attacks unarmed protesters camped at Pearl (Lulu) Roundabout in the capital Manama at 3am (video posted by simsim7501 [8]):

February 18

Manama – Protesters try to approach Lulu roundabout chanting “Peaceful! Peaceful!”. They are shot at with live rounds (video posted by shaffeem [9]):

[Warning: GRAPHIC VIDEO]

March 13

Unarmed protester is shot with rubber bullets several times at point-blank range (video posted by ali9566 [10]):

Police shoots at a cameraman filming near the University of Bahrain (posted by EncryptedReality2 [11]):

March 15

In Sitra, anti-riot police brutalizes a protester before apparently shooting at him at point-blank range (posted by NaserAlshea [12]):

March 16

In Megsha unarmed protester with arms raised is shot at (video posted by almeel1 [13]):

In Saar, Riot police brutalize a driver at checkpoint (video posted by BHR142011 [14] — Audio is disabled):

The following videos show anti-riot police deliberately smashing up civilian cars (videos posted by mjarexmja [15] and EncryptedReality2 [11] respectively):

More videos available on Chan'ad Bahraini 2.0 [2] blog.

This post is part of our special coverage Bahrain Protests 2011 [1].