Ali Jawad al-Sheikh

Ali Jawad al-Sheikh was a 14-year-old Bahraini who died in the hospital on 31 August 2011 after reportedly being hit in the head by a tear gas canister fired by Bahraini security forces during the 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.

Background

As part of a string of protests that occurred across the Arab World following the self-immolation and eventual death of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia, large numbers of Bahrainis took to the streets demanding greater freedoms. The move was seen as potentially destabilising to the regime of Bahrain, following which a brutal government crackdown led to widespread suppressions of the Shia people across many sectors, especially the medical field after the invasion of Bahrain by Gulf Cooperation Council soldiers led by Saudi Arabia. The Bahraini government also hired Pakistani mercenaries to maintain security against the protesters, however, lesser intermittent protests continued.

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."

After his death, Ali's body was removed from the hospital and moved to the morgue,

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."

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.