After threats by the Minister of Interior of escalation against the demonstrators: dozens injured protesters with shotguns
April 19, 2012
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its deep concern on the programmed escalation by the security forces against the peaceful protests which is demonstrated in the use of excessive force and the use of bird hunting rifles (shotgun) against unarmed demonstrators, which have left dozens injured and wounded, and had already been inflicted several deaths over the past year. This escalation comes after announcement of the Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa about the intention of the authority to escalate its procedures[1]. This shows the insistence of the authorities in Bahrain - and with orders of the supreme bodies and a cover of international silence – on continuing to violate international conventions that protect the lives of citizens, ban the use of excessive force against demonstrators, and protect the right of peaceful assembly and expression.
The Minister of the Interior in a meeting with the President of the House of Representatives on April 10, 2012 after the news of injury of seven members of the police in an explosion in the village of Aker had said: "There was an escalation; I will escalate as well, in my procedures, position and the way of handling [the situation].” [2]. The next day, a widespread use of hunting rifles (shotgun) against peaceful demonstrators who marched in demonstrations calling for freedom and democracy was observed [3].
This BCHR has documented dozens of casualties among the demonstrators caused by birds hunting rifles (shotgun) in the days following threats of the Minister of Interior, which were inspected by the activists of the Bahrain Center who were in several areas of Bahrain and have monitored the excessive use of force and collective punishment in those areas, including Sitra, AlDair, Diraz, Bilad AlQadeem, Manama, Sanabis, Bani Jamra, Salmabad and others. It was noted that the injuries caused with the fragments of a firearm (shotgun cartridges) and concentrated on the face, chest, back, abdomen, thighs, and the upper parts of the body.
On April 13, 2012 thousands of mourners came out for the funeral of a young photographer Ahmed Ismail, who was killed on March 31, 2012 by live ammunition of militia belonging to the authority. The crowd was heavily attacked and there have been dozens of injuries among the mourners. Child Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Aziz (15 years) was injured in different parts of his body including his heart that he has got several shots which made him in grave danger. As a result he was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Salmaniya hospital. He was interrogated with during the period he was in the hospital by security officers, and as his condition improved a little he was allowed to leave on April 19, 2012 but he had to pay a bail at the police station to avoid detention, which means that he has been declared an accused instead of being a victim.
The shotgun fires a bullet that explodes directly after being shot, which fires dozens of solid balls to spread over a wide area to hit the largest number possible of targets, and this leads to the injury of many amongst the demonstrators. These solid blocks penetrate the human skin to stick to the bones and do not penetrate them, and it is difficult to later extract those blocks from the body due to their small size. There are dozens of Bahraini citizens whose bodies still suffer from the penetration of these objects, and the lodging of these objects in their bodies since the 1990’s. Many were killed as well in the past year due to this weapon. The shotgun is usually used to hunt birds or small animals. Protocol 1 of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) prohibits the use of shotgun or any other similar weapon as the Protocol states, ‘It is prohibited to use any weapon the primary effect of which is to injure by fragments which in the human body escape detection by X-rays.’
These injuries increase at a time the people are not able to receive proper treatment at hospitals as they are trapped in areas under suppression and un-official curfew, and also because of the fact that hospitals are entirely under the control of security forces where injured protesters could get interrogated and arrested even before the completion of the treatment, as was the case of the young Ali AlGaffas who was arrested few days ago after going to the hospital for a wound in his hand that was caused by a tear gas canister[4].
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights believes that this escalation in the use of arms, extreme force and collective punishment was meant to crush the demonstrations and protests which have continued over a year, in preparation for hosting the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix , which is to be held on 22 of the month.
The Bahrain Center express regrets on the occurrence of injuries among the police - according to ministry releases - and reiterates continued calls to demand that all parties should abide by peacefulness and respect the principles and covenants of Human Rights, which Bahrain is a party, also calls on all parties not to resort to violence and counter violence. But the exploiting of isolated incidents by the Ministry of the Interior to take direct revenge of the masses of protesters and to attack freedom of opinion and the right of peaceful assembly and respond with violence and excessive force is in contrary to international human rights instruments, as these freedoms should be respected in all circumstances. The continuing violence applied by the authority under the policy of impunity to the abusers, and the continued silence of the international community on what is happening in Bahrain, and the policy of collective punishment of the people may be one of the things that drive the people to a state of despair, frustration and possibly force them to the counter-violence.
It is noteworthy that this escalation comes after the call of the Security General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon to the Bahraini government to stop the use of excessive force against the daily protests, on which he emphasis that "the fundamental human rights of the Bahraini people, including the right to peaceful protest, must be respected." The escalation of authority violence only reflects its disregard to this call.
Based on the foregoing, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls for the following:
- Stop the use of firearms of all kinds and to refrain from the use of excessive force against demonstrators. - Accountability of those involved in the suppression of demonstrations and attacks with excessive force and bringing them to justice. - Stop the control of security on the hospitals and allow patients to receive the necessary treatment without subjecting them to any kind of threats or harassment. - To allow the protests and demonstrations and respect the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed by international covenants on human rights.
Link1 - More cases of injuries with shotgun Link2 - More cases of injuries with shotgun
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