{"url":"https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/09/06/dark-clouds-over-bahrain/","title":"Bahrain Boy's Police Killing Reignites Unrest","domain":"foreignpolicy.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/11036641/pexels-photo-11036641.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","category":"Politics","language":"en","slug":"4a86a3c8","id":"4a86a3c8-3929-4979-9047-992a6a4f1d1a","description":"Police killed 14-year-old Ali Jawad Ahmad during Sitra protest on Aug. 31, 2011.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Police killed **14-year-old Ali Jawad Ahmad** during **Sitra** protest on **Aug. 31, 2011**.\n- **10,000** attended funeral calling for **Al-Khalifa** overthrow.\n- Failed reforms deepen polarization, hurting foreign investment.\n\n## The story at a glance\nPolice shot dead **14-year-old Ali Jawad Ahmad** at an **Eid al-Fitr** demonstration in **Sitra** on **Aug. 31**, sparking protests across **Shiite** villages and attempts to reclaim **Pearl Roundabout** in **Manama**. This reignited tensions after spring 2011 unrest, amid flawed **National Dialogue** and **BICI** processes that failed to bridge regime-opposition divides. Businesses like **Volvo** and **Credit Agricole** are pulling back due to instability.[[1]](https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/09/06/dark-clouds-over-bahrain/)[[2]](https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/09/06/dark-clouds-over-bahrain)\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- **Feb-Mar 2011**: Pro-democracy protests at **Pearl Roundabout**; site bulldozed by regime.\n- **June 1, 2011**: Martial law lifted; **King Hamad** starts **National Dialogue** and **BICI**.\n- **June 22, 2011**: **National Safety Court** sentences **13** opposition leaders, including **Abdeljalil Singace** and **Hassan Mushaima** to life.\n- **June 29, 2011**: **BICI** established, led by **Cherif Bassiouni**.\n- **July 2-30, 2011**: **National Dialogue** held; **Al-Wefaq** withdraws **July 18** over lack of representation.\n- **Aug. 15, 2011**: Protesters storm **BICI** office in **Manama**.\n- **Aug. 31, 2011**: **Ali Jawad Ahmad** killed by police in **Sitra**.\n\n## Signature highlights\n- **Al-Wefaq**, with **45%** in **Oct. 2010** elections, got only **5/300** delegates (**1.67%**) in **National Dialogue**.\n- **Opposition** delegates made up **11.67%** total; no discussion of electoral boundaries or elected government.\n- **Bassiouni** told **Reuters** abuses were by \"people at the lower level,\" not policy, drawing opposition backlash.\n- Hard-liners like **Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman**, **Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah**, and **Bin Ahmed** brothers gain power over **Crown Prince Salman**.\n- **Aug. 2011** exits: **Volvo** cancels **2012 Golf Champions**, **Credit Agricole** moves to **Dubai**, **IISS** suspends **Manama Security Dialogue**.\n\n## Key quotes\n- **Dr. Jassim Hussain Ali** (**Al-Wefaq** MP): \"more of a social event than a political dialogue.\"\n\n## Why it matters\nRegime's flawed reform efforts entrench divisions in **Bahrain**, a key U.S. ally hosting **Fifth Fleet**. Instability prompts foreign firms to exit, threatening economic stability and investment. Watch **BICI** report due **Oct. 30, 2011**, and power shifts among **Al-Khalifa** factions.","hashtags":["#bahrain","#protests","#alkhalifa","#middleeast","#politics","#humanrights"],"viewCount":3,"publishedAt":"2026-04-04T20:32:55.271Z"}