Death of Fadhel Al-Matrook
Encyclopedia
Fadhel Salman Ali Salman Ali Al-Matrook (8 November 1979 - 15 February 2011) was a 31-year-old Bahraini
who died in hospital on 15 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back and chest by bird pellet gunshots (a type of shotgun shell) fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising
. Bahrain king Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa announced in a rare televised speech that the deaths of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
and Fadhel Al-Matrook would be investigated. However, results of the investigation were not revealed until this day (November 2011).
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. Al Jazeera
reported that a protest was planned for 14 February, just a few months after the controversial 2010 election
.
On 14 February, clashes were reported from parts of Bahrain. Helicopters circled over Manama
, where protesters were expected to gather in the afternoon; there was also a greater police presence in Shia villages. At least fourteen people were injured in clashes overnight and with police having used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse marchers in the mostly Shia village of Nuwaidrat
in the country's southwest. The marchers were demanding the release of those detained during earlier protests.
was organized to take Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
body who died the previous day, from Salmaniya medical complex to the cemetery for burial in Al Daih
. According to eye witnesses, more than 2,000 people were gathering at the gates of the hospital to join the procession, when riot police used tear gas and shotguns to disperse the crowd. One man, Fadhel Al-Matrook, was injured by shotgun pellets and later died in hospital. Al-Matrook's brother who was nearby him told Al Wasat local newspaper that his brother was shot from a very short distance, 2 to 5 meters which caused internal bleeding and went through lungs. At least 25 people were reportedly hurt by rubber bullets, buckshot and tear gas fired by the security forces, witnesses said.
An eyewitness who was injured called Shaker Mohammed Abdulhussain told Al Wasat local newspaper that riot police cars were parked nearby Salmaniya Medical Complex gates where the funeral was supposed to move out from. To prevent clashed between mourners and riot police, mourners formed a human chain where Shaker was standing next to Al-Matrook. There were two people speaking to riot police telling them that the youth will ensure that nothing goes wrong. Then a man wearing full black came from outside the funeral and threw a stone at riot police, who then started firing rubber bullets and bird pellet gunshots indiscriminately. While Shaker and Al-Matrook were trying to help a man who was injured by rubber bullets in his leg, they were shot by bird pellet gunshots. Shaker was injured in his chest and other parts in the body, while Al-Matrook was injured in his back and died in hospital.
Ministry of interior said in a statement that during the funeral of Ali Mushaima some mourners clashed with 4 police patrols which were parked in the funeral course. They explained that clashed were because one patrol was not working and 3 patrols went to evacuate it. During clashed one man named Fadhel Al-Martook was injured and died later in hospital.
of Al-Matrook while others were camping in Pearl Roundabout
for the second day in a row. The funeral began in Salmaniya
medical complex and ended in Mahooz
graveyard. Al-Matrook's coffin was covered with Bahrain's flag
. The mourners taking part in the funeral which began at 8:30 am were carrying pictures for Al-Matrook, Bahrain flags
as well as black flags which represent sadness. They chanted "No god but Allah
, martyr is loved by Allah" and "No Sunni, No Shia, all of us are one united Bahrain".
The final funeral procession for Al-Matrook was on February 18, which took part in Mahooz
and ended in Mahooz graveyard. Mourners carried Bahrain flags
as well as black flags. They chanted "we scarify our blood and soul for you martyr" and "we scarify our blood and soul for you Bahrain". One of the mourners carried flowers. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Mansi gave a speech at the end of the funeral procession.
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
who died in hospital on 15 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back and chest by bird pellet gunshots (a type of shotgun shell) fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising
2011 Bahraini uprising
The 2011 Bahraini uprising, sometimes called the February 14 Revolution is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain...
. Bahrain king Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa announced in a rare televised speech that the deaths of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
Death of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
Ali Abdulhadi Mushiama was a 21-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on the evening of Monday, 14 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back by bird pellet gunshots fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising...
and Fadhel Al-Matrook would be investigated. However, results of the investigation were not revealed until this day (November 2011).
Background
As part of a string of protestsArab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
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. Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
reported that a protest was planned for 14 February, just a few months after the controversial 2010 election
Bahraini parliamentary election, 2010
A parliamentary election was held in Bahrain with the first-round on 23 October, and the second round on 30 October 2010. Al-Wefaq won a plurality...
.
On 14 February, clashes were reported from parts of Bahrain. Helicopters circled over Manama
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
, where protesters were expected to gather in the afternoon; there was also a greater police presence in Shia villages. At least fourteen people were injured in clashes overnight and with police having used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse marchers in the mostly Shia village of Nuwaidrat
Nuwaidrat
Nuwaidrat is a village located in Bahrain, close to Sitra; it was formerly part of the Sitra Municipality.On February 14, 2011, police used tear gas against protesters in the village; they were participating in country-wide protests. The village is mostly Shia Muslim; the marchers were demanding...
in the country's southwest. The marchers were demanding the release of those detained during earlier protests.
Short biography
Al-Matrook's father died when he was 8. He was married with 2 children, a 5-years-old son, Hussain and a 2-years-old daughter, Ruqayya. He suffered from unemployment and was arrested once before, his brother reported. Al-Matrook lived in his father's house; his housing request goes back to 7 years before his death.Death
On 15 February, an authorized funeral processionFuneral procession
A funeral procession is a procession, usually in motor vehicles, from a church, synagogue, or mosque to the cemetery. The deceased is usually transported in a hearse, while family and friends follow in their vehicles.- Standard procedure :...
was organized to take Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
Death of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
Ali Abdulhadi Mushiama was a 21-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on the evening of Monday, 14 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back by bird pellet gunshots fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising...
body who died the previous day, from Salmaniya medical complex to the cemetery for burial in Al Daih
Al Daih
Al Daih is a village on the north of Bahrain. It lies to the east of Budaiya, west of Al Manama. It is a predominantly Shia village.-See also:* List of cities in Bahrain...
. According to eye witnesses, more than 2,000 people were gathering at the gates of the hospital to join the procession, when riot police used tear gas and shotguns to disperse the crowd. One man, Fadhel Al-Matrook, was injured by shotgun pellets and later died in hospital. Al-Matrook's brother who was nearby him told Al Wasat local newspaper that his brother was shot from a very short distance, 2 to 5 meters which caused internal bleeding and went through lungs. At least 25 people were reportedly hurt by rubber bullets, buckshot and tear gas fired by the security forces, witnesses said.
An eyewitness who was injured called Shaker Mohammed Abdulhussain told Al Wasat local newspaper that riot police cars were parked nearby Salmaniya Medical Complex gates where the funeral was supposed to move out from. To prevent clashed between mourners and riot police, mourners formed a human chain where Shaker was standing next to Al-Matrook. There were two people speaking to riot police telling them that the youth will ensure that nothing goes wrong. Then a man wearing full black came from outside the funeral and threw a stone at riot police, who then started firing rubber bullets and bird pellet gunshots indiscriminately. While Shaker and Al-Matrook were trying to help a man who was injured by rubber bullets in his leg, they were shot by bird pellet gunshots. Shaker was injured in his chest and other parts in the body, while Al-Matrook was injured in his back and died in hospital.
Ministry of interior said in a statement that during the funeral of Ali Mushaima some mourners clashed with 4 police patrols which were parked in the funeral course. They explained that clashed were because one patrol was not working and 3 patrols went to evacuate it. During clashed one man named Fadhel Al-Martook was injured and died later in hospital.
Funeral
on February 16, thousands of Bahraini's took part in the funeral processionFuneral procession
A funeral procession is a procession, usually in motor vehicles, from a church, synagogue, or mosque to the cemetery. The deceased is usually transported in a hearse, while family and friends follow in their vehicles.- Standard procedure :...
of Al-Matrook while others were camping in Pearl Roundabout
Pearl Roundabout
Pearl Roundabout or Lulu Roundabout was a roundabout located near the financial district of Manama, Bahrain...
for the second day in a row. The funeral began in Salmaniya
Salmaniya
Salmaniya is a neighborhood of Manama, Bahrain that houses the largest hospital in Bahrain, Salmaniya Medical Complex .Also, other private hospitals operate within the vicinity such as the Royal Bahrain Hospital....
medical complex and ended in Mahooz
Mahooz
Mahooz is a neighborhood of Manama, Bahrain. The grave and shrine of the 13th century Shi'ite theologian Maitham Al Bahrani is located in Mahooz....
graveyard. Al-Matrook's coffin was covered with Bahrain's flag
Flag of Bahrain
The national flag of Bahrain consists of a white band on the left, separated from a red area on the right by five triangles that serve as a serrated line.Red is the traditional colour for flags of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf...
. The mourners taking part in the funeral which began at 8:30 am were carrying pictures for Al-Matrook, Bahrain flags
Flag of Bahrain
The national flag of Bahrain consists of a white band on the left, separated from a red area on the right by five triangles that serve as a serrated line.Red is the traditional colour for flags of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf...
as well as black flags which represent sadness. They chanted "No god but Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
, martyr is loved by Allah" and "No Sunni, No Shia, all of us are one united Bahrain".
The final funeral procession for Al-Matrook was on February 18, which took part in Mahooz
Mahooz
Mahooz is a neighborhood of Manama, Bahrain. The grave and shrine of the 13th century Shi'ite theologian Maitham Al Bahrani is located in Mahooz....
and ended in Mahooz graveyard. Mourners carried Bahrain flags
Flag of Bahrain
The national flag of Bahrain consists of a white band on the left, separated from a red area on the right by five triangles that serve as a serrated line.Red is the traditional colour for flags of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf...
as well as black flags. They chanted "we scarify our blood and soul for you martyr" and "we scarify our blood and soul for you Bahrain". One of the mourners carried flowers. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Mansi gave a speech at the end of the funeral procession.
Local and international reactions
- In a rare national TVBahrain Radio and Television CorporationBahrain Radio and Television Corporation is a Corporation established in January 1993 to regulate visual and audio broadcasting in the Kingdom of Bahrain according to Amir decree . 96.5 fm Bahrain Radio Timings: ...
address on Tuesday, February 15, King Hamad expressed regret about the recent fatalities and announced a ministerial probe. He expressed regret about the deaths of Ali MushaimaDeath of Ali Abdulhadi MushaimaAli Abdulhadi Mushiama was a 21-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on the evening of Monday, 14 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back by bird pellet gunshots fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising...
and Fadhel Al-Matrook "There have sadly been two deaths. I express my deep condolences to their families," he said. "Everyone should know that I have assigned Deputy Prime Minister Jawad al-Urayyid to form a special committee to find out the reasons that led to such regrettable events," he added.
- Prime minister, Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifa praised the king's speech. "We regret the events which led to the death of two of my sons and express condolences to their families".
- Minister of Interior, Rashed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said in a televised speech on February 15, that they are reserving on those responsible for the death of Ali Abdulhadi MushaimaDeath of Ali Abdulhadi MushaimaAli Abdulhadi Mushiama was a 21-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on the evening of Monday, 14 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back by bird pellet gunshots fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising...
and Fadhel Al-Matrook and that initial investigations began. As well as full cooperation with the committee formed by Bahrain's king.
- Al WefaqAl WefaqAl Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, the country's biggest opposition party suspended their participation in the ParliamentCouncil of Representatives of BahrainThe Council of Representatives , sometimes translated as the "Chamber of Deputies", is the name given to the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain....
and threatened to resign, in protest at the brutal practices of the security forces, according to Matar Matar, Al Wefaq's MP (now former MP).
- The Independent block, the second largest in the parliament praised the king's speech and supported his decision to form an investigation committee. They also expressed condolences to families of victims.
- Nationalist Democratic Rally SocietyNationalist Democratic Rally SocietyNationalist Democratic Assembly , a political group attached to the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party in Bahrain. The organization is led by Rasul al-Jishi....
called for an open dialogue between the regime and civil society foundations. They emphasized their refusal and condemnation to the "brutal and repressive" methods that protests are dealt with by riot police which led to the death of 2 martyrs. They also expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs and victims.
- Progressive Democratic Tribune denounced the use of excessive force by security forces and called to respect the rights of people to protest. They expressed condolences to families of martyrs Ali Mushaima and Fadhel Al-Matrook who joined the martyrs convoy of our people in their journey to democracy. They Called for the formation of a national body which unites Shia and SunnaSunnaSunna may refer to:* Sunna , a British rock band from the early 2000s* Sunna , a Saxon chief* Kim Sunna, a Swedish professional ice hockey player* Sól , Germanic goddess/personification of the Sun in Old High German...
like the National Union CommitteeNational Union CommitteeThe National Union Committee was a nationalist reformist political organization formed in Bahrain in 1954 . The committee was formed by reformists in response to sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shia members of the population...
in the 1950s.
- Islamic Association party, a relatively small Shia society expressed condolences to citizens of Bahrain and the families of the victims. They said "At the same time that we emphasize our refusal to the excessive use of force against protesters, we stress the importance of keeping the peacefulness of the protests". and "we appeal to the committee formed by Bahrain's king to make a neutral and honest investigation and to accelerate publishing the results as well as punishing those responsible".
- United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in a statement. "The United States is very concerned by recent violence surrounding protests in Bahrain,". The spokesman said Washington had received confirmation that two protesters in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, had been killed and urged Bahrain to quickly follow up on its pledge to investigate. "The United States welcomes the government of Bahrain's statements that it will investigate these deaths, and that it will take legal action against any unjustified use of force by Bahraini security forces," Crowley said.
- Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
called the authorities "to immediately stop using excessive force against the protesters", "to set up an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the deaths of ‘Ali ‘Abdulhadi Mushaima’ and Fadhel ‘Ali Matrook, and ensure that any police found to have used excessive force are brought to justice." and " to respect and protect the right of freedom expression, movement and assembly in Bahrain".
See Also
- Death of Ali Abdulhadi MushaimaDeath of Ali Abdulhadi MushaimaAli Abdulhadi Mushiama was a 21-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on the evening of Monday, 14 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back by bird pellet gunshots fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising...
- Death of Ali Jawad al-SheikhDeath of Ali Jawad al-SheikhAli Jawad al-Sheikh 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...
- Death of Ahmed Jaber al-QattanDeath of Ahmed Jaber al-QattanAhmed Jaber Ali al-Qattan was a 16 or 17-year-old Bahraini teenager who died in a hospital on 6 October 2011 after reportedly being hit in chest, abdomen and upper limb by bird pellet gunshots fired by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising...
