The Bahraini Revolution

Bahrain Day of Rage

I don’t have a twitter account and have never been on to follow twitter, but I couldn’t resist sharing this with all of you. The following is collection of Tweets taken from Bahrain citizens. My friend and I were both glued to her twitter account reading the new updates. This is a great way to get a foundation for what’s going on here.

Emily and I are completely safe. At the moment the protests are occurring far from our city of Juffair. Tension has been building in this country, especially within the past ten years. We are safe, and will continue to be safe. Do not worry!
As said, the following is collection of tweets from Bahrain citizens:

“Turmoil in Bahrain will be a much trickier situation for the U.S. since it's home to the 5th Fleet and Naval Forces Central”

“Its spreading!!!! Bahrain Main Square Now in Control of Shia Protesters.”


“Bahrain protesters move to take over central square in the capital; set up tents Thousands Bahraini Shia Protesters in pearl roundabout / one hour ago.”


“Mother prepare my coffin, I am going out to free my country" - women are chanting



“Saw your news on TV and the government is behaving exactly like our ex-gov. in Egypt; God be with you - prayers for your freedom”

“Never felt this way be4. We have taken over a roundabout, and for the 1st time we feel free!”

“Crowd growing by the minute, amazing women presence”


“1000's of protesters in full control of lulu roundabout and close by flyover waving Bahrain flags no police presence”

“Thousands of Bahrain protesters take over Pearl Sq, rename it The Nation's Square, chant "No Sunnis, no Shiites. We are all Bahrainis.”


“Thousands still flocking to Pearl Roundabout, fountains turned on”

“Crowds growing angry, slogans demanding immediate release of all political prisoners”

“We have caught up with the martyrs procession, ppl joinin from all different directions. Helicopters above”

“9 injured and taken to hospital after being attacked by riot police today morning with no reason at all”


“Some people are scattering others standing their grounds. Riot Police still firing tear gas.”


“Too much tear gas. Ppl crying”

“Ppl takin refuge in salmaniya hospital”

“Bahraini martyr just been attacked with tear gas, many injured”

“Revolution 1000s in Salmaniyia Hosp started walking w/ coffin of the young man killed yesterday police fired tear gas “

“Bahrain shows how it's done: shoot a protester in the back. When he dies, teargas his funeral. Then teargas the hospital.”

“Stop killing Bahrain protesters who r fighting for basic rights! Stop killing them. We r all brothers + sisters! Stop stop stop.”

“Confirmed news: ali mushaima, 27, dead. shot in the back during peaceful protest.”

“Footage appears to show police shooting into crowd. Can anyone translate/verify? Rubber or live ammo?”

“Heading to the hospital. Where crowds are gathering. Why r our govs willing to kill us, is the throne worth a good mans life?”

“Darkness falls across the land, the midnight hour is close in hand, will Bahrain wake to a new day, or will it be Feb14 again?!”

“Bahrain can no longer upload the photos & they took earlier today, internet is slow and keeps on disconnecting”

“news that the protests will continue during the night and will include holding flags and using cars horns”


“Main entrances to Sitra blocked. Took a back turn, heard explosions and saw tens of riot police headed my way, hard to turn.”

“One eye is gone in Sitra protest. He is bleeding massively from his eye”

“Protesters although dispersed are now being hunted inside the village of noaim”

“Bahrain should go out to dinner/rent a movie & relax.”




“About 20 injured citizens with women have been taken by ambulance to Salmaniya Hospital”

“different protests in Bahrain, no burn tires no Molotoves in 3 main governorates just peaceful protests”

“Government spreads many rumors about this revolution one of them is they are all Shitte go out against Sunnie”

“Protesters are grouping again in front of Bahrain Mall for the 4th time to protest again”

“We just got attacked & I ran to take cover. Gov are chasing people inside villages to divide the protest.”

“Protesters chanting, "we are not rioting, we are demanding our rights"

“Teargas. Some people scared shitless incl myself. Gunfire made us all run back”

“U.S. deeply concerned with Bahrain violence.”
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This is a news article from Bahrain:
“MANAMA, Bahrain — Skirmishes broke out early Monday between heavily armed police and scattered groups of young people in villages outside of the capital, as this strategically important nation in the Persian Gulf braced to see if the wave of unrest which has toppled two presidents would reach its sun-scorched shores.

Shops stayed closed and shuttered, the streets were clear of cars amid a heavy police presence, and there were calls for universities to close in anticipation of what organizers here have called Bahrain’s own “Day of Rage,” a demonstration modeled after the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

“What happened in Egypt and Tunisia inspired us,” said Maryam al Khawaja, 23, with the Bahrain Center for Human Rights Monday. “For years, there has been hopelessness here. Are we ever really going to be able to change anything? With Egypt, there is a sense of empowerment, that the young people can do it.”

Ms. Khawaja was in the village of Nuwaidrat, on the island of Sitra, an industrial area outside the capital that is dotted with poor and crowded villages populated by Shiite Muslims who complain of discrimination in work, education and housing at the hands of the Sunni elite. The police blocked off the main road into the village and a helicopter hovered overhead.

In the early morning, as young men came out of the mosque, the two sides squared off. A large contingent of riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the young men darting in and out of the alleys. Women joined in too, taunting the police, and then running. One young man was injured and was taken away in an ambulance bleeding from his eyes, nose and ears.

Others were bruised and wounded when police aimed their tear gas launchers directly at those gathered and fired at close range.

“I want my rights,” said Adel Mal Alla, 31, as he carried a Bahraini flag in one hand and in the other, a slice of onion, to help ease the effects of tear gas. “My life is very difficult.”

This tiny nation of about 1 million is among the most politically volatile in the Gulf, and also one of the most strategically important for the United States. It is the base for the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet. But there has long been tension between the Sunni Muslim king, Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa, the royal family and ruling elites, and the approximately 70 percent of the local population which is Shiite. About half the residents of Bahrain are foreign workers.

For more than a year, Shiites in villages around the nation have held protests, burning tires in the road, demanding the release of dozens of political prisoners, including 25 being tried on charges plotting to overthrow the state, charges seen by the people here as part of a broad effort to silence the Shiite majority.
But the call to protest on Monday, coming on the heels of the momentous events elsewhere in the region, appeared to have rattled the leadership here into trying both enticement and fear. The king announced that the state was giving every Bahraini family the equivalent of $2,700 in cash and he filled the streets with heavily armed riot police.

Human rights workers were clearly concerned at the potential for violence. The king has built a security force here staffed almost exclusively with foreigners. So the police charged with putting down any protests are from Syria, Sudan, Yemen and other countries, drawn here by the offer of eventual citizenship.
As a result, there is no connection with the people, and therefore a greater likelihood they will not hesitate to open fire, said Mohammed Al-Maskati, head of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights.

By midday, the early skirmishes had ended. The helicopters continued to hover overhead and the streets were unusually quiet as everyone braced for what may lay ahead.
“The people in Egypt joined together, they were one hand,” said Mahmoud Ahmed, 20, after he darted away from the police in the morning. “We have learned a lot from there. Here we will have to be one hand until we realize our objectives, too.”
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It’s a weird mood here today. Some people very upset, others shrugging the protest off assuming it will amount to nothing. The teachers in my school are mostly Egyptian, and while they have been upset, sad, and concerned for loved ones, in the past month, they don’t see a need for a “revolution” in Bahrain.

I’m ashamed to say it, but what an amazing experience to be here during these protests. Forty years from now Em and I can both say, “We were there when the Middle East demanded democracy and representation.” I may even be able to teach it in my classroom.

More protests have been planned, but the government here is using extreme measures to prevent anything violent from occurring. Today I had three students, the rest are either at home with their families watching the news or actively participating themselves. No where else will you find a tribal mentality of taking care of one another the way it is done here. Amazing.

Em and I are frequently thinking, “I can’t believe we are here during this, and I can’t believe that it’s happening down the road.”

Much love to all.

Jake