Ali al-Ghanmi

Bahraini former policeman (born 1987)

Ali al-Ghanmi

Ali al-Ghanmi joining protests

Born| c. 1987
Nationality| Bahraini
Occupation| Police officer
Known for| Defection from police during 2011 Bahraini uprising

Ali Jassim al-Ghanmi[1] (Arabic: علي جاسم الغانمي) (born c. 1987)[2] is a Bahraini former policeman who came to public attention for leaving his post and joining protesters in February 2011 of the Bahraini uprising (2011–present). On 9 January 2012, he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment.[2]

## Pearl Roundabout incident

[edit]

In February 2011, large-scale pro-democracy protests began in Bahrain as part of the international Arab Spring. The center of the protests was Pearl Roundabout in Manama, which protesters compared to Tahrir Square in the recent Egyptian revolution.[3] The roundabout saw several battles between protesters and police, including a 17 February pre-dawn raid that killed four protesters[4] and injured one hundred more.[2] After seeing the violence, al-Ghanmi left his guard post and joined the crowd, announcing to them that he could no longer support "a killer institution".[2] The crowd hoisted him on their shoulders, and al-Ghanmi became an immediate "mini-celebrity" of the protest movement.[5]

In the month that followed, al-Ghanmi criticized Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, at a series of rallies. According to an activist interviewed by BBC News, approximately two hundred police followed al-Ghanmi's example and defected, almost all of whom were also later arrested.[2] Human Rights First described him as a hero of the Arab Spring for his actions during the protests.[5]

## Arrest and trial

[edit]

In March 2011, the government of Bahrain brought Gulf Co-operation Council troops led by Saudi Arabian forces into the country to battle the protesters,[2] and the protesters were dislodged from the Pearl Roundabout.[5] Al-Ghanmi went into hiding to avoid the crackdown.[2] His family alleged that they were threatened in an effort to make them reveal his whereabouts.[5] Al-Ghanmi was discovered and arrested on 4 May.[5]

From September 2011 to January 2012, al-Ghanmi was held in solitary confinement,[2] allegedly for shouting "Down, down, Hamad" in the prison yard.[5] In December 2011, al-Ghanmi's lawyer alleged that al-Ghanmi had been subject to insults, abuse, and beatings by his guards.[6]

On 9 January 2012, al-Ghanmi was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment by a military court for having defected from the police: two years for "disturbing the peace", three years for "incitement to hatred against the government", and seven and a half years for his going absent without leave and his participation in the rallies.[2][7]

## Responses

[edit]

Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main opposition party, said that al-Ghanmi arrest is "yet another prove that the government only recognizes Bassiouni Report when it comes to official statements for media consumption".[8]

## Personal life

[edit]

Al-Ghanmi is married and has a daughter.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Bahrain: Sectarian cleansing campaign to the security institutions". Bahrain Center for Human Rights. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Bahrain unrest: policeman jailed for joining protests". BBC News. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
3. ^ "Thousands gather at Bahrain's 'Tahrir Square'". Channel 4 News. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
4. ^ "Bahrain deploys army after raid", Al Jazeera English, 17 February 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
5. ^ a b c d e f g Brian Dooley (4 November 2011). "In Praise of a Bahraini Police Officer". Human Rights First. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
6. ^ المحامية ريم خلف تشكو تعرض الغانمي لسوء المعاملة. Al Wasat (in Arabic). 19 December 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
7. ^ "Bahrainis protest at UN office in Manama". The Tehran Times. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-01-26. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
8. ^ ""الوفاق": الحكم على الشرطي الغانمي مصداق على عدم اعتراف الحكومة بتقرير بسيوني" Archived 2012-01-21 at the Wayback Machine (in Arabic). Bahrain Mirror. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.

* v
* t
* e

2011 Bahraini uprising

* Part of the Arab Spring

Timelines|

* Feb–Mar 2011
* Apr–Jun 2011
* Jul–Dec 2011
* Jan–Aug 2012
* Sept–Dec 2012

Events|

* Day of Rage
* Bloody Thursday
* March of loyalty to martyrs
* Saudi Intervention
* Bahrain national dialogue
* Health worker trials
* 2012 Grand Prix (protests)
* 2012 Eker bombing
* Siege of Eker
* Arrest of Ali Hasan
* Bahrain Tamarod

Opposition|

| Islamist|

* Al Wefaq
* Bahrain Freedom Movement
* Islamic Action Society

|

Secular|

* Haq Movement
* National Democratic Action Society
* Nationalist Democratic Rally Society
* Progressive Democratic Tribune

Youth|

* February 14 Youth Coalition
* Shabeeba Society of Bahrain

People|

| Activists|

* Abdulhadi al-Khawaja
* Ali Abdulemam
* Ali al-Ghanmi
* Ayat Al-Qurmezi
* Fadhila Mubarak
* Hussain Jawad
* Lamees Dhaif
* Maryam al-Khawaja
* Mohamed Albuflasa
* Mohammed al-Maskati
* Mohammed al-Tajer
* Mahmood Al-Yousif
* Naser al-Raas
* Naji Fateel
* Nabeel Rajab
* Zainab al-Khawaja
* Bahrain Thirteen

|

Opposition|

* Abdulwahab Hussain
* Ali Salman
* Hasan Mushaima
* Munira Fakhro
* Ibrahim Sharif
* Saeed al-Shehabi
* Sheikh Isa Qassim
* Bahrain Thirteen

Government|

* Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (King)
* Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifa (Prime Minister)
* Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Crown Prince)
* Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa (Foreign minister)

Impact|

* International reactions
* Torture
* Destruction of Shia mosques
* 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix

| Casualties|

* Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima
* Fadhel Al-Matrook
* Abdulredha Buhmaid
* Zakariya Rashid Hassan al-Ashiri
* Karim Fakhrawi
* Ali Jawad al-Sheikh
* Ahmed Jaber al-Qattan
* Mohammed Mushaima

|

Human Rights
reports|

* Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (International figures appointed by King)
* Human Price of Freedom and Justice (Local NGOs)

Background|

* 1990s uprising in Bahrain
* Al Bandar report
* Corruption in Bahrain
* History of Bahrain
* Human rights in Bahrain
* Manama incident
* Torture in Bahrain

Other|

* Qorvis
* Bahrain American Council
* Pearl Roundabout
* Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark

* Category
* Commons

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template