Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
this person surrounded by a red circle in these pictures?”; and “Why did you
participate in this march?”
1470. According to witness testimony provided to the Commission by
University of Bahrain students 728 and a report compiled by student
representatives at Bahrain Polytechnic, 729 when being investigated students
were asked about their political participation in protests at the University of
Bahrain on 13 March, and also about their general political activity and
opinions. Photographs, typically obtained from social media sites, were used
against students during these investigations. Photographs included those of
students participating in protests inside and outside the university campus.
Most photographs simply pictured students standing in a crowd. Students
were also asked to identify fellow students in photographs. Students were
questioned about things they had written on social media sites and groups they
had joined or expressed affinity with (“liked”) on Facebook.
1471. The University of Bahrain reported to the Commission that its
investigation committee had collected evidence related to the participation of
students in the events and their breach of university rules and regulations. The
university referred to article 2 of the Regulations of Student Misconduct for
University of Bahrain Students issued in its 2006 handbook as a basis for
disciplining students, which provides that:
Any breach of Laws, Regulations, Resolutions and University
traditions shall be considered a Professional Violation, in
particular:
a. Acts contrary to the regulations of the University, or the
college or the department or the office or University
installations.
b. Deliberate absence of lectures, interruption of study, or
instigation thereof.
c. Absence, without justified reasons, to perform work, or
any other academic activities which the University
Regulations determine to be promptly maintained.
d. Cheating, or attempt thereof, or assisting the same during
exams or researches and graduation projects, and
Postgraduate theses, or disruption of the exams
Regulations and tranquility required therein.
e. Violating the order required during lectures and other
academic activities in the University, or to any
employees, or students thereof.
728 Commission investigators met with 15 student leaders representing the University of
Bahrain and Bahrain Polytechnic on 14 August 2011. These students submitted witness
statements and reports on behalf of the suspended and expelled students.
729 Report prepared by student leaders at Bahrain Polytechnic, Bahrain Polytechnic Expels
Students, 15 August 2011. This report compiled details of the disciplinary action taken against
students at Bahrain Polytechnic.
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