Nationality Bahraini Name Karim Fakhrawi Religion Shia Islam | Notable credit(s) Al-Wasat Ethnicity Persian (Ajam) | |
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Born 1962 Bahrain Occupation Publisher, bookstore owner, newspaper owner Died April 12, 2011, Manama, Bahrain | ||
Karim Fakhrawi, also known as Abdulkarim Ali Ahmed Fakhrawi, (1962? – 12 April 2011) was the co-founder of Al-Wasat, considered one of the more popular newspapers in Bahrain by winning numerous awards. He died while in the custody of Bahraini officials under mysterious circumstances. The second professional media worker to die during the Bahraini uprising, he was one of three journalists killed.
Contents
Personal
Karim Fakhrawi was a Persian Shi'ite Muslim (Ajam) who lived in Manama. He was a member of an opposition group Al-Wefaq in the Bahrain political uprising. He co-founded Al-Wasat in 2002, and it was in the process of being banned by the Bahraini government for "trying to harm Bahrain’s stability and security and disseminating false information that undermined the country’s international image and reputation."
Career
Karim Fakhrawi was one of the co-founders of a popular independent newspaper Al-Wasat. It is the only independent newspaper in Bahrain. Al-Wasat has won multiple awards, such as the UNICEF regional award for electronic media, and it is the 15th strongest MENA newspaper on the internet, according to Forbes Middle East. Fakhrawi was a local book publisher, as well as owner of one of the biggest bookstores in Bahrain. He was a member of Al-Wefaq, the largest opposition political party in Bahrain.
Death
Fakhrawi was taken into custody April 5, 2011 when he was going to complain that police were threatening to demolish his home. He was accused of "deliberate news fabrication and falsification" by the Bahraini authorities, and the government also said it would file charges against three employees as well as deporting two others. Fakhrawi was in police custody for one week before his death and was one of many who died while in the custody of the local police. Bahraini police told the media that Karim died of kidney failure, but photos later leaked revealing bruises and indicating torture and police brutality. The evidence was discovered in the process of burial, when his clothes were removed and his torture marks were documented and released.
Context
In February 2011, the people of Bahrain started to protest in a wave known as the Arab Spring. The nationwide uprising in Bahrain is between the majority Shi'ite Muslims and some Sunni Muslims against the minority Sunni government. Since February 15, 2011, more than 80 anti-government protesters there have died, including four protesters that were in police custody at the time of their deaths. The anti-government political party, Al-Wefaq has listed 453 protesters as apprehended, but a spokesperson for the group thinks the number is up towards 600 people arrested by the government.
Impact
Zakariya Rashid Hassan al-Ashiri was the first to die in the uprising. Fakhrawi was the second journalist and the fourth person to die in government custody. In response to the two journalists who died, Irina Bokova, who is director-general of UNESCO, called for an investigation looking into the death. One year later, Ahmed Ismail Hassan, who was a citizen journalist uploading videos, was shot while taking videos of a protest and died.
Reactions
Fakhrawi's body was taken to the Hoora district to be buried when his clothes were removed for cleansing and his torture marks discovered. Videos and pictures documenting his wounds from torture were posted to the internet.