Death of Ali Jawad al-Sheikh
Death
Death
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A number of protesters, including Isa Hassan, Ali's uncle, took part in a demonstration in [Sitra](/wiki/Sitra "Sitra"), [Bahrain](/wiki/Bahrain "Bahrain") on 31 August just after [morning prayers](/wiki/Fajr "Fajr"). They stated that they were "confronted by the police, who fired tear gas at them from roughly 20 feet away" and causing Ali Jawad al\-Sheikh's death. In an interview with the *[Associated Press](/wiki/Associated_Press "Associated Press")*, Isa explained that "they are supposed to lob the canisters of gas, not shoot them at people. Police used it as a weapon."

After his death, Ali's body was removed from the hospital and moved to the morgue, where the [Interior ministry](/wiki/Ministry_of_the_Interior_%28Bahrain%29 "Ministry of the Interior (Bahrain)") conducted an [autopsy](/wiki/Autopsy "Autopsy") and compiled a forensic report based on the results. Investigators from the [Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry](/wiki/Bahrain_Independent_Commission_of_Inquiry "Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry") were present during the autopsy, and compiled their own forensic report. In the afternoon, Osama al\-Asfoor, the [head of public prosecution](/wiki/Director_of_Public_Prosecutions "Director of Public Prosecutions"), stated that the autopsy had shown that "Ali had died of injuries to the back of his neck" and that "the boy had injuries under his chin and bruises on his face, hand, knees and pelvic area." However, he also added that a "blood examination showed no effects of tear gas exposure." The Interior ministry's forensic report concluded that Ali's injuries were inconsistent with an impact from a tear gas canister, as the markings on his neck were too large. The Commission's forensic report concluded that Ali's injuries were consistent with an impact from an unexploded tear gas canister fired at short range.


Can the use of tear gas as a weapon be justified in certain situations?