The Bahraini Uprising, 4 Years Later

25 January 2015 | 20:13 Code : 1943579 Latest Headlines Photo Essay

In early 2011, inspired by the widespread "Arab Spring" movements in countries across the Middle East, opposition groups in the small island nation of Bahrain rose up in a series of protests against the ruling Al Khalifa family.

Within months, most of the demonstrations were violently broken up by government forces. Dozens of protesters were killed and hundreds were jailed. In the four years since, the pro-democracy movement has grown quieter but never died away. Jailed opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman awaits trial next week for "promoting political change using illegal forceful means and threats." Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab was just sentenced to six months in prison for "insulting a public institution" in a message sent out on Twitter. The tweet insinuated that Bahrain's armed forces served as ideological incubators for the jihadist ideals promoted by ISIS.

On the street, demonstrations continue sporadically, sometimes devolving into violent clashes—just yesterday, an activist was apparently shot in the face by security forces while protesting, an incident caught on video. Gathered here are images of Bahrain's continued uprising, taken over the past year.

A protester, holding a Bahraini flag, confronts a riot police armored personnel carrier in an attempt to stop it from entering the village of Bilad Al Qadeem, south of Manama, on January 6.

Bahraini men take part in a protest against the arrest of Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Shiite opposition movement Al-Wefaq on January 9 in the village of Karzakan, South of Manama.

A Bahraini anti-government protester watches clashes between protesters and police firing tear gas and shotguns Tuesday, January 20, in Bilad al-Qadeem, Bahrain.

A Bahraini protester lies in a house after being wounded in clashes with riot police following a demonstration against the arrest of Sheikh Ali Salman (on the poster).

Bahraini protesters march during a demonstration against the arrest of Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Shiite opposition movement al-Wefaq, in Salman's home village of Bilad al-Qadeem, on the outskirts of the capital Manama, on January 16

Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab gestures at his home in the village of Bani Jamrah, West of Manama, on November 2, 2014 upon his release on bail.

A man rides his bicycle past graffiti with stenciled images of people killed during Bahrain's pro-democracy uprising that began in February 2011 in the northern village of Diraz, Bahrain, on August 4, 2014.

Bahraini women shout slogans during clashes with and riot police following a protest condemning the death of Ahmed Al-Mosajen and Ali Abbas, in the village of Al-Maqsha, west of Manama, on April 25, 2014.

Bahrain's Al-Wefaq opposition group leader Sheikh Ali Salman, during a rally against the upcoming parliamentary election in the village of Zinj, south of Manama, on November 20, 2014.

Bahraini anti-government protesters clash with riot police firing tear gas during clashes in Bilad Al Qadeem, Bahrain, a suburb of Manama, on January 6.

An anti-government protester looks toward riot police during clashes after the funeral procession of Ali Abbas and Ahmed Al Mesjen, two who died when their car exploded in the village of Maqsha west of Manama, on April 22, 2014.

Bahraini anti-government protesters clash with riot police firing tear gas and shotguns in Bilad al-Qadeem, Bahrain, on January 16.

A Bahraini anti-government protester holding petrol bombs confronts riot police firing tear gas and shotguns during clashes in Diraz, Bahrain on January 29, 2014.

Bahraini protesters look at a police vehicle splattered with paint bombs during a confrontation with police after a demonstration against the arrest of Sheikh Ali Salman,

Bahrainis, some of them waving flags, chant anti-government slogans and hold up signs urging freedom for jailed doctors, political leaders and others during a march in Jidhafs, Bahrain, on August 23, 2014.

A Bahraini girl takes part in an anti-government protest in solidarity with jailed activists and in celebration of Mother's day in the village of Abu Saiba, west of Manama, on March 21, 2014.

Bahrainis attend a protest against the arrest of the head of the banned Shiite opposition movement Al-Wefaq, Sheikh Ali Salman on December 31, 2014 in Sanabis, west of Manama.

A Bahraini mourner prays while touching the body shroud of Jawad al Haawi, 49, in Sitra, Bahrain, on March 18, 2014.

Young Bahraini women mourn during the funeral of Sayed Mahmud Sayed Mohsin in the village of Sitra, south of the capital Manama, on May 24, 2014. Mohsin, 15, was reportedly shot dead by security forces during an opposition protest three days earlier.

Hundreds of Bahrainis head to the streets for an unauthorized flash march to show their support for an opposition-called boycott of upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections after midday prayers in Diraz, Bahrain, on November 21, 2014.

Bahraini anti-government protesters armed with petrol bombs watch riot police in the distance during clashes in Sanabis, Bahrain, a suburb of the capital Manama, on October 18, 2014.

Riot police fire tear gas from behind barricades that came under attack by anti-government protesters throwing petrol bombs during clashes in Sitra, Bahrain, on May 27, 2014.

Riot police fire teargas to disperse anti-government protesters during clashes after the funeral procession of Ali Abbas and Ahmed Al Mesjen who died when their car exploded in the village of Maqsha on April 22, 2014.

A Bahraini protestor flashes a laser during clashes between protesters and riot police following a protest to demand more rights and against the ruling regime, late on July 10, 2014 in the village of Sanabis.

Bahraini police help an injured comrade after a bomb exploded during clashes between protesters and security forces on March 3, 2014 in the village of Daih, west of the capital Manama.

Anti-government protesters carrying Bahraini flags and photos of Shi'ite scholar Isa Qassim march during an anti-government rally organized by main opposition group al-Wefaq in Budaiya, west of Manama, on January 3, 2014.

Bahraini Human Rights Activist, Nabeel Rajab (center) poses with his family and supporters a day before being sentenced to six months in jail over remarks critical of the state, at his home in Budaiya west of Manama, on January 19.

A masked Bahraini anti-government protester carrying a flag holds a tear gas canister he is preparing to throw back toward police who fired it during clashes in Bilad Al Qadeem, Bahrain, on January 3.