Zakariya Rashid Hassan al-Ashiri

Zakariya Rashid Hassan Al-Ashiri was born in the village of Al-Dair in 1971, where he reported and edited his internet website. ==Career==

Zakariya worked as an editor and blogger for the local news website which is named after his home village. He regularly reported on human rights, business, culture, and politics. The website he worked for was named Al-Dair after his home village. ==Background==

The Bahraini uprising (2011–present), a series of protests to gain greater political freedom, began in February 2011. Protesters set up camp at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama and continued until March. After a month, the Bahraini government sent in troops and police forces from the Gulf Cooperation Council while the king of Bahrain declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency. The protests continued for several months after. Police forces raided Shia homes, carried out beatings at checkpoints, and denied those in need of medical attention. As a result, nearly 800 people were arrested and a total of four were reported dead while in government custody. ==Death==

On April 2, 2011, Al-Ashiri was arrested and charged with providing false news, inciting hatred towards the regime and calling for an overthrow of the government. On April 9, 2011, just seven days after his arrest, Al-Ashiri was reported dead while in government custody under mysterious circumstances. ==Investigation==

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) conducted an investigation into deaths and torture claims among other civil rights abuses committed during the protests. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry released its report 23 November 2011, and in the report, Al-Ashiri's case (no. 24) was investigated and classified under "Deaths Caused by Torture." The Commission's fact finding documents confirmed that Al-Ashiri did have bruises over his body from torture and died while at the Dry Dock Detention Centre and in custody of the Ministry of Interior. A witness who was in detention with him said Al-Ashiri was beaten and he heard a guard say, "He is dead," at which point those in the same cell were moved. ==Reactions==

In response to his death, the Newseum in Washington, D.C., added his name along with other journalists who have died while reporting to the Journalists Memorial Wall. ==References==