Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
THEY are mothers, daughters, sisters and wives united by a single purpose … to protect the Kingdom of Bahrain.
There are no cosy desk jobs for these brave police officers. They are often on the front line trying their upmost to keep peace and order on city streets and in the surrounding villages.
But these are testing times when even legal opposition rallies can quickly spiral out of control and road-blocking tyre-burning escapades occur across the island on an almost daily basis.
Despite the obvious dangers confronting law enforcers the policewomen are determined to play a role in attempting to calm tense situations and tackle civil disorder.
Amongst the officers is Bahraini Fatima Ali, 25, from Riffa, who said: “I joined the police to defend my kingdom because I love Bahrain and will not let anything harm it. It really doesn’t matter where I’m told to go; I just want to do what is right.”
Fatima continued: “My job is to handle and control unauthorised marches involving women. We are always prepared before we head out to a protest as plans and strategies are put into place.
“Am I scared to be on the front line? No. Why should I be scared?
“We have undergone rigorous training to prepare us for anything and everything that could come our way. To be a policewoman you have to be fit. I train and work out as much as possible.
“You must be ready, mentally and emotionally, while also having the courage, the will and the determination to do your job to the best of your ability.
“While in training, the departments select the best-of-the-best for different roles. So when they asked me to join the front line I was ready.
“During the 2011 civil unrest I must admit I did have mixed emotions. My adrenalin was pumping but I was also a little afraid because at that time we didn’t know what to expect. But I pushed that feeling aside and got my ‘game face’ on and that’s when the training took over. I wanted to go down there and protect Bahrain. That is all I could think of. I love Bahrain and that’s why I am here.
“They might try to go out into the streets and misbehave but we will be there before they even get the chance to act out of order.
“Some women co-operate with us when we ask them to leave and others don’t even give us a chance to say anything because when they see us coming they leave.”
There was an opposition outcry following the release of a photograph which allegedly showed policemen involved in the arrest of female protesters during the height of the unrest. However, Fatima denied the allegations and stressed that only female officers are allowed to intervene with female protesters.
She said: “There was a picture that went out in the press of Bahraini women being handled by policemen. The thing is ... they weren’t policemen. The officers in the picture were us! Policewomen wear similar uniforms and headgear and the media could not tell us apart.
“At times I’ve thought perhaps we should wear a different coloured helmet, but at the end of the day we all want the same thing and that is to maintain peace and order.”
Fatima has a one-year-old daughter called Reem. She is married to Mohammed, 25, a member of the Bahrain Defence Force and the couple recently announced the exciting news that another baby is on the way.
Despite being in the early stages of pregnancy, Fatima feels confident in her abilities and her colleagues to continue the pressing work at hand. She is also determined to return to work after maternity leave.
“My husband is more than OK with me being on the front line. He knows what my job entails and is confident of my abilities. My parents do get worried though, especially after the unrest in 2011.
“They were scared for me; then again all parents would in that situation. Also, I am the youngest in my family so that could play a factor but I do reassure them and communicate with them to set their minds at ease.
“Besides, our department is very supportive and understanding of our family situations. My parents are used to it now as they see what I can do. When I told them I wanted to be a policewoman they didn’t argue or try to stop me. They have always been supportive.”
Fatima says as a child she always dreamed of becoming a police officer. She underwent vigorous training at the Royal Academy of Police in Askar. The actual number of policewomen currently serving in the country is classified.
