The following is an incomplete timeline of events that followed the Bahraini uprising of 2011 from January to August 2012. This phase saw the first anniversary protest of the Bahraini uprising, the largest demonstrations in the history, and the escalation of violent clashes between youths and security forces.

Timeline

January 2012

1 January

At the Sitra funeral of a 15-year-old boy named Sayed Hashim Saeed allegedly killed by security forces the day before, thousands marched to decry the royal government of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. They were met by riot police, who fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades at the demonstrators, some of whom hurled Molotov cocktails back at police. Meanwhile, Bahrain's new chief of police said that the Community Police force, established in 2005, would recruit 500 new officers "from all sections of Bahrain society." Bahrain's Community Police officers only patrol the areas they are recruited from, and do not carry weapons, although they have arrest powers. The government touts the new recruitment drive as progress towards addressing a recommendation by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry to urgently establish and vigorously implement "a programme for the integration into the security forces of personnel from all the communities in Bahrain."

6 January

On 6 January, while leading a peaceful nighttime protest in the Fareeq el-Makharqa district of Manama, prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab was hospitalized and briefly detained after allegedly being beaten by riot police. Hundreds of people participated in the protest, calling for the release of political detainees and the downfall of the King. Another participant, Zainab Alkhawaja, was pepper-sprayed by police, and a member of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights was injured by a stun grenade in his leg.

In an interview with Al Jazeera English, Rajab said he and other protesters entered nearby houses to escape police who ran towards the crowd. Rajab said that around half an hour later, he left the house and was attacked by Jordanian, Syrian, and Pakistani policemen as he walked toward his car. He claims that they continued beating him even after he identified himself: "They said, 'Are you Nabeel Rajab?' I said 'Yes', then they beat me more." Rajab said that a Bahraini officer approached and stopped the beating. The officer then escorted Rajab to an ambulance. According to a report by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, activists were prohibited from visiting Rajab in the hospital, and police pushed Rajab's son and took his phone when he tried to take a picture of Rajab. Security forces also allegedly fired tear gas to disperse a gathering in solidarity with Rajab outside of Rajab's home.

Rajab's lawyer said that Rajab suffered "serious facial injuries" after being "brutally" beaten by police all over his body, especially his back and face. The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights said that Rajab had difficulty walking and was in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior's official Twitter account reported that police found Rajab "lying on the ground." Some Twitter users began using the hashtag #mostal8y, a transliteration of the Arabic word for "lying down," to poke fun at the Ministry's explanation. Later, the Ministry published a video with no audio showing Rajab after the alleged beating.

The Ministry released the results of a full investigation into the incident on 8 February 2012. The investigation concluded that Rajab's injuries comprised two superficial bruises: one on his right cheek and one on his left thigh. The investigation found no evidence to suggest how these injuries were sustained, but concluded that the injuries were inconsistent with "a severe beating by a group of officers for three or four minutes." The investigation recommended disciplinary action for an officer who voluntarily came forward and admitted to pepper-spraying Zainab Alkhawaja with insufficient justification. Along with the results of the investigation, the Ministry released hospital images of Rajab, and a longer video of the protest, with audio. The video shows Nabeel Rajab after the alleged beating, and also shows an officer pepper-spraying Zainab Alkhawaja.

Opposition political parties including Al Wefaq and the National Democratic Action Society, as well as human rights organizations, condemned the alleged attack. US officials also expressed their concern, and urged the government to conduct an investigation.

8 January Richard Sollom, deputy director of Physicians for Human Rights, was denied entrance into Bahrain. Sollom held a valid passport and visa and was traveling to Bahrain to witness the appellate trial of the 20 Bahraini medics who were sentenced for treating protesters."Bahrain eyes reforms to boost Parliament's powers". Reuters. 8 January 2011.Megan Prock. "PHR Condemns Bahraini Authorities' Denial of Entrance to PHR Deputy Director on Eve of Doctors' Trial". Physicians for Human Rights. 8 January 2011.

12 January

Bahraini authorities stated that they would rebuild 12 Shiite mosques they had demolished in April 2011. The work seeks to address allegations of abuses raised by an independent report on the uprising by the country's Shiite minority for greater rights. As part of the widespread crackdowns, Bahraini authorities razed Shiite mosques they claimed were built illegally or had other violations.

15 January

On 15 January King Hamad made a televised speech stating that he would issue decrees to introduce constitutional changes, such as granting parliament the right to question ministers and approve the appointed cabinet. He said that, “our loyal people have demonstrated that their will, despite all events, is devoted to continuing the reform project... Today we will continue this march with anyone who has genuine patriotic desire for further progress.”

“This won’t impact the situation, rather it could make things worse, reaffirming the idea that genuine reform is impossible for this regime,” said Matar Matar, a member of al-Wefaq, the main opposition group. Opposition groups say announcements of apparently conciliatory gestures coincide with harsh treatment of protesters, who continue to confront security forces in clashes largely confined to Shia villages. “The contradiction between promises and attacks on the ground in Bahrain is too much, and the international community is silent about this,” said Mr Matar.

21 January

On 21 January Bahraini police fired tear gas to break up a march by thousands of Shi'ites mourning a man whom activists said was killed in custody but officials said had drowned. Dozens of pro-government Sunni militants attacked the mourners, as riot police tried to break up the clashes and keep the two sides apart in Muharraq, a town north of the capital Manama.

Amateur video was posted to YouTube that appeared to show individuals throwing Molotov cocktails at policemen in Ekir. Security forces retreated while firing tear gas at the attackers.

22 January

A girl's elementary school in the west of Bahrain was targeted by arsonists, causing a fire in the electricity room. This was the 25th attack on an educational facility in the past four months. The perpetrators of the crime are unknown.

24 January

The US Embassy in Bahrain announced that it was relocating some of its personnel due to a “recent increase in violent demonstrations along the Budaiya Highway corridor has led to traffic disruptions, effectively restricting travel for those living in the area”, according to the State Department. The State Department found no signs that Americans are being "targeted directly" but cited "isolated examples of anti-US sentiment" taking place on the streets while "US flags have occasionally been burned" during protests.

Judges at the High Criminal Appeals Court acquitted 11 men previously jailed in connection with the Bahraini uprising due to a lack of evidence. A twelfth man, who holds a Canadian passport, was not among those cleared since he failed to appear in court for the verdict. It is understood he was previously released from custody due to health problems and was being treated in hospital.

25 January

In a statement, February 14 Youth Coalition condemned "international community silence and double-standard approach over the countless crimes and violations which have been committed by the regime in Bahrain and the invading Saudi Arabia forces under disguise of GCC Peninsula Shield." They said. "This silence has been interpreted by the regime in Bahrain as an approval to use brutal methods to crush the peaceful revolution and crackdown on political activists. Our people have had enough and it is time for us to assert to our right for self-defense and give up on a community that has proven it acts only when its selfish interests are threatened. Therefore, we hold the international community fully responsible for any dangerous escalation that might happen in the future".

Opposition activist claimed that 3 people died this day. Saeed Ali Hassan Al-Sikry (65 years) allegedly died as a result of inhaling tear gas fired by security forces the last night. Abbas Jaffaar al-Sheikh (25 years) allegedly died in hospital after being hospitalized for 2 months due to sustaining birdshot and rubber pullets injuries as well as inhaling tear gas. And Muntather Saeed Fakhar (37) who was allegedly arrested after a car accident with police and tortured in Hoora police station. General Directorate of Traffic said that Muntather died in hospital after sustaining injuries as a result of car accident with security forces. They claimed he had high percentage of alcohol and anesthetic drugs in his blood, blaming him for the accident.

Security forces attacked with tear gas and stun grenades a protest in Manama organised by opposition parties. Authorities blocked most routes to Manama which led to many traffic jams.

26 January

Opposition groups claimed that Mohammed Ebrahim Ya'agob (17 years) died in the early hours of 26 January as a result of torture in police custody after they drove over and arrested him the earlier day in Sitra A brief statement by the Interior Ministry says public prosecutors are investigating the death. It gave no further details on the death, but said the detainee was hospitalized and accused of “vandalism” during widespread demonstrations on Wednesday. Later, the ministry announced that Mohammed which the statement called a "rioter" died of natural causes at Salmaniya Medical Complex. "As soon as Yagoub was arrested he stated that he suffered from Sickle Cell Anemia. Police immediately called an ambulance which took him to a hospital. He was provided with all necessary and appropriate medical care but he passed away as a result of his disease."

The New York Times reported Western intelligence officials expressing concern that Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi Shiite politician, was working with the leading opposition group in Bahrain, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society. A French intelligence official said, “When we hear that some members of the opposition are in touch with Hezbollah or with shady figures like the Iraqi Ahmed Chalabi, of whom we think he is acting on behalf of Iran, then this worries us”. The connection between Chalabi and Al Wefaq was acknowledged by Jawad Fairooz, secretary general of Wefaq and a former member of Parliament in Bahrain. Fairooz said, “Mr Chalabi has helped us with contacts in Washington like other people have done and we thank them”.

29 January Bahrain's Cabinet said on 29 January that it plans to draft a law that would impose a sentence of as long as 15 years in jail on protesters who assault policemen. Minister of Cabinet Affairs Kamal Mohammed said the government expressed “deep concern” over the increasing violence during unauthorized protests lately, according to state-run news agency BNA.