0Photo: Trevor Lloyd
In 2011, the Pearl Roundabout, a 300-foot sculpture at the center of Pearl Square in Bahrain, was demolished. The sculpture was a stone pearl held by six tall arches, which symbolized the six gulf states that once thrived on the pearl trade rather than oil. The site had been a gathering place for pro-democratic protesters who demanded political freedom and equality for the majority Shia population, which was under rule by the monarchy of Hamad
bin Isa Al Khalifa. The Pearl Roundabout’s destruction followed the brutal massacre of protestors and activists at the hands of the government. Despite the government’s attempt to censor all signs of political dissidence, the location’s symbolism has not been erased in public memory.
