Society shifted position to take advantage of political platform
by mahmood on 03/05/06 at 11:08 am
Al Wefaq Bahrain’s largest opposition society that spearheaded the boycott of the 2002 parliamentary elections attributed its decision to join mainstream politics to its consideration of the Council of Representatives as “a political platform that could be used optimally” and to “the local, regional and international developments and decisions”.
The society said more powers should be given to the Council of Representatives and that the constituencies should be re-drawn.
Al Wefaq has officially reversed its position and will take part in the polls slated for later this year.
The announcement was made shortly after an extraordinary meeting of Al Wefaq’s political bureau on Monday, which approved the participation by 20 votes to 5.
“The vote outcome was not really in doubt and only one member was vehemently against the participation,” a society insider yesterday told Gulf News.
“Four members wanted a conditional participation while five of the 30-member bureau did not attend the meeting,” the source said.
“The extraordinary meeting discussed the positive and negative aspects of a possible participation and eventually decided for an active presence within the Council of Representatives,” said Al Wefaq spokesman Faheem Abdullah.
Al Wefaq a conglomeration of mainly Shiite adherents in 2002 led Nationalist Democratic Action Society, the Nationalist Democratic Rally Society and the Islamic Action Society to boycott the parliamentary elections to press for more constitutional reforms.
Split
A decision last year by Al Wefaq to register under a new Law of Political Societies amid indications that it would participate in the parliamentary polls has led to a split and the formation of Haq Society by breakaway members. In a statement sent to Gulf News, Al Wefaq said it would seek to redraw the constituencies, redistribute the budgets allocated to the ministries, consolidate public freedoms and reform negative clauses
“We will oppose the promulgation of the anti-terror and the society laws and will impose equal opportunities in employment and promotion,” the statement said. But no reference was made to the family law, at the centre of a deep controversy between women rights activists and conservative religious leaders.
Opposition
Society was established in 2001
– Al Wefaq, Bahrain’s largest opposition society in Bahrain, claims a membership of 80,000 people, but elections last October for the society’s legislation bureau indicated that its active members number about 1,500.
– Al Wefaq was established on November 7, 2001 by 117 founders.
– Secretary-General Shaikh Ali Salman is the most prominent figure in the society while Shaikh Eisa Qasim is widely regarded as its spiritual leader.
Political programme
—-According to its political programme, Al Wefaq will redraw the electoral constituencies which it says are unfair and not genuinely representative.
—-It will redistribute the budgets allocated to the ministries, pledging more funds to service ministries. It will work on consolidating public freedoms and reforming the clauses which it says are negative in the penal, naturalisation, political associations and press laws.
Women’s participation
—-Al Wefaq is divided over the participation of women in municipal elections, with opponents arguing that the nature of the assignments did not fit with women’s dispositions and temperament.
—-Al Wefaq said it would support women in the parliamentary elections, but insisted that they needed to be well-educated and popular in the constituencies where they would run.
Morality issues
—-Al Wefaq has supported calls to segregate male and female students at the University of Bahrain. It opposed the display of lingerie mannequins and underwear hanging on clothes lines.
Family law
—-Al Wefaq in October 2005 said neither elected MPs nor the government had the authority to draft a family law because they could abuse Islamic precepts.
—-Al Wefaq said only senior religious leaders could legislate on issues related to women and families.
Gulf News :: Habib Toumi :: 3 May ‘06
