Bahraini.TV

Thousands Protest After Top Shia Cleric Accused Of Inciting Hatred

by mahmood on 20/06/08 at 7:25 am · email  · print  

Manama, Bahrain (AHN) – Months of sectarian violence in Bahrain came to an end Thursday with top Shia scholars calling on their supporters to maintain peace and refrain from participating in illegal gatherings.

The past month has witnessed violent illegal gatherings in several parts of the country regarding sectarianism. But the fuel to the fire was added by Independent Salafist MP Jassim Al Saidi, who recently accused top Shia religious leader Shaikh Isa Qassim of inciting hatred and promoting Iranian influence in the country.

The religious opposition leader Sheikh Isa Qassim returned to Bahrain from exile in Iran in March 1990, following the political reforms by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The cleric has a strong influence among his followers who are religiously motivated and follow his instructions whether to go violent or peaceful.

The statements by MP Al Saidi upset the Shias, who represent a majority of the population here. Supporters participated in illegal gatherings condemning what they called a sectarian attack on their leader and the community. Last week, a gathering called in Manama led to reported clashes between the police and protesters.

On Thursday, several Shia villages in the country displayed pictures and banners of Shaikh Isa Qassim in a show of solidarity. A massive protest was called in the evening starting from Saar village up to Duraz village. Shiites from across the country were asked to come and support their leader. The protest went on peacefully.

Seeing the escalating tensions and the war of words between the two religious leaders prompted the Islamic Clerics Council, a supreme body of scholars, to call upon clerics to ask their supporters not to participate in any gathering and maintain peace. This was done when people were gathering for the protest.

MP Jalal Fairooz from Al Wefaq, the largest Shia opposition group, who participated in the gathering, told AHN from the location, “All the nonsense talks against Shias or Sunnis should be stopped. This demonstration was meant to send a clear message to the authorities that sectarian rift needs to end.”

Later in the evening, the general director of the Northern Governorate told the Bahrain News Agency that about 4,000 people gathered peacefully to condemn sectarianism.

There is strong resentment among the Shia population here that the government has failed to address their economic and political demands. The Shiites have been demanding for years compensation for human rights violations during the 1980s and 1990s.

The tense situation on the streets urged National Democratic Action Society (Waad) on Thursday to call for a national dialogue between both Shia and Sunni political groups.

NDAS General Secretary Ibrahim Sharif told AHN, “The personal remarks by the lawmaker has led citizens to go with sectarian emotion. It is an attack against the entire Shia community by a lawmaker who is elected and represents the citizens. Being critical is fine, but attacking personally by saying the Shia top cleric takes orders from Iran is not justified. This conflict has a hidden agenda which is certainly not in the interest of the authorities.”

Waad is the largest leftist party. Most of its members were freedom fighters who fought regardless of their sects against British rule during the sixties. Sharif said they wanted to call for calm on the part of all political groups, especially Al Wefaq.

“There is pressure on the streets for Al Wefaq which is now dragged into this battle. They have called for this protest, but we need to sit and talk before this turns into a communal riot. All religious leaders and political groups of both sects should work to reduce the tension,” Sharif said.

The brewing sectarian issue has been cooled off temporarily, but rights activist Abdulnabi Al Ekry says the key issue remains unaddressed.

“Sectarianism is deeply rooted in our society. Political groups, charity assosociation, NGOs are all based on sectarian lines. Clearly, a divide exists. We as democrats condemn such vicious attacks on a religious scholar. The atmosphere is still volatile and sectarian has an upper arm,” he told AHN.

Al Ekry said the best example was the Bahrain parliament, which Al Ekry said required only a spark to ignite the sectarian flame.

“The long term solution is to have a law which is against discrimination, sectarianism and favoritism. This will lead to change in the government policy and national reconciliation,” Al Ekry said.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.