Salafi leader prefers Islamist parliament for ‘nation’s sake’
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10084607.html
11/22/2006 10:34 PM | By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief
Manama: Outgoing Chamber of Deputies second deputy speaker yesterday said that he looked forward to an Islamist parliament for the sake of the nation.
“I would rather have Islamists from both Sunni and Shiite sects than liberal deputies who do not uphold Islamic values,” Al Mouawda told Gulf News.
The Salafi leader, known for his cordial relations with Bahrain’s political formations and with the Shiite blocs, said an Islamic composition of the chamber would consolidate relations between the legislative body and the general public and would serve them better.
Salafi leader prefers Islamist parliament for ‘nation’s sake’
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10084607.html
11/22/2006 10:34 PM | By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief
Manama: Outgoing Chamber of Deputies second deputy speaker yesterday said that he looked forward to an Islamist parliament for the sake of the nation.
“I would rather have Islamists from both Sunni and Shiite sects than liberal deputies who do not uphold Islamic values,” Al Mouawda told Gulf News.
The Salafi leader, known for his cordial relations with Bahrain’s political formations and with the Shiite blocs, said an Islamic composition of the chamber would consolidate relations between the legislative body and the general public and would serve them better.
The outgoing chamber was dominated by Islamists, mainly Sunnis, who often clashed with government officials and liberal journalists over issues ranging from approaches to tourism to organising concerts in Bahrain.
Religion became an issue in the upcoming elections after Bahrain’s largest society Al Wefaq, supported by the powerful Shiite Islamic Scholars Council, decided to take part in the polls with 17 candidates.
Wary of the potential strong showing of Al Wefaq, Sunni societies – Al Asala, Salafi and Al Islamic Menbar, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, both of which led the outgoing chamber – have staged campaigns to garner support using a strong religious message. But liberals, feeling the brunt of the onslaught on their beliefs, warned the voters of the expected dangers linked with a massive presence of Islamists in the parliament.
“We want to serve the people and we want to issue laws that would serve the country and the people, and not frighten them like religious leaders are doing,” candidate Dr Huda Al Mutawa told Gulf News.
“Whenever religious candidates speak to the people, they always resort to strong warnings that they would be punished by God for allowing non-religious people to reach the parliament,” she said.
