Islamists do well in Bahrain poll
By William Wallis in Manama
Published: November 26 2006 17:32 | Last updated: November 26 2006 17:32
Elections in Bahrain looked set on Sunday to deliver a parliament dominated by Islamists but divided along sectarian lines, reflecting both a regional surge towards political Islam as well as heightened tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
However, some Bahrainis complained that the results would not reflect the diversity of opinion in the island kingdom, host to the US Navy’s fifth fleet and traditionally more liberal than other Gulf states.
Islamists do well in Bahrain poll
By William Wallis in Manama
Published: November 26 2006 17:32 | Last updated: November 26 2006 17:32
Elections in Bahrain looked set on Sunday to deliver a parliament dominated by Islamists but divided along sectarian lines, reflecting both a regional surge towards political Islam as well as heightened tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
However, some Bahrainis complained that the results would not reflect the diversity of opinion in the island kingdom, host to the US Navy’s fifth fleet and traditionally more liberal than other Gulf states.
Bahrain is ruled by the Sunni al-Khalifa family but, uniquely among the Gulf’s dynastic autocracies, its local population is about 60 per cent Shia.
The polls – the second since King Hamad bin Issa began introducing limited political reforms in 2001 – took place against a backdrop of rising sectarian tensions across the Middle East and, in Bahrain, Shia demands for a fairer share of wealth and power. Turnout in the polls – the first in which opposition groups participated – was 72 per cent.
Preliminary results showed the el-Wefaq National Islamic Society – the main opposition group representing the Shia – won outright in 16 of 17 constituencies contested, with the group’s remaining candidate heading into next Saturday’s second round run-off.
An alliance of Sunni Islamist candidates was set to win at least eight places in the 40-seat parliament outright, with about six more going to sympathetic independents. Several other Sunni Islamists will take part in run-offs.
Government officials denied lending support to Sunni Islamists – who have historically been more compliant than their Shia counterparts – to counter demands for reforms that would dilute the powers of the king and his uncle, the prime minister.
“I think the government pushed as hard as it could to have a balanced vote,” a senior government official and royal said.
“But I am not happy at the end of the day that we will have a very Islamist parliament from both sides,” he said.
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