Jitters in Bahrain after Islamist poll triumph by Mohammad Fadhel
1 hour, 49 minutes ago
The domination of Bahrain’s parliament by Sunni and Shiite Islamists risks fueling sectarian tensions between the two and restricting freedoms in the relatively liberal Gulf state, analysts said.
But a senior Bahraini official said that stunning electoral gains made by the Islamic National Accord Association (INAA), standard-bearer of the majority Shiite community in the Sunni-ruled country, could help resolve contentious issues within parliament.
“The makeup of the new parliament might trigger sectarian crises that would spill over onto the streets. I fear we will be torn between Fallujah and Najaf,” columnist Sawsan al-Shaer told AFP on Sunday.
Jitters in Bahrain after Islamist poll triumph by Mohammad Fadhel
1 hour, 49 minutes ago
The domination of Bahrain’s parliament by Sunni and Shiite Islamists risks fueling sectarian tensions between the two and restricting freedoms in the relatively liberal Gulf state, analysts said.
But a senior Bahraini official said that stunning electoral gains made by the Islamic National Accord Association (INAA), standard-bearer of the majority Shiite community in the Sunni-ruled country, could help resolve contentious issues within parliament.
“The makeup of the new parliament might trigger sectarian crises that would spill over onto the streets. I fear we will be torn between Fallujah and Najaf,” columnist Sawsan al-Shaer told AFP on Sunday.
Fallujah is a bastion of Sunni insurgents in Iraq while Najaf is the base of the country’s Shiite clergy.
Saturday’s second round of parliamentary elections gave Sunni Islamists new gains, as the opposition INAA boosted spectacular wins made in the first round on November 25.
Liberals were trounced, leaving three-quarters of parliament’s 40 seats under the control of Shiite or Sunni Islamists, with the rest largely made up of independents close to either the government or Sunni Islamists.
The INAA’s forceful entry into the elected chamber after it boycotted the 2002 elections came to the backdrop of the Shiites’ ascendancy in Iraq.
Shaer, however, conceded that INAA’s charismatic chief Sheikh Ali Salman had sent reassuring signals to Sunni Islamists, who in turn “responded positively, suggesting there is room for cooperation” between the two blocs.
Shaer said the INAA has indicated it will not rush to raise contentious issues, such as perceived discrimination against Shiites and the demand for constitutional reforms that would revoke the legislative powers granted to an appointed second house — the main cause behind the opposition’s boycott of the 2002 polls.
The government should ensure that the new upper house, which is also made up of 40 members, will include representatives of political groups that could not make it into parliament, said Shaer, referring to liberals who won only one seat.
Fuad Shehab, a professor of modern history at Bahrain University, said the Bahrainis should “learn the lessons of Iraq and Lebanon” and avoid turning parliament into “an arena for sectarian discourse.”
“Sectarian agendas and Islamist extremism would not help us attract investors, who look for stability,” Shehab told AFP.
“I fear that whatever remains of our individual freedoms will be undermined in the name of Islam … and that the two (Sunni and Shiite Islamist) sides will agree on restricting liberties. That would be lethal for creativity and progress,” he said.
Bahrain, a liberal country by conservative Gulf standards, is the leading banking center in the region. Unlike other Gulf Arab states, it does not export crude oil, only refined products from mainly Saudi crude.
Sunni Islamists from the National Islamic Tribune Association, which represents the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Salafi Assala (Authenticity) Association have gained 12 seats in the new parliament and can count on the support of an independent Salafi, giving them a 13-strong bloc.
The INAA has clinched 17 seats. But while the Sunni Islamists support the government, the INAA is the leading opposition group in the country, where formal political parties remain banned.
A senior Bahraini official who requested anonymity said that the fears raised by the heated election campaign are not justified since there is a difference between campaigning and shouldering the responsibility of office.
“The wide Shiite participation … could help resolve many problems,” he said.
Businessman Faruq al-Moayyed said he hoped the new parliament will “not limit individual freedoms as that would drive away foreign investors.”
A Manama-based Western diplomat warned that the Islamists would deal a fatal blow to the economy if they forced a ban on the sale of alcohol.
Copyright © 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions or Comments
Privacy Policy -Terms of Service – Copyright/IP Policy – Ad Feedback
