‘Spring of Sex’ revolt
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 20 March 2007
PARLIAMENT was yesterday warned against taking Bahrain “back to the Middle Ages” following its decision to investigate the Spring of Culture festival for allegedly contradicting Islam.
Fifty-three Bahraini societies issued a joint statement yesterday condemning any probe into the event.
Twenty-five Shura Councillors, out of 30 present at their meeting yesterday, also signed a petition against parliament’s decision and called for MPs to back down.
“We support and back Bahraini poet Qassim Haddad and well-known Lebanese musician Marcel Khalifa, who are great achievers in their fields,” said the statement issued by the societies.
‘Spring of Sex’ revolt
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 20 March 2007
PARLIAMENT was yesterday warned against taking Bahrain “back to the Middle Ages” following its decision to investigate the Spring of Culture festival for allegedly contradicting Islam.
Fifty-three Bahraini societies issued a joint statement yesterday condemning any probe into the event.
Twenty-five Shura Councillors, out of 30 present at their meeting yesterday, also signed a petition against parliament’s decision and called for MPs to back down.
“We support and back Bahraini poet Qassim Haddad and well-known Lebanese musician Marcel Khalifa, who are great achievers in their fields,” said the statement issued by the societies.
“We also extend our support to all creative people standing against cultural oppression in Bahrain, which has the longest history in enlightenment, tolerance, cultural difference and rich traditions.
“We fully back all cultural and intellectual activities, which have a strong message – especially those calling for enlightenment, modernisation and enhance artistic and literary taste.
“We also support anything that spreads happiness, love, beauty and tolerance, in addition to putting Bahrain again on the cultural map.
“We condemn the attack on intellectuals and artists with hollow excuses and defamatory remarks.
“We strongly condemn political powers, parliament in particular, who are trying to strangle freedom and creativity as if they were assigned as caretakers of people’s choices and are dividing the community with things out of their authority, instead of touching other issues.”
MPs unanimously voted last Tuesday to investigate Spring of Culture due to “erotic” performances by dancers during a concert by Mr Khalifa, called Majnoon Layla, featuring lyrics by Mr Haddad.
Thirty-five MPs voted in favour of the proposal, but the move has prompted an angry backlash among Bahrain’s liberals.
“This is a dangerous precedent that will take us back to the Middle Ages and the Inquisition,” said theatre director Khaled Al Roueie. “We’re at the point of resorting to the government to protect us from the people’s representatives.”
Meanwhile, poet Ibrahim Bu Hindi told AFP that the Shura Council “must initiate a debate with the government with a view to reaching an agreement on safeguarding freedom of creativity and belief”.
“We have resolved to wage a battle to defend freedom of expression and creativity, and we will mobilise all intellectuals and artists to confront this precedent which risks undermining our liberties,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shura Council first vice-chairman Jamal Fakhro said councillors would support the Spring of Culture and all future cultural events.
“We are calling on the government to give more support to continuing those programmes, which I believe are necessary and have helped put Bahrain back on the cultural map after years of absence,” he told the GDN.
“Those performances in Majnoon Layla that MPs are angered with have been performed for hundreds of years and I don’t think there is anything wrong with them, they are art.
“We are not here speaking about live sex performances or belly dancing, we are here speaking about creative art.
“Bahrain is a free country and I don’t think that this act is offensive – those who think so don’t really have a real taste for culture.”
Council financial and economic affairs committee chairman Khalid Al Maskati said culture and arts give us an insight into other societies and cultures.
“There is a different taste and acceptance level to everything and stopping those with a taste for liberal art is wrong, because it breaches their freedom,” he said.
“What else? Ban satellite and cinema because they have kisses and sexual acts? This is ridiculous.
“The freedom of a person stops when he attacks the freedom of others.
“We don’t limitless openness, what we are asking for is acceptable.
“If we ban everything then people will look for it elsewhere, through underground channels.”
He said that if MPs were unhappy they should have taken up the matter with the Information Minister, rather than launch a probe.
“Are we that shallow that we need a committee to investigate such acts?” he asked.
The Bahrain Society of Hotels and Restaurants Owners (BSHRO) was among those to condemn the investigation yesterday.
President Ahmed Sanad said that tourism was already under threat.
“More is coming to strangle people while the government is watching,” he said.
“Soon enough, the Taliban will be governing Bahrain and we will be returned to the dark ages when people were banned from learning.
“What’s happening here is unbelievable, Bahrain used to be known as the heart of culture in the Gulf.
Bahrain Young Ladies Association board member Fatima Bu Idrees, whose organisation also signed the societies’ statement, said this was the last straw from MPs.
“Do we need to silence the culture more than it is?” she asked.
“As representatives of the people, they should encourage the people to learn other cultures.”
Shura Council members who condemned the parliamentary investigation are: first vice-chairman Jamal Fakhro, second vice-chairman Alice Samaan, financial and economic committee chairman Khalid Al Maskati, committee vice-chairman Jameel Al Matrook, services committee chairman Dr Hamad Al Sulaiti, committee vice-chairman Dr Bahiya Al Jishi, public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Faoud Al Haji, committee vice-chairman Sadiq Al Shehabi, legislative and legal affairs committee chairman vice-chairman Dallal Al Zayed, foreign affairs, defence and national security committee vice-chairman Ahmed Bahzad, and Soud Kanoo, Huda Nonoo, Sameera Rajab, Faisal Fullad, Abdulrahman Al Jawaheri, Sayed Deya’a Al Mousawi, Dr Shaikh Ali bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Rabab Al Arrayedh, Sayed Habib Hashim, Abdulla Al A’ali, Dr Fawziya Al Saleh, Weddad Al Fadhel, Ibrahim Bashami, Dr Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Mohammed Radhi. Ali Asfoor withdrew his name during yesterday’s session.
The societies are: Awal Women’s Society, Bahrain Women’s Society, Women Development Society, Women Care Society, Riffa Women Society, Al Reef Young Ladies Society, Hamad Town Women Society, Bahraini Women Society, Modern Women Society, Al Mostaqbal Women Society, International Women Society, Bahrain Young Ladies Society, Writers Association, Sociologists Association, Hotels and Restaurants Owners Society, Environment Friends Society, Bahrain Medical Society, Bahrain Academics Society, Bahrain Economists Society, Bahrain Human Rights Society, Bahrain Society for Research, Documentation and Translation (under establishment), Bahrain Transparency Society, Bahrain Contemporary Art Society, Nationalists Society, National Democratic Action Society, National Democratic Grouping Society Expatriate Labourers Society, Bahrain Businessmen Society, Bahrain Businessmen Development Society, Bahrain Businesswomen Society, Bahrain Shabeeba Society, Bahrain Journalists Association, Bahrain Pharmacists Association, Liberal Thought Society, Bahrain Accountants Association, Bahrain Bar Society, Al Menbar Democratic Progressive Society, The Forum Society, Future Forum Cultural Society, Al Arabi Wasat Islamic Society, The Astronomic Group (under establishment), Jidhafs Cultural Centre, Awal Theatre, Al Sawari Theatre, Al Ahli Cultural Forum, Bahrain Cinema Club, Alumni Club, Al Oruba Club, Bahrain Journalist Union (under establishment) and Bankers Association.
© Gulf Daily News
