By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 20th April 2007
AN MP has urged authorities to investigate a call for his death and that of one of his colleagues, which was recorded and distributed over the Internet. Recordings being circulated via e-mails and Internet websites target MPs Shaikh Mohammed Khalid and Jassim Al Saeedi. Mr Khalid claimed that the motive behind the move was sectarian and that he believes that he knows the person whose voice is on the messages.
“I’ve asked around and people told me that it was the voice of a certain ma’atam speaker,” he said. “The recording sounds like it was made at a ma’atam.”
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 20th April 2007
AN MP has urged authorities to investigate a call for his death and that of one of his colleagues, which was recorded and distributed over the Internet. Recordings being circulated via e-mails and Internet websites target MPs Shaikh Mohammed Khalid and Jassim Al Saeedi. Mr Khalid claimed that the motive behind the move was sectarian and that he believes that he knows the person whose voice is on the messages.
“I’ve asked around and people told me that it was the voice of a certain ma’atam speaker,” he said. “The recording sounds like it was made at a ma’atam.”
The name of the alleged culprit was supplied to the GDN, but he was not reachable yesterday.
Mr Khalid said that he considers the threat a crime punishable by the penal code, but said he had not reported it to the police.
“Threats of this nature which are made in a public place are listed as a crime in Bahrain’s penal code,” he continued.
Mr Khalid had heated arguments with Shi’ite MPs in the past and once took a punch from former MP Jassim Al Mawali during a parliament session because he allegedly mocked ma’atams in a session.
He has also lost a court case against former Al Wassat reporter Batool Al Sayed, who claimed that he had insulted the Shi’ite sect in parliament.
Mr Khalid said that he doesn’t know why the recording was made and denied that he had any anti-Shi’ite sentiments himself.
“I am not sectarian at all and I challenge anyone who claims that I am,” he continued.
“I am against people who try to destabilise the country and hurt it, not against Shi’ites in general. These types of recordings and threats will only serve to fuel more disagreements between the two sects.”
Mr Al Saeedi, who had previously called for an end to Shi’ite religious processions, was unavailable for comment last night.
© Gulf Daily News
