Persian-American Gulf: Rumble in Manama, a Frustrated People and Lying Ministers…………
“Manama manamanamana doo doo doo……..” Sesame Street)
Aljazeera and others report from Manama that the political rhetoric is heating up in Bahrain between the increasingly authoritarian government tightly controlled by the ruling al-Khalifa family and the increasingly frustrated opposition, especially the majority Shi’as . The head of al-Wifaq Society Ali Salman has called for the activation of the “National Charter” which the ruling family has largely disregarded. The Society also called for a prime minister from outside the ruling family, as well as reducing the number of al-Khalifa members in the cabinet (they dominate the all the important ministries). The regime, meanwhile, said that al-Wifaq’s statement harms the “system of the kingdom” and besmirches some prominent families. A few prominent Sunni families, the plutocrats, along with the ruling al-Khalifa, control the economy as well.
The Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry, headed by Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, has threatened to take legal action against the opposition society. The minister al-Khalifa said that “This is an abortive attempt to cast doubts on a key pillar of the reform project led by his Majesty King Hamad…… Bahraini people have approved, almost unanimously, the charter to serve as the reference and benchmark for the reform project and catalyst of sweeping political, social and economic changes,” …… His Highness the minister is almost certainly lying to his teeth, as they all do. The ultimate goal is to have an even more toothless assembly than the current one.
More than one half of the current legislature is appointed, but I suspect they would love to have a Saudi-style fully appointed “Advisory Council” that deals with vital issues like: how many lanes should a highway have according to Salafi doctrine, or should polyandry be legal for livestock, or should brides be legally forced to uncover their faces to the groom after the wedding night.
Cheers
mhg
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