Beneath Bahrain's Shia-versus-Sunni narrative, only the tyrants benefit

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Good piece, but rather naive when you say: Next time you pick up a newspaper remember that the sectarian Shia-versus-Sunni narrative only serves Bahrain's tyrants.
Does it really? And i thought this sunni shia divide and killings are happening in most of the Muslim countries. I attended Eid functions yesterday where sunnis, shias and Ahmadis were present. Come prayer time and they do not do it together. And that was in western Europe. In Pakistan, shias are an easy target for killing fields. Same is true in Iraq, where although a majority, sunnis carry on trying to dominate the shias.
Follow me. Forget about faith and like people according to how nice they are.
Bahrain's tyrants? I thought democracy is a Fremd word in Muslim country and most of the regimes are ruled by tyrants of one kind or another.

Another US stooge state that shows what a mockery "western values" are when domination of oil-rich regions is at stake.

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When you pick up the day's newspaper, it is not likely that you will find much coverage of the ongoing popular revolt in Bahrain

No...we had more pressing issues here like the Jubilee, Olympics, and other "feel-good" stories.

Our front pages are usually dominated by

"Britain overrun by bearded islamo-terrorist benefit scroungers - out to challenge our way of life"

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First 2 paragraphs -

When you pick up the day's newspaper, it is not likely that you will find much coverage of the ongoing popular revolt in Bahrain. But on the off chance that Bahrain is mentioned, it is almost certain that two words will jump at you: Sunni and Shia. It is even more likely you will see some mention of a Shia revolt against a Sunni monarchy.

This is unfortunate; a very complicated situation is expediently packaged into a soundbite-like myth. That narrative is ahistorical and dangerous because, like all myths, there is a grain of truth to it.

A few paragraphs later -

Bahrain's unwritten laws insidiously establish a quasi-apartheid regime preventing Shias from state-owned housing and many government jobs. For instance, there are entire areas like Riffaa, where Shia are not allowed to rent, buy homes or land.

So much more than 'a grain of truth' then.

FFS, Guardian, substitute "white" for Shia and "black" forSunni or the other way round and tell me with a straight face you'd still run this piece. Dreadful and on an aside, can we now finally all agree that xenophobia is not something inherently western?

Yes bit strange that.

Starts off saying it isn't about Shias vs Sunnis and then spends the rest of the piece giving exactly that impression.

Bahrain's unwritten laws insidiously establish a quasi-apartheid regime

Nothing Quasi about it. The only Arab states that don't practice apartheid are those that have ethnically cleansed their minorities.

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FFS, Guardian, substitute "white" for Shia and "black" forSunni or the other way round and tell me with a straight face you'd still run this piece. Dreadful and on an aside, can we now finally all agree that xenophobia is not something inherently western

Please don't forget that for the Guardian (and the BBC & Independent) you can only be xenophobic or racist if you are white and male (preferably middle-aged).

Obama said America did not have to choose between its security and its ideas.....

What a joke that was.

Why would they 'do it' together. Do Catholics and Protestants have Christmas Mass together.
In Pakistan, the issue is law and order not sectarianism. More sunnis have been killed by the taliban than Shias.
In Iraq the issue has a local political dimension in relation to tensions at the Federal Level and Al Qaeda Militants. Before the 2003 invasion, their were 0 tensions between Shias and Sunnis, Iraq even had a Sunni King before the Military Coup. All the Sectarian Tensions in Iraq came after the US invasion and Occupation.

I thought Democracy was a Foreign Word in the Christian World, given how most of Europe was a dictatorship untill 1970s ( Spain,Portugal,Eastern Europe,Greece). Mubarak and co would have fallen sooner if they did not have US Aid. The Muslim world welcomed minorities, the founder of Israel actually found refuge from in the Ottoman Empire.

and you wrong, most of the Muslim World is actually a Democracy, arabs are less than 33% of the muslim population. Even in the West few politicians have approval over 50% and in many cases Intelligence Agencies pre vet leaders of the Opposition and Ruling Party.

An honest portrayal of the reality in Bahrain. It's the ruthless regime and the expat workforce against the helpless locals. Just like the big corporates plus the illegals against the locals elsewhere. Given the extreme torturous nature of the regime and it's abusive methods, freedom and equal rights for all Bahrainis looks very distant. Maryam fully appreciate your peaceful approach which doesn't appeal to the Western govts though. They look for business friendly leaders irrespective of their bloodthirstiness. Wish you all the best and don't let the Khalifa break your spirit. Here's a link that tells us about the kind of people who receive the support of Western govts:

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/embracing-the-darkness/article4023194.ece

Sunni versus Shi'a?

I always thought it was tribal.

In 1783, the Bani Utbah tribe captured Bahrain from the Persians and the archipelago was been ruled by the al-Khalifa dynasty ever since.

While there can be solutions for sectarian, ethnic and national conflicts -- when it comes to tribal warfare and dominance, the UN and most global organizations are useless. We're talking about something that goes back thousands of years.
-------------

best regards -- Columbus, Ohio

The only Arab states that don't practice apartheid are those that have ethnically cleansed their minorities.

If the Arab states don't want to do it, the civilized western democracies will take it on themselves to do so anyway.

These are only excuses. Comparing it with more 17 centuries of Christianity is the foulest excuse I hear from many Muslims. Talk to any Shias in Pakistan, or Iraq and the large number running away from idealistic Muslim lands. There were over hundred thousand Jews living in Iran and after Mullah regime the number has been reduced to less than 10 thousand and these people are being observed and not allowed to hold any office. The 3 million Palestinians are not planning a mass run away from Israel. You say: Muslim world welcomes minorities. Ask anybody in Egypt, Pakistan or any other arab country.

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There were over hundred thousand Jews living in Iran and after Mullah regime the number has been reduced to less than 10 thousand and these people are being observed and not allowed to hold any office.

There were thousands of Jews in India which is presently a handful. Aren't people being observed in UK or USA or KSA? Have you heard of Dr. Siamek Mareh-Sedq? How can the civilized democracies talk about human rights on one hand and sell arms to the abusive regimes knowing fully well that the victims of these arms are the unarmed, helpless civilians whose only demand is basic human rights?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/defence-and-security-blog/2012/oct/23/arms-human-rights

I agree with the fact that Bahrain's history is complex and watering it down is no good. However, there are some serious flaws to consider in this article.

Firstly that statement regarding no Shias living in Riffa (Yes i live in this big town and am a Sunni). I personally know at least two Shias of Iranian decent (Ajmis) living in Riffa, there is no validity in that claim.

Second, the matter of naturalization is something to contend with. But it hasn't been exclusively for Sunnis from the region and beyond. During the 1960s over 20,000 Iranians from what used to be known as Al Muhammara were naturalized in Bahrain, as means to meet agricultural requirements at the time. Shias are employed in the Ministry of Interior predominately in traffic police, community police and intelligence. The naturalized people who serve in the security and defense sectors are generational and their children are 3rd or 4th generation in Bahrain. The local population cannot realistically depend on employment in the said sectors, where imbalances of security/defense employment is disproportional to a country with a small population.

Thirdly, Bahrain was never actually controlled by the Persian empire. It was an overlord system where the "ruler" of Bahrain resided in Bushehir and a tribe from the Howala ethnicity oversaw day-to-day activities in Bahrain. The Persian administration at the time was stretched thin due to the conflict with the Ottoman Empire and disregarded developments in Bahrain during the 18th century.

Fourth, to criticize the situation of Bahrain being boiled down and continuing to do so is not useful. Again to use generic analysis while continuing to beat a dead horse is not insightful.

Last but not least, an observer cannot overlook at the influence that Iraqi and Iranian political/religious currents play in Bahrain and the region. Al Wefaq is a creation of Hizb al Dawa (who currently govern Iraq), where Iraqi exiles came to Bahrain during the 1960s and setup shop. This was done for both expanding political networks and for financial/religious reasons. Khoms a unique tax of Shias where 20% of assets are collected annually, and different sources (marjaiyas) compete for financial gains for their perosnal upkeep and expansion of their influence. Iran has housed the Shirazi marja, and since its split follow the Iran-Iraq war, many Shirazis have infiltrated Human Rights networks in the West, in compliance with the main Shirazi leaders shift of attempting to justify their basis through Human Rights networks, all the while attempting to increase their financial gains through Khoms.

Next time you pick up a newspaper remember that the sectarian Shia-versus-Sunni narrative only serves Bahrain's tyrants.

--Not only. Somewhere behind the curtains are the invisible hands of the grand puppeteer, Saudi Arabia, manipulating the strings.

Wayhik, the continuous presence of mounted machine guns in Sanabis, A'ali , Tubli and other Shia neighborhoods and the brutalities of imported police on the indigenous don't bother you?

This Sunni v Shia narrative is extremely appealing because it wonderfully over-simplifies what is a very complex situation in a society with a wide spectrum of political views. This narrative does more to rile up emotions than portray an accurate description or analysis of the situation in Bahrain.

Anyone who has read the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry's report (BICI - www.bici.org.bh) will quickly come to the understanding that:
(A) political activism is something that is not new to Bahrain - regardless of religious or sectarian persuasion and,
(B) that during the events of last February and March, Bahraini society was extremely divided on the question of revolution or reform. The report itself stated that there were two main rallies and demonstrations during that time, at their highest points the one at the GCC (Pearl) roundabout attracted around 150,000 and the other counter-revolution (but pro-reform) rally attracted around 120,000.

The reality in Bahrain is not as simplistic and far less dramatic than the author portrays it. It is not a question of a vast majority of people demanding rights and a small elite denying them, it is not a question of sectarian division and the active alienation of one sect from society. It serves no one's interest to continue to inflame sectarian divisions, as the author, in my view, is doing.

Bahrain is a small country with a high population density. There are intermarriages, large extended families from both sects, people meet and interact in the work place, in towns, schools, and villages. One group with one political view cannot live in a bubble and in isolation from another that disagrees with it. That is our reality and our circumstance. Additionally, Bahrain's economy rests on a strong pillars of tourism, and being a financial hub. For these pillars to continue to exist there must be stability. The notion that the government is actively trying to inflame, incite, and aggravate sectarian tensions as a form of policy serves is one that is divorced from reality and is, at best, a misguided form of hyperbole. reality is that there is a firm belief and understanding from all sides such actions do not anybody's interest.

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Maryam AlKhawaja always has problems with stretching the truth to fit her political agenda. This is a perfect example: The uprising was not popular like Maryam argues. It was always overwhelmingly Shiite with a few token seculars thrown in and probably for that very reason never had broad appeal.

Now their activities - hard to call molotovs and bombs acts of "protest" - are confined to a small segment of Bahrainis that live in certain villages. By definition if an uprising is popular , the majority of the population would be participating, but that is not the case. The majority of the population is actually tired of the protests which often turn violent and cause injuries and deaths to everyone involved, especially the police. Bahrainis, Sunni or Shiite, can't relate to these acts of violence and don't want to be linked to her definition of "uprising."

What mounted machine guns? I suspect you don't live here and may never have even visited....

When you pick up the day's newspaper, it is not likely that you will find much coverage of the ongoing popular revolt in Bahrain.

Probably because spokespeople (i.e. men) for the Muslim "community" here want to underplay divides within the Islamic World, and instead have us believe that it is one happy family whose only problems are caused by Western Imperialism or Zionists.

The Shia-Sunni conflict drives a horse and cart through that fiction, and therefore is never mentioned.

...and it's America's fault ... or Thatcher ... or bankers, surely ?

A very self serving piece by a very bias Writer. The whole piece revolves on the notion that The Kingdom of Bahrain Government some how is practicing a Apartheid system, which couldn't be further from reality, for if it was then people (according to her) from other countries given passports. In a Democratic system every individual that suffice criteria for nationality and passport, have the Human right to citizenship and turning this an political blackmailing tool is shameful. This doesn't surprise anyone who is familiar with the history and record of this writer and alike! Condoning killing and ethnic cleansing of non-Shia and non-Arab origin Bahrainis in Bahrain last year. It's a matter of fact the so call opposition is Iranian supported extremists who can't accept any freedom or rights for people who don't accept their dictates. The truth is that Bahrain is and has been a victim of a radicalization by such people pretending to to be democratic when they are extremist fascists that live in their own false-land believe in their demented distorted History, and justify violence and ethnic cleansing on a daily basis in Bahrain under the guise of so called " Arab Spring" in a failing attempt to trick the world public opinion in supporting a Wolf in sheep skin. Fortunately the world is smarter then this!

I lived and worked in Bahrain and the UAE for many years, then escaped with the loot I had accumulated. However, the hypocracy in these countries is blatant. The ruling powers are no more than despots. Poverty is everywhere. Indians are brough into the country to do all the menial tasks, some to build the luxurious hotes and office buildings, then deported without being paid. Of course, these buildings are owned by the crooks that call themselves Sheiks. These people are whore chasing scum who can be seen in most Western capitals, out of sight of their people carrying on with abandon, while their own people struggle. I believe that they have been lucky so far in as much as they havent been lynched. But their time is coming.

The point being made is that the Bahrain government has spent a lot of money on PR to promote this division. In February last year it was about change for everyone. In the minds of the majority of protestors, it still is.

I really have to disagree with your figures. I was caught in the traffic in both rallies and these were not the numbers. I also know that there were Sunni and many other groups protesting along with Shias at the Pearl. The first protestor arrested was Sunni. But no-one was welcome at the Sunni rally except Sunnis - with many from Saudi. I'm not trying to promote division - I'm simply stating facts.

The author is pointing out that the Bahrain government is paying PR firms to promote this division internationally. The government is also promoting this division internally and anyone who reads the Gulf Daily News would have to be aware of this. Bahrain's economy is based on inequity. My Shia and Sunni students used to discuss where they would get jobs and were quite open about who could work for the government and who couldn't. And this was a year before the 2011 demonstrations.

And, once again, the deaths and abuse by government police are conveniently forgotten.

Apartheid in Bahrain? Most definitely. As I mentioned in an earlier response, I taught students who discussed where they would work on graduation. They were quite open about Shia not being able to get jobs in government. To be quite honest, some of the Sunni students were appallingly superior and acted as if they deserved better treatment. Not all. But it showed that discrimination was accepted as the norm by many. This has nothing to do with religion. This is a cultural norm promoted by the ruling elite.

I have no idea what your comment about "condoning killing and ethnic cleansing of non-Shia" means. I was living in Bahrain last year and this did not happen.

A good article that sticks to the facts. I met many Sunni last year in Bahrain who were shocked by the tactics of the Bahrain government in the promotion of this religious divide. The government has paid many PR firms a lot of money to instill fear into their loyal citizens - something many western governments do at election time. The Bahrain government is just a lot more brutal and a lot less civilized in their implementation of these practices. The people of Bahrain, no matter what their religious persuasion is, deserve better.

Two Shia families living in Riffa? I knew a Shia family who had a dress making business in Riffa last year. It was attacked and broken into so often that they had to close it down.

Everyone knows that the 20000 Iranian Shia were invited in by the British before they left Bahrain in the 1960's. This was an attempt by Britain to have some leverage over the ruling family. This is well documented.

There have been thousands of new police from the sub-continent brought into Bahrain over the last year. I was there and saw them. And what other country has a "generational" police force. Bizarre.

I have no idea about the final paragraph. I just met Shia who wanted a house, a job and a future and were having difficulty achieving any.

These so called Human rights activists have Human blood on hands, for which they have never shed on tear of remorse. The violence initiated by them and continues supported by external extremist shia forces! for those who sympathize with them should be equally accounted as accomplices and apologist for them. There brand of Human rights means they have the right to take law in their hands to Kill, rape, torture with impunity! Many Shia Fascist replying again and again lol, cheap tricks no facts!

http://m.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=314364

http://observers.france24.com/content/20110318-bahrainis-denounce-acts-violence-allegedly-anti-government-protesters-police-murder

The people of Bahrain would be better off if Maryam Al Khawaja got off her podium and stopped 'speaking for us'. I come from one of the 'sushi' families she describes and although we support sensible reforms, we do not endorse this woman or her opinion. She is frankly a racist under the guise of a human rights activist. I live in Manama, my neighborhood is a 50/50 mix of Shia and Sunni. There are neighborhood on the island were the balance is tipped more one way or another but that is largely due to large extended families wanting to stay together rather than a deliberate attempt to segregate. I'm disappointed that this publication continues to promote the version of our country from this woman, as another blogger pointed out, over 120,000 attended a rally against the opposition and their sectarian agenda. Ms Al Khawaja's fails to address the fact that there the majority( and that is nothing to do with being Shia or Sunni) are not in favor of her, Al Wefaq and the violence instigated under their umbrella.

Shia have been killed in their hundred of thousands since 1979.Whether by Sadaams paid for invasion of Iran or those killed in Pakistan,Afghanistan, India, Yemen etc. etc. the figure is enormous.
Bahrain's "problem" isn't a local issue, the Shia are being attacked on many fronts, ask the millions of Afghanis who ran to Iran.And ask the Red Cross for figures.Forget the UN!

I am disturbed at how people are blamming sunnies for most of the sectarain voilence in the middle east. Shia dominated Iran has done a lot of sectarain voilence and towards other sects like sunnies and buhra.
In Iran Buhras are not allowed to learn about their religion. Sunnies are not giving top government jobs, and there are no sunni mosque in Tehran. Iraq, the shia dominated government are involved in ethnic violience towards sunnis, a sort of revenge for their involvement in the Saddam regime. The Assad regime in syria are at this moment killing the sunni majority.

The Issue of Bahrain, as a sunni minority, i am frightened by the voilence the shia will inflict on us when they take over. Their were signs of such voilence when the opposition occupied manama for 4 days in March. They created road blocks and made it difficult for people to move in or out of manama. They went to sunni mosques and kicked people out during prayer. The salmania hospital was occupied by the protesters and sunnies and expats were refused treatment. The shia doctors were abusive to non shias. My uncle was refused treatement by the staff and one shia nurse told him too look for a sunni doctor.

If anyone is to blame for the sunni shia divide, is the opposition themselves. They are lead by a shia cleric and religoius leaders. The spiritual leader of the opposition is Shiek Isa Qasseem, who is an Anayatolla. Anayatolla are believed to represent god on Earth! Everything they say is the word of god. These clerics abuse their power over the Shia people and force them to protest. Most of those people do not want to change the monarchy, but are threatened by the clerics.

How can you have dialouge with a man who believes he is the representation of God on Earth!

@Pillylilly, what utter rubbish. I was amongst the 120,000 that marched from Al Fateh Mosque and I can assure you that no one was asked what their sect or origins were on joining it! I wasn't and I don't know any one else who was. I was with two of my best friends, who are both Shia. Are you so desperate to wave the flag of apartheid that you will say any thing on this forum? The fact is that Maryam Al Khawaja had a unique opportunity because of her alignment to human rights organizations and the media. A few days after Feb 14, she should have stated long and loud that the original group of protestors were over run by a radical and sectarian opposition party, leading to the original non violent non sectarian groups departure from the roundabout. She didn't and she had the means to say it and be heard Instead what was a peaceful non sectarian group from both sects was replaced by a group determined to oust the government by any means and so the onset of mis information, deception, and violence on the street erupted, aided and abetted by the Al Khawaja sisters, Nabil Rajab and others funded by international human rights groups. It didn't matter to you Maryam, that it was violent and sectarian in nature, just along as the media believed that version. If you really care about Bahrain, use your influence to condemn violence regardless of who perpetuates it and encourage dialogue. Compromise can be reached by those willing to speak and listen, it won't be won with a petrol bomb or a sectarian opposition group using Friday sermons to deliver hate speeches.

or all of the above, and don't call me Shirley

Simple question, did any of the news sources you use report either the demonstration that happened in Bahrain yesterday, or the force used to suppress it?

It is rather unfortunate to label Bahrainis as Shias and Sunnis but the most unfortunate part is that this kind of labeling was created by the likes of Mariam Al Khawaj and her father Abdulhadi Al khawaja. Under the umbrella of human rights activism Mariam a supporter of terror attcks on civilians and policemen pretends that she is against the Sunni/Shia concept while she repeatedly states “Shia Majority” in all her interviews, a rather sectarian labeling that makes Bahraini Sunnis Christian, Jews and Bahais feel offended as they are being disregarded as equal members of the society.

Mariam’s father Abdulhadi Al khawaja clearly mentioned his aim of having a Shia Prime Minister at one of his speeches in the Pearl Roundabout. What does this tell you about our so-called Bahraini human rights activists?? They have a sectarian cause and this is unacceptable by anyone who supports democracy and reform. The referendum being reffered to was voted for by 98.4% of eligible voters and clearly stated that the ‘King appoints the Prime Minister’ .

State owned housing is provided to all Bahrainis whether they are Shias, Sunnis and there no difference amongst the sects in that sense. Many Shias live in Riffa and Ms. Al Khawaja’s claims seem to be of no valid proofs. Mariam is contradicting herself by stating the Shias are discriminated against and Sunnis are given privileges as she clearly mentioned at the end of her article that Bahrain has Shia ministers and Sunnis who are in prison. It is not a matter of loyalty to the regime, it’s a matter of violating the law and that’s why Mr. Ebrahim Sharif is in prison.

Ms. Al Khawajah: Attacking the naturalized is against the prinviples of human rights, we haven’t noticed the natives of developed countries attacking the naturalized ,the same way the Bahraini opposition and human rights activists attack their counterparts in Bahrain, we have had religious scholars ordering their followers to ‘Crush them’ “the naturalized”. It is unfortunate to see a Danish/Bahraini such as Ms. Mariam who pretends to be an activist attacking the naturalized in such a manner and repeatedly segregating among Bahrainis by stating that there is Shia majority and a Sunni minority. This is our problem in Bahrain we have extremists who look moderate like Ms. Al Khawaja and are heard by the world while the real moderate Bahrainis disregard the claims made by such extremists.

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Typical Mariam Al Khawaja - cherry picking her points and obscuring the context to emphasise her own political ends. The one point she constantly makes is that the majority of the population is Shia. That is true. What is not true is to make the jump that they all support the opposition which readers are led to assume. Shia = opposition. I work in an office with 12 Bahrainis - 9 of whom are Shia. Only 1 could be called an activist who goes on marches. The others just want to get on with their lives and broadly support the aims of the Government. However I do hear of threats they get from intimidating youth groups to go on marches and explain why they are at home when rallies are taking place. One colleague had to rent a car to vote in elections for replacement MPs in Shia constituencies whe she was told that there would be repercussions against people who voted. Their car registrations would be recorded she was warned. Freedom ! Democracy ! I think not. As to PR companies what about the incestuous human rights groups and pet journalists that act as free PR for the opposition. Doesnt the Government have the right to put across its views to counteract the biased reportage backing the opposition. There is realpolitik at work here. An opposition ruled Bahrain would be an absolute disaster - links with Saudi would be severed along with 80% of its GDP. Industry would close down, jobs would vanish and its membership of the GCC would be at stake. The opposition have said nothing about their plans if they got more power. Like Al Khawaja all we get from them is t-shirt sloganising and manipulated facts. Change should happen within the system not by threatening to overthrow it.

It just highlights the client state relationship to the US.

Give us what we want and we'll keep the media spotlight from you, and if video of 45 unarmed people being gunned down gets out we'll spin it so it doesn't affect the shiny US naval base.
We'll even put on a cool F1 race to show how stable and fluffy the despots really are.

We have no shame when it comes to resources v rights.