Bahrain's Issues

Ok, bein a Sunni, am happy with the way things are goin for us, but again, am a Bahraini, and my brothers in the country also need to live like we live, and above all, let's not forget we're muslims (mostly) and Islam urges equality.

Doin a quick reality check, the situation is a far cry from bein solved. The things you read in the papers are propaganda mostly (some is true but still things really need to be changed).

The constitution is not even complete, has good it's good points, but again it has it's flaws, and one of them is freedom of speech, and it has been highlighted as one of the areas that need to be developed. By just livin in th west, you'll see the true meanin of freedom of speech, or just when ur travelin, pick up a newspaper and see. Ya we're much better than neighbouring countries, but remember, Bahrain is a pioneer and has always been a model for the Arab World, and we don't want to see it goin backward when it has a promising future ahead, allowin it to shine more than ever. We're the only country in the Gulf with political parties and opposition, none of the other countries in the GCC allow that.


About unemployment, I'd have to say that the comment about that "Bahrain hasn't invented unemployment" is quite ignorant, no offence. What you suggestin is that we don't do anythin and just forget it. If there wasn't that serious problem, why do u think all those reforms are takin place to create 100,000 jobs in the next decade.

I'll discuss this later, but my point is, equality and fairness and let's keep leading the way, before others pass us, that's the message.

Out of interest, here is an article posted in Kansas (not even the Arab World):


This is incredibly encouraging. From the place that just released detained bloggers, the majority Shiite protested against the government demanding reform!

MANAMA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands have marched in one of Bahrain’s largest opposition demonstrations
to demand democratic reforms in the pro-Western Gulf Arab state.

Friday’s peaceful march, called by the Shi’ite-led opposition, follows unsuccessful talks with the government on
constitutional reforms to give greater powers to parliament’s elected assembly, which is on an equal footing with a
state-appointed chamber.

Bahrain, the Gulf’s banking hub and home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has introduced some reforms, but the
opposition, led by the country’s majority Shi’ite Muslims, want more rights in the small Sunni-ruled island state.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa called for legal action against organisers for holding the
march despite being refused a permit, the state news agency BNA said.

Sheikh Rashed said his ministry did not issue the permit due to regional “tension and security threats”. He did
not elaborate.

Sheikh Ali Salman, a cleric who heads a main opposition group, earlier told marchers: “This gathering is
demanding a constitution that is agreed upon by everybody, to bring the country out of a crisis which cripples its
progress and reforms.” Organisers estimated the crowd at about 80,000.

“Bahrain is suffering from policies that harm the nation — corruption, unemployment and poverty. There is an
urgent need for reforms,” he added.

This is incredibly good news. Al Jazeera is actually being helpful in providing information, and is reporting that the government plans to move against the protestors in unspecified measures.

Bahrain has warned it will take unspecified measures against the Gulf state’s main Shia opposition group after it organised a mass demonstration in defiance of a government ban.

The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA) “will face legal measures after it organised an unlawful demonstration yesterday,” Information Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Muhammad Abd al-Ghaffar was quoted by the daily Al-Ayyam as saying on Saturday.

Newspapers carried a similar warning issued by the interior minister late on Friday after thousands of people took to the streets of Sitra, the archipelago’s third largest island located south of Manama, in response to the INAA’s call to press for constitutional reforms.

INAA leader Shaikh Ali Salman led the march, in which representatives of three other political groupings allied with his association - the leftist National Democratic Action Association, the Nationalist Democratic Rally, which is a pan-Arab nationalist group, and the Islamic Action Association, a Shia grouping - also took part.

Babbling Bahrania has a bit more on a woman activist and the constitutional reforms that took place between the 70s and now. It seems the opposition’s intent with this protest was to pressure the government to move more legislative and oversight powers to the elected parliament.

actually guys, this article shows a point of view of a shi'ite who hates sunnites i would like to know who wrote this, because just to let you know shi'ites are 50% of bahrain maybe more but not 70% nor 60% and seriously they isolate themselves(the shi'ites) and they aren't poor... they live that way with mut'a and all those heretical practises. Moody sunnis and shi'ites are really ''brothers'' did you ever read the book talbees iblees? If not then please do, shi'ites are outlaws of the islamic creed(aqeeda) they dont follow what muhammad*SAWS* brought, they follow many iranians and majus, believing they follow Ali*KAW* the shi'ite arabs (who are originaly arabs and not iranians) are few in iraq they are only 10% of the shi'ites...

anyways this Article isnt fair! it shows that the shi'its are living in a dump or something close to a dump, thought if they shi'ites isolate themselves and live in ghettos like they always do in the west, and all the rest of the world, except iran because they are the majority , they shouldn't blame the goverment for that! The only shi'ites who kind of integrate in society are the rich ones, like the ones in kuwait and the UAE. This article is 10000% for shi'ites Skyline is right they keep showing that the shi'ites are poor, need help, they are oppressed and all thought they really arent....

And by the way Bahraini spirit, if we would like to talk about islam never forget islam is a way of life and has its law(sharia) we use all of it! or none of it! because half half is against islam. Which won't happen because this is against the goverment so we are better off not talking about islam, if we want to all of the laws should be islamic or it will be against islam!

I agree with what you said B-Spirit, but still mantain my point...The current situation, having a shura council, may have turned out somewhat favorable as they block the MP's nonesensical and backward proposals, but this didn't happen as a result of the government's vision and foresight...The situation is the way it is to limit the MP's powers...

I don't believe theres a significant disparity between Sunni's and Shiites in Bahrain in general...In specific cases, when it comes to specific governmental jobs sunni's are probably given a sort of priority...but i don't think there's significant poverty in Bahrain that is specific to shiites...

And as for ANAS, MY GOD, i don't like labeling people as this is a civilized forum and its meant for Bahrainis btw, but you seem to be an ignorant, closeminded, brainwashed, racist person....Your comments are very offensive and ignorant, soo please don't participate any further in this thread, as you're views are clearly wrong, misinformed, and destructive...

And as for casanova, we are seeking reforms, the establishment of a strong educated and enlightened parliment, a new dimension of democracy which gives the ppl power, or at least thats what is claimed, so thats why the situation needs to change...I don't believe the constitution necessarily favors sunnis...But the changes introduced since the 1973 constitution does give more power to the government regardless of wheather it is sunni dominated or not...