BY FRAZ ASH'HAB SYED
February 17 marked the 7 anniversary of “Bloody Thursday” in Bahrain, the day when hundreds got massacred brutally by none other than their own government. Unlike the other uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, the popular anti-government protests failed to grasp the attention of the “free world”. Unlike Syria, where the western forces and their allies in Middle East are facing the tough time in toppling the government, the situation in Bahrain is quite opposite. The agenda here is to prevent those elements who are trying hard to knock over the regime or, maybe, are mere protesting for gaining larger political freedom. Perhaps, those campaigners in Bahrain are not “moderate rebels” and perhaps their right to exercise their political power is a mere conspiracy by one of “the axis of evil”.
Historically the part of Persian Empire, Bahrain has been the hub of Shia population mainly under Safavid Rule. The Persian gulf island finally made its way to be ruled by a Sunni Arab Tribe of Al-Khalifa in 19th century with the help of Britain and became its protectorate. This steered towards the course of exploitation of the majority by the hands of a minority. Consisting roughly 75% of the total population, shia community, still, faces torture, persecution and day to day detainment by the elite minority Sunni Al-Khalifa family. But depicting it a religious rift isn’t enough to comprehend the issue extensively.
For most western analysts, Middle East is either the depiction of Shia-Sunni centuries old rivalry or the ground for Iran-Saudi proxies. Adhering to this notion, not only the indigenous uprisings have been crushed brutally but an excuse has also been lodged for intervention on humanitarian grounds or to restrict the rogue state from interfering.
Driven mainly because of the economic deprivation, discriminatory treatment of Shia population and the resistance against implementing the tool of identity politics, Bahraini protests are diminished from the headlines. The prevalent factor is, obviously, the foreign hand, those for whom the sustainability of Al-Khalifa is deemed necessary. Having lost control over Iraq and Syria and bound miserably in the Yemen Crisis, the overthrown of Al-Khalifa Regime would be the last nightmare for Saudi Arabia before being devoured in its own upheaval in the Eastern Province of Al-Awamiyah, the major center of oil reserves and home to Shia majority.
The change of government in Bahrain by the Shia-led protests would definitely be going to benefit Iran and would further enhance its influence in the region. Iran is seemed as the last hurdle in the way of Saudi Arabia from dominating the region. Saudi influence is a tantamount for the greater US role in Middle East. Bahrain, who provides the naval and air base to US, is an important center for America, geostrategically, in conducting its strikes in Iraq and keep an eye on Iran.
The resentments among the indigenous population only grew larger after the government’s decision to invite Saudi Troops. Having developed itself into the fundamentalist Sunni State, being accused to financing extremism throughout the globe and illustrious in both rhetoric and practical for propagating anti-Shia sentiments, the presence of Saudi Troops along with the already existing 5th Fleet of U.S navy only intensified the crisis. Regime’s attempt to balance the proportions of population by giving nationality to various Sunnis from other states, especially from Pakistan, also ensured the discriminatory attitude towards the 75% Shia population. All such acts only portray the growing concerns within the Al-Khalifa Regime over the raising stature of Iran in the region which has, so far, no link with the Bahraini Uprising.The issue must be taken in the comparison of Syrian Crisis. Since the wave of Arab Spring devoured most of the Arab monarchies and dictatorships, Assad and Al-Khalifa family remain the last two which have somehow sustained the predicament. But unlike Syria, Bahraini politics emphasis at the completely different and unique scenario. Unlike Syria, there are no armed militias and groups that would wage war against the government. The accusation of Iran’s role in the Persian gulf island also have been ruled out in WikiLeaks. Being paranoid out of the fear of Iran isn’t the maneuver to quell the legitimate demands of the locals. Not only that, unlike Syria, where government’s structure is heavily dependent upon Sunnis mainly due to the marginal representation of Alawites in Syrian Population, there is no such example of pluralism in Bahrain. In fact, the largest Shia opposition group, Al-Wefaq, and its spiritual leader, Sheikh Essa Qassem, have been banned from taking part in any political activity.
The issue of Bahrain is 40 years older than the Arab Spring. It all started with the withdrawal of British Troops from Persian Gulf in 1971 and subsequent suppressing of majority by the minority i.e. Al-Khalifa Family. The series of reforms were ensured, mainly in 2001, but they bore no fruit. Today the scenario became more complex as the youth is involved in the protests, seeking more opportunities and freedom in their day to day life. Though dwindled in the violence of Syria and Yemen yet Bahrain signifies the major transformation of Middle East from monarchy to complete representation of the people. This is exactly what led to Al-Wefaq, the largest opposition party, for not accepting the negotiation unless being granted the fair proportion of representation in major ministries. However, the fearful nature of Al-Khalifa regime hampers any process of success as most Shias are viewed as “Iranian Affiliated”. This is because of the 360 change from accepting some concession to absolute grant of power.
Al-Khalifa Regime, who is accused of playing the sectarian card in the country, cannot expect the indigenous Shia population to remain loyal to the regime who is conducting a massacre with the help of Saudi Troops. Signaling green light to KSA for sending its army exaggerated the notion within Bahrain’s Shia population to incline towards Iran. While the spiritual leader, Sheikh Essa Qassem, still under house arrest with, of course, deteriorating health, the situation may get worsen for the ruling elite. Even if adhering to the West notion of Bahrain’s tilt towards Najaf instead of Qom, the decree of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani regarding popular mobilization in Iraq may spark the spirit of revolt among the youths of Bahrain as well. If such thing happens, not only the regime will be overthrown but U.S dream of containing Iran would meet the catastrophic end as it occurred in the case of Iraq and Syria. At the end, not only the regime ought to deliver while shedding the sectarian card but world powers who feel humanitarian for self-injected Syrian Crisis, must also find the way to manage the issue in favor of the majority, however, it seems unlikely.
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