Share this via:
Ref: AD-2949
Summary: the joint US and Israel attack on Iran has re-ignited tensions between Bahrain’s ruling Sunni family and the majority of its Shi’a citizens.
This content is locked
Login or Register To Unlock The Content!
You might like:
- Was Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood ban a bid to please Israel, Saudi?
Summary: the Jordanian government declared the Muslim Brotherhood illegal following arrests of its members for allegedly plotting an attack. The ban raises questions about the future of the affiliated Islamic Action Front, which recently gained significant political power amidst public anger over Jordan's stance on the Gaza conflict....
- Bahrain oppositionist arrested
Summary: tweeting against the maritime force established by the US to protect Red Sea shipping from Huthi attacks has resulted in an arrest in Bahrain, a move that shows how nervous Gulf rulers are of popular support for Palestinians....
- Saudi Arabia and the Obama heritage
Summary: US/Saudi relations under stress. The Iran factor. Congress and the courts a wild card. Obama’s successor will face a tricky task....
- The UAE’s Good COP routine
Summary: COP28 ended with a transition not a phase out but significant commitments were made to undertake meaningful climate action....
It is true that as the Iran war continues, Bahrain once again faces a significant crisis. However, the lens through which the situation is framed in this article is misleading. Reducing it to a simple narrative of sectarian oppression obscures the broader political realities that shape life for all Bahrainis.
The absence of meaningful democratic representation is not unique to one sect; it is a structural feature of the political system that affects all Bahrainis. Civic space and political participation are broadly restricted, and many Bahrainis across sectarian lines disagree with the state’s regional alignments, including normalisation with Israel.
The article also repeats a common Western narrative about “Sunni elites” dominating the country. In reality, ordinary Bahrainis, Sunni and Shi’a alike, exist within the same political structure and are collectively subject to the authority of the ruling system.
That said, it is fair to note that the repression following these events has affected Shi’a communities. To the extent that it appears sectarian, it is largely because the protests themselves are emerging from Shi’a groups expressing solidarity with their religious leader, who was heading a foreign government currently targeting Bahrain.