Is Bahrain’s door for dialogue closed? Wednesday, 23 March 2011 02:02

The opposition is close to realizing many of the democratic reforms that the Bahraini people have been waiting for. This represents an incentive for people in neighboring countries to change and push their systems to make some concessions, give liberties, such as setting up parliaments with full legislative powers, fair distribution of electoral districts, fighting against corruption and sectarian strife, and ending naturalization. However, the opposition’s greed and lack of trust in the offers made by authorities in power is exacerbating the situation and spiraling into a dangerous maze. Such dangers are represented by the entrance of the Peninsula Shield Forces, imposition of emergency laws, escalation of the campaign of arrests amongst ranks of the opposition, driving the streets of Bahrain to explode and divide the island.

Did the blessed revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya present contradictory messages that instigated and confused the rebels in Bahrain? Did they blur the vision of the uprising from seeing their legitimate claims being handled by the Crown Prince with remarkable flexibility and cooperation? There was a hopeful possibility that a formula to meet the uprising’s demands would be reached, thereby raising the ceiling of freedom in the Gulf in general. There was a chance for the Shiite community’s position to be equal with others, eliminate sectarian strife, and unify the entire population of Bahrain as a people through an elected government.

Did the revolutions in other Middle Eastern countries simultaneously inspire and mislead them to follow suit and demand that the entire system changes? This is what led to the collapse of the initiative, and transforming peaceful demonstrations that previously aimed for structural reforms and the establishment a constitutional monarchy to try to overthrow the government. This is what the Bahraini demonstrations have become: escalating demands that are dismissive of concessions presented to them, pursuing a regime change, omitting the rights of other divisions and various affiliates, forgetting the interests of the Arab Gulf state of Bahrain and sectarian balances. Suddenly, their demonstrations have become a paper written by a single category that claims to speak on behalf of the entire people without asking their permission, thus losing respect and falling out of the bounds of reason and logic.

I’m not with the regime in how it is dealing with events, nor am I for the escalation of the insane opposition, which rejects dialogue and collaborates with a foreign country that it derives its protection and support from. The issue should not be dealt with by each side leaping into the arms of external forces. The issue is the survival of the Kingdom of Bahrain, an Arab Gulf nation, which every Shiite and Sunni citizen feels equal in. A country that protects each citizen and guarantees their liberty, democracy, and legitimate rights. The issue is not about Shiites and Sunnis. The issue is citizenship that is not undermined by prejudice. It is the right for both sects to live with dignity and ensure their fundamental rights in their homeland. Neither one of them should feel different or that their sense of belonging leans toward any direction that weakens their Arab identify and membership to the Gulf Cooperation Council. When did the Bahraini citizen, Sunni or Shiite, lose touch of this instinctive concept? That places a major question mark in national loyalty, which is dangerous and frightening.

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