OPINION:
S. Rob Sobhani’s recent claim that the King of Bahrain is adhering to good governance and consequently boosting U.S. interests in the region could not be further from the truth (“Bahrain, an island of stability amid Mideast chaos,” Web, Feb. 12).
Bahraini King Hamad Al-Khalifa may or may not be a friend of the United States, but oppressive, monarchical rule is why Bahrain is more unstable today than it was when pro-democracy protests began there in 2011. Demonstrations occur on a near-nightly basis throughout the country, Bahrain’s prisons are overflowing with peaceful activists and political prisoners, and King Hamad’s judicial system routinely uses anti-terrorism legislation to jail the king’s opponents, including children as young as 14. As a result, King Hamad has removed any space for civil society to engage with the ruling monarchy.
This policy was on display last month when Bahrain denaturalized 72 persons after accusing them of being associated with terrorism. While it is true that some of those who lost their citizenship are known to be affiliated with groups such as the Islamic State, the majority of the denaturalized persons were non-violent individuals who happened to have criticized the government. By lumping peaceful activists in with terrorists, King Hamad’s government has intentionally removed a major deterrent against violence.
King Hamad also employs policies and rhetoric that foster sectarianism and extremism in Bahrain and the region. A quick glance at the number of Shia in the country versus the number of Shia working for the government highlights these discriminatory hiring practices. Add to this the use of textbooks that vilify Shia and it is clear that King Hamad is encouraging sectarianism within his borders.
By combining government violence, sectarian discrimination, judicial harassment and the suffocation of civil society, King Hamad is actually fueling oppositional violence that will ultimately further destabilize Bahrain.
King Hamad’s reckless policies are already having an impact on the U.S. Naval Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain. U.S. personnel are restricted from visiting large swaths of the country, while the Bahrain School operated by the Department of Defense closed for security reasons ahead of the Feb. 14 uprising anniversary.
The king’s unwise and dangerous policies deserve condemnation if Bahrain is to remain a U.S. ally in this dangerous region.
HUSAIN ABDULLA
Executive director
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain
Washington
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