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| Bahraini peace rally calls for national unity | |
| 2008-06-21 | |
| MANAMA — More than 4,000 people took part in the probably the biggest-ever peace rally in Bahrain on Thursday, denouncing sectarianism and calling for national unity, according to the General Directorate of Northern Governorate Police. The peace rally raised hopes of an end to violence in Shia-dominated villages after leading Shia leaders from the Islamic Council, in an appeal, urged a halt to all protests. The appeal followed an initiative by the head of the National Action Democratic Society, Ibrahim Sharif, of a national dialogue to combat the spread of sectarianism in Bahrain. The initiative was hailed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. The king ordered the authorities concerned to reinforce national unity by boosting citizen welfare services. The violence, which started last December after the death of a protester because of what the organisers of the protest claimed as the usage of tear gas, gained momentum after the arrest of many people in Karzakan village in connection with the murder of a policeman. The situation grew tense when sectarian statements were issued during the last few weeks by Salafist MP Jassim Al Saidi, that offended the Shias for criticising their spiritual leader Isa Qassim. The President of Bahrain Transparency Society, Abdulnabi Al Ekri, hailed the Shia scholar's statement and said that it was a move in the right direction. To avoid violence, there should be a legislation to combat discrimination against any community in Bahrain and to promoting national unity, he suggested. Meanwhile, in a statement issued yesterday, the Bahrain Journalists Association appealed to newspapers and journalists to avoid misusing the freedom of the Press and to discourage publishing of any sectarian reports or news items.
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| Posted by:Steve White |