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Manama: A political activist, who has been under fire from extremists for seeking to bring Sunni and Shiite religious leaders together in Bahrain, has vowed to continue his work despite limited success.
"We now have a deplorable situation where religious affiliations are more important than social cohesion and national unity. This is a terrible omen and we have a moral duty to ensure that we overcome divergences and consecrate unity between the people regardless of their sect," Shaikh Salah Al Jowder yesterday told Gulf News.
"We must not allow ourselves to be affected by the lack of success that has so far characterised the efforts to have Sunni and Shiite religious leaders sit together to sort out differences and limit their social and political effects."
Al Jowder, himself a Sunni religious leader who was elected in the 2002 municipal elections but failed in the 2006 legislative polls, said the current composition of the Council of Representatives compounded the situation.
"The three main political blocs in the Lower House are famous for their sectarianism. They are exclusive societies where you have to be a Shiite to join Al Wefaq and a Sunni to be a member of Asala or Islamic Menbar," he said.
Debate
"The composition has rendered the debate over any issue a matter of promoting a specific sect and supporting people of that sect, even when the debate is about development in other countries," said the activist. "Encouraging the MPs to think beyond their sects and work together for the sake of Bahrain is ostensibly a daunting task. Unfortunately, the Lower House acts through a sectarian prism and the people see it only in purely religious terms."
According to the activist, the liberals had failed to reach the parliament because they could not understand and appreciate the street.
"They were frozen in their 1960s mould. They could not understand that the people had changed and that the electorate wanted other ideals.
"The liberals have unfortunately failed to deliver, while religious movements have become more attractive to people who wanted to distance themselves from disappointments and frustrations," he said.
Al Jowder, a former influential leader within Al Asala, the Salafi movement, was sacked from the society after he took part in activities organised by other societies, including Al Wefaq.
The activist said positive interaction between different ideas and views would enrich society and would help consecrate national unity and cohesion.
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