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Manama: The Lower House has come under fire from a religious leader who accused it of engaging in ridiculous behaviour that promoted sectarianism. "What we are witnessing now at the Council of Representatives is a series of ridiculous and silly attitudes generated by and promoting sectarianism, but presented to the general public as serious drives to protect the rights and interests of the people," Shaikh Hameed Ebrahim Al Mubarak, chief judge of the Jaafari (Shiite) Court of Appeal, said. "The attempts to quiz ministers are not at all objective and do not seek to protect the people's rights. They are rather sectarian and should not emanate from the legislative body," he said during a sermon on Friday.
Al Mubarak is the highest religious leader to condemn the latest sectarian alignment at the 40-member council after the Sunni blocs agreed to quiz Agriculture and Municipal Affairs Minister Mansoor Bin Rajab, a Shiite, while Al Wefaq, the only Shiite bloc, is trying to grill Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmad Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, a Sunni official. The Sunni blocs have rejected Al Wefaq's drive, claiming that it was unconstitutional, while Al Wefaq said it did not wish to be part of the team asking for an investigation into alleged administrative and financial mismanagement by Bin Rajab. 'Recognise others' Both Sunni and Shiite camps claim that they are not motivated by sectarian affiliations but former MPs and several political leaders reject the claims as "untrue", arguing that the outcome of the legislative elections in 2006 "had laid the bases for a parliament divided alongside sects". "The parliament today reflects the divisions that we have in our society," said Al Mubarak. "We must be careful not to think that it is the only problem. The main problem is that we do not tolerate others, minimise their contributions and attribute while we glorify ourselves. This has to end, and we must brave enough to break the barrier of fear and recognise the others religiously and politically." Controversy: Minister comes under fire Three parliamentary blocs and an independent MP have slammed a state minister in charge of a national employment scheme for holding an exclusive meeting with MPs representing Al Wefaq. The criticism published in two statements yesterday reflected the uneasy sectarian environment in Bahraini politics and parliamentary life. "We are shocked by the meeting between State Minister for Foreign Affairs and head of the Labour Fund Dr Nizar Al Baharna with Al Wefaq to discuss a work plan and the necessary steps to employ jobless graduates," a statement from Al Asala, Al Menbar and the Future blocs said.
"The employment scheme is a national plan that includes all Bahrainis and not one just political formation. In fact, the labour issue should not be politicised at all." The blocs believe that Al Baharna, a Shiite minister, is favouring Al Wefaq, which with 17 MPs is the only Shiite formation in the 40-member lower house.
But Al Baharna said his meeting with Al Wefaq was the first of a series of consultations with all the political formations. MP Jassem Al Saeedi, a Salafi independent, said Al Baharna's meeting with Al Wefaq was "purely sectarian and does not contribute to the fight against religious discrimination".
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