Analyst: Interpreting Situation in Bahrain through Prism of Sects A Mistake
It is not just the Shiite majority that has risen demanding a political opening in Bahrain, but rather a wide spectrum of groups that includes Sunnis as well. Therefore, it is a mistake to interpret the current situation in Bahrain through the prism of sects or classes.
Speaking to IQNA, Dr. Kaveh Afrasiabi, author and political scientist, added that over the past year, despite growing government repression, the popular struggle for human rights and democracy in Bahrain has continued unabated. As a result, the situation has reached an impasse and it remains to be seen what is in store in 2013 for the brave Bahrainis who have defied the odds against them by waging this tireless battle for a regime change.
Political scientist and author of Iranian origin said we can safely assume that the Saudi backing of the ruling al-Khalifa and their repressive measures will continue, partly because of Bahrain's proximity to Saudi Arabia and the Saudi's fear of a democratic spill-over threatening their closed political system. By all indications, there is a direct linkage between the current struggles for change throughout the Arab world impacted by the Arab Spring, and Islamic Awakening.
“I have personally repeated written about the double standards and hypocrisy of Western nations that have turned a blind eye to the on-going atrocities in Bahrain, which is rooted in their material interests to perpetuate the status quo, as a result of which these western governments and their compliant media have once again exposed their biases and fake pretense to respecting universal human rights. Suffice to notice their different approach to the crisis in Syria, which is partly fueled by foreign intervention, including the Saudis.”
In my opinion, the Saudis should be made aware that their pattern of repressive policy requires an urgent modification, otherwise their push for regime change in Syria may indeed backfire and turn against them. There is a connection between Bahrain and Syria and if the Saudis keep pushing for violent overthrow of the government in Damascus, they may end up paying a price in places closer to home and that is an inescapable reality, he went on to say.
Finally, with respect to Iran's reaction to the crisis in Bahrain, he added that obviously Iran is very concerned about the plight of the population and the regime's recourse to increasingly repressive measures targeting innocent Bahrains. The Iranian people apart from the Iranian government must show their solidarity to the oppressed Bahrains just as they have repeatedly toward the Palestinian people.
Afrasiabi who has taught political science at many US universities underlined that Iran should pressure the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council states to lean on Saudi Arabia and Bahrain's government to stop the repression and opt for genuine political dialogue with the opposition. At the same time, Iran should send clear signals to Saudi Arabia that it considers the fate of Syria and Bahrain as closely intertwined. Naturally, this calls for close regional coordination, such as with the Iraqis, who are a stakeholder in both crises.
1167886
Political scientist and author of Iranian origin said we can safely assume that the Saudi backing of the ruling al-Khalifa and their repressive measures will continue, partly because of Bahrain's proximity to Saudi Arabia and the Saudi's fear of a democratic spill-over threatening their closed political system. By all indications, there is a direct linkage between the current struggles for change throughout the Arab world impacted by the Arab Spring, and Islamic Awakening.
“I have personally repeated written about the double standards and hypocrisy of Western nations that have turned a blind eye to the on-going atrocities in Bahrain, which is rooted in their material interests to perpetuate the status quo, as a result of which these western governments and their compliant media have once again exposed their biases and fake pretense to respecting universal human rights. Suffice to notice their different approach to the crisis in Syria, which is partly fueled by foreign intervention, including the Saudis.”
In my opinion, the Saudis should be made aware that their pattern of repressive policy requires an urgent modification, otherwise their push for regime change in Syria may indeed backfire and turn against them. There is a connection between Bahrain and Syria and if the Saudis keep pushing for violent overthrow of the government in Damascus, they may end up paying a price in places closer to home and that is an inescapable reality, he went on to say.
Finally, with respect to Iran's reaction to the crisis in Bahrain, he added that obviously Iran is very concerned about the plight of the population and the regime's recourse to increasingly repressive measures targeting innocent Bahrains. The Iranian people apart from the Iranian government must show their solidarity to the oppressed Bahrains just as they have repeatedly toward the Palestinian people.
Afrasiabi who has taught political science at many US universities underlined that Iran should pressure the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council states to lean on Saudi Arabia and Bahrain's government to stop the repression and opt for genuine political dialogue with the opposition. At the same time, Iran should send clear signals to Saudi Arabia that it considers the fate of Syria and Bahrain as closely intertwined. Naturally, this calls for close regional coordination, such as with the Iraqis, who are a stakeholder in both crises.
1167886
