May 31 marks the 153rd anniversary of Bahrain’s signing of the “Perpetual Treaty of Peace and Friendship” in 1861. Here, we consider this treaty’s significance…
Month: May 2014
The rejection of participation in this year’s Parliamentary elections by Al-Wefaq Secretary-General, Sheikh Ali Salman, is a deeply depressing statement for all those who care…
The radicalizing influence of Iran’s Islamic revolution The Islamic Revolution in Iran stirred up Islamist political activism across the Arab world. This occurred indirectly, as…
The release of Nabeel Rajab marks an important opportunity. At a time when there have recently been renewed tensions, Nabeel Rajab’s release is certainly a constructive…
The Grand Ayatollahs of Al-Najaf like Muhsin al-Hakim (died 1970) and his successor Abdulqassim al-Khoei – who the traditional Shia clerical leadership of Bahrain looked…
Arguably, the 1973 National Assembly marked the moment when Shia Islamic movements gained ascendancy over the leftist and nationalist “progressives”. Up until that moment, the…
(Bahrain Parliament 1973; left to right - Ayatollah Isa Qassim, Sheikh Abbas al-Rayyes, Sheikh Abdulamir al-Jamri) The origins of the national assembly political blocs Pressure…
Dr. Gearóid Ó Cuinn of Lancaster Law School paints a terrifying picture of Bahrain drowning in “torrents” of tear gas. He gives the impression that…
From claims of being an entirely non-violent movement, to then acknowledging the rise of radical and violent groups within Bahrain’s opposition, spokespersons for the opposition…
Beginnings of labour activism and civil society movements With the discovery of oil in Bahrain in 1931, civil society activism often took the form of…