By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – 23 Shiite Muslims were arrested Monday in Bahrain for an alleged plot to topple the country’s Sunni Muslim monarchy.   The government claims that the individuals are terrorists attempting to execute a foreign-backed coup d’état.   These accusations come as Bahrain prepares for its upcoming parliamentary elections on October 23.  

In anticipation of the October election, the government initiated an intensive security crackdown targeting potential threats to national security.   Bahrain’s Sunni minority maintains power within the country against the backdrop of intense religious and political conflict.  The Sunni monarchy is backed by regional power Saudi Arabia, while predominately Shiite Iran supports Bahrain’s Shiite community.  The religious dynamics in Bahrain remain a constant stressor in social and political relations as each group seeks to solidify their control of the political arena.  Currently, Shiites hold 17 of the 40 parliamentary seats, but Sunnis fear that they could become the political majority after the October election. 

Among the 23 accused Shiites are academics, civil servants and at least eight opposition figures and human rights activists.  The arrests are just the latest in a wider security campaign which has led to the detention of over 250 Shiites.  The detention of Shiites, mostly youths, has fueled social tensions and has spurred riots and street clashes with police.  In response to criticism from numerous human rights organizations, the government articulated its fear that Iran could use members of the Shiite community to operate campaigns of sabotage and espionage during the upcoming elections.

As part of its new domestic security strategy the government also decided to reassert state control over mosques within Bahrain.  Defending this move, Crown Prince Salman said in comments to BNA news agency that “[r]egaining control of the pulpits so they are not hostage to incompetent politicians or clerics who have lost their way…is a starting point for developing a sound religious orientation.”   Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa notes that the mosques would be run so as to promote “the values of tolerance and moderation.”

Gulf Daily News further reports that authorities have been given strict instructions to deprive those attempting to jeopardize the security of the nation of legal rights and services.  Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al-Khalifa stated that “[c]itizens committed to the law and constitution can’t be treated on the same footing with law-breakers seeking to subvert national security and stability.”

Despite extensive criticism from human rights agencies, the business community within Bahrain has come out in staunch support of the government’s tougher security measures.  The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry commended Prime Minister Al-Khalifa and the Crown Prince for disrupting the plot to destabilize Bahrain.  International rights organizations however, fear that future detentions of Shiites may destabilize the country as social pressures between Sunnis and Shiites rise. 

For more information, please see;

Agence France Presse – Bahrain to Reassert State Control Over Mosques – 6 Sept. 2010

Gulf Daily News – Cabinet Praises Swift Arrests of Terror Plotters – 6 Sept. 2010

Los Angeles Times – Bahrain Arrests Dozens of Shiite Muslims Accused of plotting Coup d’etat – 6 Sept. 2010

Telegraph U.K. – Peers Attack Bahrain Over Human Rights – 6 Sept. 2010

Bahrain News Agency – BCCI Backs Measures to Preserver Bahrain’s Security and Stability – 5 Sept. 2010