Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa made a derogatory statement on Wednesday (March 2, 2016) against the Shiite sect which the majority of the indigenous people of Bahrain follow, hinting that the set of beliefs they adhere to is  "Bid'ah", heterodox.

In a meeting with Arab Interior Ministers held in Tunisia, the Bahraini minister said "We will protect our society from any heterodox denominational doctrines." It is noteworthy that the Salafist Saudis describe the Shiite sect's beliefs as heretical.

His remarks came in the context of questioning the allegiance of the Shiite majority in Bahrain, as he said: "We should protect our society [...] from all kinds of foreign allegiances such as the Wilayat al-Faqih (Islamic Jurist Rule in Iran)."

The minister's stance against the Shia citizens in Bahrain is nothing new as he recently made a statement on February 21, 2016 during a meeting with media outlets, in which he refused to accept the Shiites as partners in the island kingdom, accusing the followers of the Shiite sect of being subordinates to Iran.

"No one should be marginalized but those who betray their nationalism. Those who throw themselves into Iran's lap cannot be partners in building our country," he stressed, wondering  "how could those who resorted to embassies be partners in reform; how could they be accepted in the military and security bodies."

He further stated that "Iran laid the foundation of sectarian extremism in Bahrain which the Bahraini Shiites were affected by, tempting those who sold their nationalism with a cheap price. This is what's called national betrayal."

Ever since the Saudi forces entered the country to crush the popular uprising five years ago, the Bahraini authorities have been following the Saudi way in dealing with the Shiite majority, starting with the destruction of 40 Shiite mosques and violation of their right to practice their religious rituals.

Arabic Issue