FRIDAY PRAYERS CANCELED IN PROTEST OF NEW LAW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001131

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2015
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL BA
SUBJECT: FRIDAY PRAYERS CANCELED IN PROTEST OF NEW LAW

REF: MANAMA 1091

Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) Eight political societies, including the boycotting
opposition and two somewhat pro-government groups, held a
silent protest July 29 against the recently passed Political
Societies Law. Leading Shi'a clerics set a precedent by
canceling their Friday prayers July 29 in protest against the
new law, which they labeled as anti-reform. Youth societies
have organized a campaign to amend the section of the law
requiring political society members to be at least 21 years
old. The Islamiya bloc in parliament vowed to present
amendments to the law in the upcoming parliamentary session.

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Silent Rally
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2. (SBU) Close to 1000 people (RSO estimate) participated in
a silent rally in Manama July 29 to protest the Political
Societies Law, which was passed by the parliament and
ratified by the King one week ago. Eight political
societies, including the boycotting opposition and two
somewhat pro-government groups, organized the peaceful
demonstration. Several of the societies' leaders told the
press that the law represents a step backwards in reforms and
that it should be either suspended or amended in the next
parliamentary session.


3. (SBU) Protesters carried signs against the law, and many
wore face masks. Members of the Bahrain Freedom Movement,
which is associated with Al Wifaq board member Abduljalil
Singace, distributed a strongly-worded statement calling on
all civil society organizations to work outside of the law.
The statement said that "our religious culture does not allow
us to dissolve in injustice, and the Al Khalifa (royal
family) evil may prove beneficial in awakening a
reorganization in the ranks." The statement also stressed
that Bahrain's case should be presented at the Forum for the
Future in November.


4. (SBU) According to press reports, the eight societies met
July 31 and agreed to send a letter to the King outlining
their reservations to the law. They also agreed to form a
committee to compare the law to political party laws in other
countries. The societies announced that they will hold a
seminar on the law on August 25 (to coincide with the
anniversary of the dissolution of the National Assembly in
1975).

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Friday Prayers Canceled
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5. (C) A number of Shi'a clerics, including the most
prominent ones, canceled Friday prayers July 29 to protest
the Political Societies Law. Al Wifaq chairman Sheikh Ali
Salman, Al Wifaq board member Hassan Mushaima, and Hussein Al
Najati stated publicly that they were canceling the prayers
to express dissatisfaction with the new law. Several sources
told EmbOffs that they had never heard of a cleric canceling
Friday prayers for political reasons in Bahrain or any other
country, and some thought the move was highly offensive to
Islam.

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MPs Pledge to Amend the Law
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6. (SBU) Several columnists wrote pieces against the law,
including Al Wasat editor Mansour Al Jamry. Al Jamry
lamented that the opposition had sacrificed its influence in
parliament by boycotting the 2002 elections, thereby allowing
the Political Societies Law and other restrictive measures to
be passed. He called on the opposition to cooperate with
reform-minded MPs and to participate in the 2006 elections.
MP Mohamed Al Abbas, spokesman of the Islamiya (Shi'a) bloc
in parliament, told the press that his bloc would propose
amendments to the law in the next parliamentary session and
would seek to change the name to the Political Parties Law.
Oppositionist National Democratic Action Society member
Ibrahim Sharif told the press he was not confident that
amendments could be made in parliament, as the appointed
Shura Council would have to approve them.

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Youth Societies Express Concern
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7. (SBU) According to press reports, a number of youth
societies met July 30 to discuss the article in the law that
increases the minimum age requirement for participation in
political societies from 18 to 21. Several of the societies
are planning to write a letter to the King asking him to
amend the law. Representatives from two youth societies
stated publicly that they would not join the other societies
in demanding changes to the law because they believe youth
should be concerned with social and cultural issues, not
politics. A youth leader told the press August 1 that youth
committees of political societies were considering
establishing themselves as independent entities that would
not be under the Political Societies Law.

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Comment
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8. (C) Demands to amend the Political Societies Law have
backing by some members of parliament and the Shura Council
(reftel). There is little chance that the King will respond
to demands made directly to him, as he expects the law to be
dealt with by the parliament. When parliament reconvenes in
October after the summer break, there will likely be
initiatives to change the controversial law. Until then, it
is unclear how much the opposition will use the issue to
increase tension with the government.

ZIADEH