Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA2068
2006-12-26 07:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
DEATH OF SENIOR CLERIC BRINGS SHIA OUT INTO THE
how-toVZCZCXRO3529 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMK #2068 3600740 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 260740Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6222 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 002068
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV KISL BA POL
SUBJECT: DEATH OF SENIOR CLERIC BRINGS SHIA OUT INTO THE
STREETS
REF: MANAMA 2061
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 002068
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV KISL BA POL
SUBJECT: DEATH OF SENIOR CLERIC BRINGS SHIA OUT INTO THE
STREETS
REF: MANAMA 2061
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (SBU) Shaikh Abdul Amir Al Jamri, one of Bahrain's most
prominent Shia clerics, died after a long illness December
18, bringing thousands of Bahraini Shia into the streets that
same evening and again on December 22 for a funeral
procession and graveside ceremony. Al Jamri, whose sons
Mansour and Mohammed Jameel are well-known in their own
right, as editor-in-chief of Arabic daily Al Wasat and member
of parliament respectively, had been quiet the past few years
as he struggled with declining health. He gained political
prominence as a leading member of Bahrain's first parliament,
which convened in 1973. He was also a leader of the Shia
movement to promote that community's political rights during
the 1990s, which eventually spiraled downward into street
clashes, sporadic bombings, mass arrests, torture, and even
some detainee deaths. Al Jamri remained adamantly opposed to
violence but nonetheless was imprisoned for over three years
starting in 1996, spending about one-and-a-half years in
solitary confinement. He was released in 1999 by the current
King Hamad, who had just ascended to the throne, one day
after Al Jamri had been sentenced to serve ten years in
prison.
2. (SBU) Some 10-20,000 supporters poured into the streets
December 18, converging on a highway running near many Shia
villages on the northern end of Bahrain's main island for a
slow, several-mile funeral procession in the evening. There
were no reports of clashes although cement walls lining the
route were covered with graffiti saying "Death to Hamad" (the
King),"Death to Khalifa" (the Prime Minister),and "Go to
Hell Al Khalifa" in both Arabic and English. Property owners
quickly painted over the graffiti the next day. A similar
number of followers turned out for a December 22 march and
ceremony at the Bani Jamra cemetery where he was buried.
Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown
Prince Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa both paid condolence
calls on the Al Jamri family during the three-day mourning
period immediately following the death. Shaikh Khalifa
publicly called Shaikh Al Jamri "my brother, colleague, and
friend."
3. (C) Comment: Al Jamri's death comes at a time when
leading Shia opposition political society Al Wifaq, having
just become the largest political bloc in parliament, has
been looking for ways to capitalize on its electoral success
and ensure that the government treats it seriously as a
political force inside the parliament. Its decision to
boycott the opening session of parliament (reftel) was no
doubt intended to send the King the message that Al Wifaq
must be listened to. Al Jamri's death, and the presence of
great numbers of Shia on the streets, only reinforced the
message that the Bahraini Shia population does indeed remain
a strong force that cannot be ignored.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV KISL BA POL
SUBJECT: DEATH OF SENIOR CLERIC BRINGS SHIA OUT INTO THE
STREETS
REF: MANAMA 2061
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (SBU) Shaikh Abdul Amir Al Jamri, one of Bahrain's most
prominent Shia clerics, died after a long illness December
18, bringing thousands of Bahraini Shia into the streets that
same evening and again on December 22 for a funeral
procession and graveside ceremony. Al Jamri, whose sons
Mansour and Mohammed Jameel are well-known in their own
right, as editor-in-chief of Arabic daily Al Wasat and member
of parliament respectively, had been quiet the past few years
as he struggled with declining health. He gained political
prominence as a leading member of Bahrain's first parliament,
which convened in 1973. He was also a leader of the Shia
movement to promote that community's political rights during
the 1990s, which eventually spiraled downward into street
clashes, sporadic bombings, mass arrests, torture, and even
some detainee deaths. Al Jamri remained adamantly opposed to
violence but nonetheless was imprisoned for over three years
starting in 1996, spending about one-and-a-half years in
solitary confinement. He was released in 1999 by the current
King Hamad, who had just ascended to the throne, one day
after Al Jamri had been sentenced to serve ten years in
prison.
2. (SBU) Some 10-20,000 supporters poured into the streets
December 18, converging on a highway running near many Shia
villages on the northern end of Bahrain's main island for a
slow, several-mile funeral procession in the evening. There
were no reports of clashes although cement walls lining the
route were covered with graffiti saying "Death to Hamad" (the
King),"Death to Khalifa" (the Prime Minister),and "Go to
Hell Al Khalifa" in both Arabic and English. Property owners
quickly painted over the graffiti the next day. A similar
number of followers turned out for a December 22 march and
ceremony at the Bani Jamra cemetery where he was buried.
Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown
Prince Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa both paid condolence
calls on the Al Jamri family during the three-day mourning
period immediately following the death. Shaikh Khalifa
publicly called Shaikh Al Jamri "my brother, colleague, and
friend."
3. (C) Comment: Al Jamri's death comes at a time when
leading Shia opposition political society Al Wifaq, having
just become the largest political bloc in parliament, has
been looking for ways to capitalize on its electoral success
and ensure that the government treats it seriously as a
political force inside the parliament. Its decision to
boycott the opening session of parliament (reftel) was no
doubt intended to send the King the message that Al Wifaq
must be listened to. Al Jamri's death, and the presence of
great numbers of Shia on the streets, only reinforced the
message that the Bahraini Shia population does indeed remain
a strong force that cannot be ignored.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE