BAHRAIN: SHIA ULAMA COUNCIL ELECTIONS

UNCLAS MANAMA 000029 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KISL BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: SHIA ULAMA COUNCIL ELECTIONS REF: 08 MANAMA 536 ¶1. (U) Summary: A governing body for Bahrain's mainstream Shia clergy selected new leadership but we expect continuity in the senior clergy's politics. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Ulama Council held its regularly scheduled election for the seven-member Central Committee on November ¶21. Former Chairman Sheikh Isa Qassem (the most popular Shia cleric on the island) and Deputy Chairman Sayed Abdulla Al Ghoraifi did not run for re-election, despite requests from other Ulama Council members for them to do so. Qassem and Al Ghoraifi will remain advisors to, and supporters of, the council. ¶3. (U) The new Central Committee members are: - Sheikh Majeed Al Mishal - Sayed Mohsin Al Ghoraifi - Sayed Haider Al Sitri - Sheikh Ali Rahma - Sheikh Ahmed Amralla - Sheikh Isa Al Mo'min - Sheikh Fadhel Al Zaki Al Mishal was elected Chairman, Al Ghoraifi Deputy Chairman, and Al Mo'min and Al Zaki treasurers. Sayed Haider Al Sitri is also a Wifaq member of parliament. ¶4. (U) The new leadership is somewhat younger than its predecessors. Local observers have suggested that while this might indicate a change in the council's strategies, they continue to pursue the same policy goals, including opposition to a secular statute on family law, and support for Wifaq's campaigns against sectarian discrimination and the naturalization of foreign Sunnis. Mishal and Ghoraifi met with the former leadership on January 3 to discuss their plans for the council and its future activities. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Even though Qassem is no longer the council chairman, he retains enormous personal prestige. Critics of Qassem's chairmanship of the council hope that his departure will nudge the council toward a more quietist focus on religion rather than politics, but there will be no diminution of Qassem's influence in the Shia community. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL