Bahrain’s Chamber of Commerce lashes out in aggression and paranoia toward neighbors as Grand Prix plans falter

Bahrain business cuts Iran, Lebanon, Iraq ties
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Associated Press

An influential Bahraini business group decided Tuesday to freeze ties with Iran, Iraq and Lebanon in response to what it sees as foreign meddling during Shiite-led protests in the kingdom.

The move by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry is likely to ratchet up tensions between the small island nation – which ruled by a Sunni monarchy and is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet – and its heavily Shiite neighbors.

The group last month called for a boycott of goods from Iran, which has criticized the crackdown by Bahrain’s government on Shiite protesters demanding greater rights. In freezing ties, the chamber said it acted to highlight its displeasure toward “some countries that have intervened in the kingdom’s affairs during its crisis.”

It specifically blamed Iran for “continued interference” and criticized unnamed groups in Lebanon for creating “an atmosphere of chaos and tension and division among the people.” That appeared to be a reference to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Bahrain’s minority Sunni rulers and their Gulf Arab allies have accused Iran of fueling and seeking to benefit from the unrest. Tehran denies the charges.

At least 30 people have been killed since protests broke out in February, and hundreds of demonstrators have been detained. Bahrain’s Shiites, who account for about 70 of the country’s 1 million citizens, have long claimed they are subject to discrimination and are seeking greater rights and political freedoms.

Amnesty International, a leading human rights group, this week urged Bahrain’s king to overturn the death sentences against two people arrested during the protests.

The sentences were upheld by a special closed-door appeals court presided over by military and civilian judges on Sunday. The defendants were convicted of killing two policemen during a government crackdown on the unrest in March.