al Khalifa uses Sunni “hard-liner” to agitate false dichotomy and paranoia of Iranian involment in Bharain
Hard-line Sunni voice gains audience in Bahrain
The Associated Press
Friday, June 24, 2011 | 8:36 a.m.
A visit by Bahrain’s king to Sunni supporters this week was also something of a royal blessing for a rising political star: an Islamic scholar who claims the Gulf kingdom is under threat from both foe Iran and ally America.
Once consigned to the fringes, Sunni hard-liners like Abdullatif al-Mahmood are suddenly gaining a receptive audience amid a government crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
It’s another sign of Bahrain’s deeply polarized atmosphere as the kingdom’s Sunni rulers try to open talks with the Shiite opposition after violence that has left 31 people dead since February.
Al-Mahmood’s group appears to be tapping into deep-rooted fears over Shiite giant Iran and growing questions about commitment from Washington, which bases the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
“We won’t compromise on the safety of our nation,” al-Mahmood said during the Tuesday visit by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
It was a clear slap at Iran, who Bahrain’s leaders and Gulf Arab allies accuse of stirring the Shiite-led demonstrations in Bahrain. He also rejected calls by some U.S. officials to cut Bahrain’s special trade status following the clampdown on dissent.
“Crises don’t scare us,” said the king as al-Mahmood stood nearby. …more
