Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): A photo published by the US Embassy in Bahrain on its Instagram account displaying a visit it paid to a Ma'tam (mourning hall) in Manama irritated hundreds of Shiites. Citizens were irritated because the delegation, which consisted of 3 female employees, didn't put on veils during their visit to the Ma'tam, which has religious sanctity?

Nonetheless, we wanted to ask the embassy about the cause and aim of the visit. Did it aim at investigating the fact that Shiites in Bahrain were subjected to discrimination in practicing their religious rites?

If that was the aim, the embassy delegation would have been better off walking to Bin Salloum Ma'tam, which is located only 400 meters away from Al-Ajam Al-Kabir Ma'atm (5 minutes away), which they visited, to see how the security authorities prevented, on the same day and at the time of their visit, the largest mourning procession in Bahrain that night (the eve of the martyrdom of Imam Al-Hasan Al-Mojtaba).

If the embassy wanted to inquire about discrimination against Shiites, it would have been better if they asked any Bahraini citizen wearing black that night and walking in Manama neighborhoods about the practices of the Bahraini government against the Shiite majority.

The embassy is aware of everything and sends periodic reports to the US Department of State which includes every single detail in its annual report on religious freedoms. So, why did this visit take place?

Did the delegation visit the Ma'tam and post this photo to ameliorate Bahrain's stained image, especially with respect to its treatment of the indigenous Shiite people, who make up the majority of citizens? Or was it only for the purpose of taking photos that aim at providing diplomatic compliments to the regime, and nothing more?

The US Embassy and those concerned in Bahrain affairs should take notice that the reason for what the Shiite community in Bahrain is subjected to is political. The problems that the Shiites in Bahrain suffer from due to the regime are not limited to their freedom to launch a funeral procession here or hold a Husseini Majles (religious mourning gathering) there.

The main problem in the country is political, related to the grievances of Shiite citizens, who feel that they are second-class citizens, that they are prevented from joining the military and the Interior Ministry, and that they are discriminated against in jobs and scholarships. The political problem in Bahrain is caused by the lack of political representation of this sect in the Parliament, which has turned into a joke of a council that the people don't even take seriously. 

The problem in Bahrain is not human rights, or related to prisoners who must be released, as prisoners who deserve their freedom now, have been imprisoned because they have raised their voice against this discrimination to which they, their families and loved ones are subjected, and this congestion is felt by all. Even if protests are absent due to excessive repression and harsh sanctions -- it will continue until that day when Shiites do not feel discriminated against, marginalized, neglected and deprived. 

Arabic Version