Bahraini Opposition Groups Condemn “Systematic Sectarian Persecution”

The petition was delivered to the UN Representative in Manama on Wednesday.

“Today, the Authority is still unwilling to solve the political crisis. The Authority’s misuse of power is threatening the majority of citizens on political and sectarian grounds. We fear that Bahrain may turn into a regional sectarian battle ground due to the Authority’s practice of religious and political persecution wrapped in security agreements,” stated the letter.

The opposition activists also condemned the international community’s muted response to the Bahraini regime’s crackdown on dissent and called for an end to the deadly clampdown.

“The Bahraini Authority has imported security forces on a sectarian basis to repress the citizens demanding democratic transition. This has produced regional polarization through categorizing victims on each side by their sect…The international community’s silence on the appalling political, economic, civil and rights situation in Bahrain is the real reason that has led to classifying the persecution against citizens to be politically and religiously motivated. This is because the State is adopting and sponsoring sectarian and hate speech and practices. The Authority has been trying to destroy the historic and cultural heritage of the citizens.”

The Bahraini opposition groups also slammed the regime’s refusal to resolve the political crisis via holding talks with the opposition.

“The Authority uses underhanded methods, such as organizing the “Civilization Debate” conference, to hide the truth of the religious persecution it practices against Shia Muslim citizens under the protection of the judiciary. While at the same time, it endorses extremists and refuses to talk with the opposition societies to solve the political crisis.”

They also warned against the systematic persecution against Shia Muslims in Bahrain and called for the UN protection of Bahraini citizens.

“The systematic religious persecution practiced against Shia citizens, and non-Shia dissidents demanding reform, is a serious threat to regional peace and security and fuels sectarian conflict…We deliver this letter, while a Public Relation event under the title, “Civilization Debate Conference”, is being held in a country of sectarian persecution, to call on you as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to provide protection for all Bahraini citizens from the mentioned practices, under the International Bill and International Law and the International Law for Human Rights as well as the responsibilities of the UN institutes given that Bahrain is a member of this organization.”

Meanwhile, human rights activists, opposition members and Bahraini anti-regime protesters rallied outside the UN offices in Manama ahead of the delivery of the letter on Wednesday.

Scores of people have been killed and many others put behind bars by regime forces since the outbreak of a popular uprising in Bahrain more than three years ago.

The protesters demand the downfall of Al Khalifah regime and want the establishment of a democratically elected government in the tiny Persian Gulf state.

Pro-democracy rallies are held in Bahrain almost on a regular basis in defiance of the deadly crackdown by Al Khalifah regime.