Political party in Bahrain
The
Al-Menber National Islamic Society
(
Arabic
:
????? ?????? ?????? ????????
,
lit.
'
Islamic National Tribune
'
) is the political wing of the
Sunni
Islamist
Al Eslah Society
in
Bahrain
and Bahrain's branch of the
Muslim Brotherhood
.
[1]
The president and patron of the Al Eslah Society is Shaikh
Isa bin Mohammed Al Khalifa
, a member of the
Al Khalifa
royal family and former labor minister of Bahrain.
[2]
Prominent members of Al-Menber include Salah Abdulrahman, Salah Al Jowder, and outspoken MP
Mohammed Khalid
. The party has generally backed government-sponsored legislation on economic issues, but has sought a clampdown on pop concerts, sorcery and soothsayers.
[
citation needed
]
Additionally, it has strongly opposed the government's accession to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
.
[3]
A Sunni Islamic party, it is well organised through a network of
mosques
and seek to promote a
conservative
social agenda while not directly challenging the Kingdom's government. It became a political society in 2006. Bahrain does not allow political parties by traditional definition. Before that it was merely a
think tank
and public affair society.
The group often cooperates with the
salafi
political bloc
Asalah
, especially on issues involving religious affairs and morals. Minbar seeks a personal status law that conforms to Sharia and is acceptable to both sects.
[1]
At times, Al-Menber has seemed significantly more liberal than either the pro-business Independent Bloc and Asalah, particularly in its opposition to proposed legislation that it argues would restrict
freedom of assembly
. In February 2006, Al-Menber led parliament's refusal to ratify the government's signature of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
, with the party's president, Dr Salah Alli, explaining, "[The Convention] means that Muslims could convert to another religion, something against the Islamic law."
[4]
In the 2006 election they have worked out a deal with Asalah to avoid splitting the Sunni Islamist vote.
On the issue of
women's political rights in Bahrain
, Al-Menber MP
Ali Ahmed
told the Bahrain Tribune (26 January 2006):
Granting women their political rights is not against Islamic precepts. Women should be motivated to achieve their aspirations and contribute to the Kingdom’s development. We support women’s political empowerment and want to field the best women who can win. We believe that having a female head of state or president is against religious regulations, but any post below that is open to women.
[
citation needed
]
In 2006's general election, the party promised to field several female candidates, with eye specialist Dr Haifa Al Mahmood apparently selected; however after an electoral pact was worked out with
Asalah
, which opposes women candidates, Al-Menber produced an all-male list of candidates. The party has though backed women's rights activists' campaign for the introduction of a unified personal status law, which was vehemently opposed by
Shia
Islamists.
Electoral history
[
edit
]
The group won three seats in the
Bahraini
Council of Representatives
(parliament) in the
2002 election
, seven seats at the
2006 election
, but only two seats at the
2010 election
and one seat at the
2014 election
. It did not win any seats at the
2018 election
.
Council of Representatives elections
[
edit
]
Election
|
Party leader
|
Votes
|
%
|
Seats
|
+/?
|
Position
|
2002
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
3rd
|
2006
|
Salah Abdulrahman
|
|
|
|
4
|
2nd
|
2010
|
|
5,452
|
|
|
5
|
3rd
|
2014
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2nd
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]