Adel Mouwda
Encyclopedia
Sheikh Adel Al Mouwda was the second deputy chairman of Bahrain
's parliament of 2002, the Chamber of Deputies
, and the former leader of salafist party, Asalah. Sheikh Al Mouwda is considered the leading spokesman for political Islam in Bahrain and is known for his forthright views, which has seen him often quoted in the international press.
In March 2011, Mouwda was expelled from the Asalah bloc for boycotting an extraordinary meeting of parliament voting on Al Wefaq's en-masse resignation.
, telling MPs that the money should be used to construct housing over the extensive mounds, saying "We must have pride in our Islamic roots and not some ancient civilisation from another place and time, which has only given us a jar here and a bone there."
Along with Al-Menbar Islamic Society
's Sheikh Mohammed Khalid
, Sheikh Al Mouwda has clashed repeatedly with government ministers in parliament over alcohol sales and claimed credit for enforcing a ban on alcohol in five star hotels over Ramadan 2006. He has vowed to "Clean Bahrain's tourism sector from its alleged dependence on this poison."http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=138106&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28360
Although he has sought to reach out to Shia leaders in Bahrain, Sheikh Al Mouwda has been critical of Iranian influence in the region, telling the New York Times: "If Iran acted like an Islamic power, just Islam without Shiism, then Arabs would accept it as a regional Islamic power. But if it came to us with the Shia agenda as a Shiite power, then it will not succeed and it will be powerful, but despised and hated."http://www.iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2006&m=02&d=05&a=6
Like other Bahraini Islamist leaders such as Ali Salman
, Sheikh Al Mouwda formerly lived in London. The radicalization of his political views is said to have occurred whilst studying at the University of North London
(now London Metropolitan University
).
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
's parliament of 2002, the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...
, and the former leader of salafist party, Asalah. Sheikh Al Mouwda is considered the leading spokesman for political Islam in Bahrain and is known for his forthright views, which has seen him often quoted in the international press.
In March 2011, Mouwda was expelled from the Asalah bloc for boycotting an extraordinary meeting of parliament voting on Al Wefaq's en-masse resignation.
Political positions
Sheikh Al Mouwda has been at the forefront of criticism of government plans to build a new national museum to showcase the ancient Dilmun Burial MoundsDilmun Burial Mounds
The Dilmun Burial Mounds is a necropolis in Bahrain dating back to the Dilmun era.A Danish group was excavating the capital city of the Bronze Age when they opened some tumuli and discovered items dating to around 4100 - 3700 BP of the same culture...
, telling MPs that the money should be used to construct housing over the extensive mounds, saying "We must have pride in our Islamic roots and not some ancient civilisation from another place and time, which has only given us a jar here and a bone there."
Along with Al-Menbar Islamic Society
Al-Menbar Islamic Society
Al Menbar National Islamic Society is the political wing of the Al Eslah Society in Bahrain, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. A Sunni Islamist party, it is well organised through a network of mosques and seek to promote a conservative social agenda while not directly challenging the...
's Sheikh Mohammed Khalid
Mohammed Khalid
One of Bahrain’s most outspoken Islamist MPs is Sheikh Mohammed Khalid, the Al-Menbar Islamic Society representative from the Northern Governorate...
, Sheikh Al Mouwda has clashed repeatedly with government ministers in parliament over alcohol sales and claimed credit for enforcing a ban on alcohol in five star hotels over Ramadan 2006. He has vowed to "Clean Bahrain's tourism sector from its alleged dependence on this poison."http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=138106&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28360
Although he has sought to reach out to Shia leaders in Bahrain, Sheikh Al Mouwda has been critical of Iranian influence in the region, telling the New York Times: "If Iran acted like an Islamic power, just Islam without Shiism, then Arabs would accept it as a regional Islamic power. But if it came to us with the Shia agenda as a Shiite power, then it will not succeed and it will be powerful, but despised and hated."http://www.iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2006&m=02&d=05&a=6
Like other Bahraini Islamist leaders such as Ali Salman
Ali Salman
Ali Salman is the president of the Al-Wefaq political society in Bahrain. He is a Twelver Shi'a cleric educated in Qom. In January 1995 the Bahraini government forcibly exiled him to Dubai for leading a popular campaign demanding the reinstatement of the constitution and the restoration of...
, Sheikh Al Mouwda formerly lived in London. The radicalization of his political views is said to have occurred whilst studying at the University of North London
University of North London
The University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
(now London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
).
External links
- Interview with Salafi Sheikh Adel al- Moawda (English), Asharq Alawsat, 17 September 2006
- Members of the Chamber of Deputies with links