Al-Menbar Islamic Society
Encyclopedia
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 Kingdom's government. The party won four seats in Bahrain's 2006 general election, down from eight seats in 2002.
At times, Al Menbar has seemed significantly more liberal than either the pro-business Independent Bloc and the salafist Asalah, particularly in its opposition to proposed legislation that it argues would restrict freedom of assembly
. MP Mohammed Khalid
's forthright expression of views has attracted controversy particularly over his campaigns against the filming of Big Brother
in Bahrain, to ban a concert by Lebanese singer, Nancy Ajram
and his support for insurgents fighting US forces in Fallujah
, whom he described as 'heroes'. This led to objections from Shia Islamist MPs that he was interfering in Iraq's internal affairs. In February 2006, Al Menbar 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 Abdulrahman, explaining , "[The Convention] means that Muslims could convert to another religion, something against the Islamic law, since those who do so should be beheaded."http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=136119&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28339&date=2-22-2006
One of the party's politicians tipped for further success is Dr Salah Al Jowder who is Muharraq
council's head of public relations. After announcing his candidature for 2006's parliamentary elections, Mr Al Jowder unveiled the council's latest initiative to deal with peeping toms: all new buildings in the municipality have to be fitted with one way windows http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=133438&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28310. While the municipal council does not have the authority to enforce this regulation as law, Dr Al Jowder said that the council does have the ability to cut off electricity to anyone that does not comply.
On the issue of women's political rights in Bahrain
, Al Menbar MP Dr Ali Ahmed
told the Bahrain Tribune (26 January 2006):
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 Menbar 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 vehermently opposed by Shia Islamists.
In 2006's election they have worked out a deal with the Salafist Asalah to avoid splitting the Sunni Islamist vote.
Al Eslah Society
The Al Eslah Society is an organization in Bahrain that represents the Muslim Brotherhood movement. Its political wing is the Al-Menbar Islamic Society....
in Bahrain
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...
, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
. 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 Kingdom's government. The party won four seats in Bahrain's 2006 general election, down from eight seats in 2002.
At times, Al Menbar has seemed significantly more liberal than either the pro-business Independent Bloc and the salafist Asalah, particularly in its opposition to proposed legislation that it argues would restrict freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...
. MP 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...
's forthright expression of views has attracted controversy particularly over his campaigns against the filming of Big Brother
Big Brother (TV series)
Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
in Bahrain, to ban a concert by Lebanese singer, Nancy Ajram
Nancy Ajram
Nancy Nabil Ajram is a multi-platinum Lebanese singer and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. With the support of her father, Nancy began performing as a child and released her first studio album by the age of 15...
and his support for insurgents fighting US forces in Fallujah
Fallujah
Fallujah is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jewish academies for many centuries....
, whom he described as 'heroes'. This led to objections from Shia Islamist MPs that he was interfering in Iraq's internal affairs. In February 2006, Al Menbar led parliament's refusal to ratify the government's signature of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
, with the party's president, Dr Salah Abdulrahman, explaining , "[The Convention] means that Muslims could convert to another religion, something against the Islamic law, since those who do so should be beheaded."http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=136119&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28339&date=2-22-2006
One of the party's politicians tipped for further success is Dr Salah Al Jowder who is Muharraq
Muharraq
Muharraq , is Bahrain's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island and has long been a centre of religiosity...
council's head of public relations. After announcing his candidature for 2006's parliamentary elections, Mr Al Jowder unveiled the council's latest initiative to deal with peeping toms: all new buildings in the municipality have to be fitted with one way windows http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=133438&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28310. While the municipal council does not have the authority to enforce this regulation as law, Dr Al Jowder said that the council does have the ability to cut off electricity to anyone that does not comply.
On the issue of women's political rights in Bahrain
Women's political rights in Bahrain
Women’s political rights have been a cornerstone of the political reforms initiated by King Hamad with for the first time women being given the right to vote and stand as candidates in national elections after the constitution was amended in 2002...
, Al Menbar MP Dr Ali Ahmed
Ali Ahmed Abdulla
Ali Ahmed Abdulla, mostly known as Dr Ali Ahmed, is a member of Bahrain's parliament since 2002, representng the Al-Menbar Islamic Society, a Sunni party with close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.-Education:...
told the Bahrain Tribune (26 January 2006):
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 Menbar 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 vehermently opposed by Shia Islamists.
In 2006's election they have worked out a deal with the Salafist Asalah to avoid splitting the Sunni Islamist vote.
External links
- Al-Menbar official website
- Al Eslah Society (parent organization)