Islamic Action Society
Encyclopedia
The Islamic Action Society ( Jamʿiyyat al-ʿAmal al-Islāmī) is one of the main Islamist political parties in Bahrain
, and mainly appeals to Shīʻa followers of the Najaf-based Āyatu l-Lāh
, Hādī al-Mudarrisī
, who are known as "the Shirāzī faction".
The party boycotted 2002's general election along with several other opposition groups, but did take part in 2006's parliamentary election
, in which it won no seats.
The party is the direct descendant of the militant organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain
, whose members were pardoned after wide ranging political reforms instigated by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in 2001. With the reforms, they returned from exile or were released from prison and formed the Islamic Action Society.
As with the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain, the party's spiritual leader is Iraqi cleric al-Mudarrisī, who was given asylum in Bahrain in the 1970s and acquired Bahraini citizenship while preaching religious awareness. He was though expelled to Iran after he set up the Front, but in 1981 he attempted to return to Bahrain as the head of a theocratic government in a failed coup d'état.
The Front was accused by the government for a series of terror attacks on civilian targets in the 1990s including a bomb attack on the Diplomat Hotel in Manama in 1996 injuring four people. A spokesman claiming responsibility for the bombings told the Associated Press "We put a bomb in the Diplomat hotel 20 minutes ago ... after the feast ... tell the government that we will destroy everyplace."
The party often calls for public demonstrations and political seminars focusing on the issues affecting the majority Shīʻa, who have been ruled by the minority Sunnis for many decades. In September 2005, its license was temporariliy suspended after a crowded festival was held honouring those imprisoned by the government on suspicion of involvent in an alleged 1981 coup. The party resumed activities after the temporary suspension.
The current president of the party is Shaykh Muħammad ʻAlī al-Mahfūð, a long time opposition figure and a close aid to Āyatu l-Lāh al-Mudarrisī. Its vice-president is Salah al-Khawāja.
While the party was allied with fellow Shīʻa Islamists al Wefaq
, although the relationship was difficult: Shaykh al-Mahfūð said that attempts were being made by ʻAlī Salman
and others to marginalise the party into its "Shirāzī base". The Islamic Action demanded al-Wefaq's support in several constituencies in the 2006 election, although the Islamic Action's spokesman Jawad ʻAbdu l-Waħab has said that no decision has yet been made because they want although it took part anyway. This led one commentator to accuse the party of having a stance "based on self-serving interests but under glossy principles to boost its prestige". Discussion about participation in elections prompted Vice President Salah Khawaja to resign from the party in March 2006 and announce his retirement from politics.
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...
, and mainly appeals to Shīʻa followers of the Najaf-based Āyatu l-Lāh
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
, Hādī al-Mudarrisī
Hadi al-Modarresi
Ayatollah Sayed Hadi Almodarresi or al-Modarresi - Early life :Born to a family with a long line of top-ranking scholars that dominated the Hawza for many years in Karbala, Iraq...
, who are known as "the Shirāzī faction".
The party boycotted 2002's general election along with several other opposition groups, but did take part in 2006's parliamentary election
Bahraini parliamentary election, 2006
Bahrain held parliamentary elections on 25 November 2006 for the 40-seat lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, as well as municipal elections. There was a 72% turnout in the first round of polling...
, in which it won no seats.
The party is the direct descendant of the militant organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain
Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain
The Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain was a Shia resistance group active from the 1970s to the 1990s, that advocated democracy in Bahrain and the overthrow of the ruling Sunni Al Khalifa family. It was responsible for the failed 1981 coup attempt inspired by the Iranian revolution two...
, whose members were pardoned after wide ranging political reforms instigated by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in 2001. With the reforms, they returned from exile or were released from prison and formed the Islamic Action Society.
As with the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain, the party's spiritual leader is Iraqi cleric al-Mudarrisī, who was given asylum in Bahrain in the 1970s and acquired Bahraini citizenship while preaching religious awareness. He was though expelled to Iran after he set up the Front, but in 1981 he attempted to return to Bahrain as the head of a theocratic government in a failed coup d'état.
The Front was accused by the government for a series of terror attacks on civilian targets in the 1990s including a bomb attack on the Diplomat Hotel in Manama in 1996 injuring four people. A spokesman claiming responsibility for the bombings told the Associated Press "We put a bomb in the Diplomat hotel 20 minutes ago ... after the feast ... tell the government that we will destroy everyplace."
The party often calls for public demonstrations and political seminars focusing on the issues affecting the majority Shīʻa, who have been ruled by the minority Sunnis for many decades. In September 2005, its license was temporariliy suspended after a crowded festival was held honouring those imprisoned by the government on suspicion of involvent in an alleged 1981 coup. The party resumed activities after the temporary suspension.
The current president of the party is Shaykh Muħammad ʻAlī al-Mahfūð, a long time opposition figure and a close aid to Āyatu l-Lāh al-Mudarrisī. Its vice-president is Salah al-Khawāja.
While the party was allied with fellow Shīʻa Islamists al Wefaq
Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, although the relationship was difficult: Shaykh al-Mahfūð said that attempts were being made by ʻAlī 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...
and others to marginalise the party into its "Shirāzī base". The Islamic Action demanded al-Wefaq's support in several constituencies in the 2006 election, although the Islamic Action's spokesman Jawad ʻAbdu l-Waħab has said that no decision has yet been made because they want although it took part anyway. This led one commentator to accuse the party of having a stance "based on self-serving interests but under glossy principles to boost its prestige". Discussion about participation in elections prompted Vice President Salah Khawaja to resign from the party in March 2006 and announce his retirement from politics.