Mohammed Khalid
Encyclopedia
One of Bahrain’s most outspoken Islamist MPs is Sheikh Mohammed Khalid, the Al-Menbar Islamic Society
representative from the Northern Governorate
. A Sunni Islamist whose party is the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood
(Al Eslah Society
), Mr Khalid has been a constant critic of government, business leaders and liberals, and the effectiveness of his political campaigns says much about the political process in Bahrain today.
Mr Khalid has used his parliamentary privilege to question government ministers to the full. In the knowledge that a two thirds majority of MPs is enough to remove a minister, Mr Khalid has used the combined Sunni-Shia Islamist majority in the lower house to force the government on to the defensive on issues such as cultural festivals, the sale of alcohol, and foreign policy.
Two notable successes helped set new cultural boundaries in the traditionally liberal state. In October 2003, when they heard that Lebanese singer, Nancy Ajram
, was to perform in Bahrain, Mr Khalid along with other Islamists in parliament put forward an emergency motion to ban her concert on the grounds of ‘immorality’. The motion was rejected by parliament, but in the aftermath of the parliamentary outcry youths went on the rampage outside the concert beating up Ajram’s fans and burning cars. While opponents of the concert did not have the parliamentary majority to ban the singer, they showed they could use their parliamentary platform to mobilise the street.
Several months later, Mr Khalid was involved in another incident that helped establish cultural boundaries when he led Islamist protests against the Arab version of the reality TV show, Big Brother
. Although the producers, MBC
, prior to filming had made adjustments to the format after consultations with clerics, Mr Khalid condemned the ‘immorality’ of the programme at a large demonstration of Sunni Islamists outside the Big Brother House. Police reinforcements had to be called after the demonstrators threatened to storm the set, and the production ended after technicians were followed home and given death threats.
Following these successes, Mr Khalid has been outspoken on several other issues: he described rebel fighters facing assault by US troops in Falluja in Iraq as ‘heroes’, which annoyed Shia MPs and embarrassed Bahrain’s government which has good relations with Washington. He derided the annual Spring of Culture arts festival jointly sponsored by Batelco
and the Culture and National Heritage Department, in 2006 as the ‘Spring of Sakhafa’ (Silliness) http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=137266&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28350, and in 2007 as the 'Spring of Sex'http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=172236&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29354; in 2004 he described young people competing in the Arab version of Star Academy
as ‘scum’http://www.benadorassociates.com/pf.php?id=14422 and alleged that Satanists in Bahrain are organizing rock concerts as cover for devil worshiphttp://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=22158.
Mr Khalid has dismissed criticism that his campaign to ban alcohol will damage business, telling parliament: "If this issue will cause trouble, then it makes me proud, because this means that I am pleasing God." His first target is duty free alcohol sales at Bahrain International Airport
, saying "This is an Islamic country and imagine the nation's frontier is booze shops. Prostitution is a profitable investment, so why is it banned in the country? Why don't allow it in the open like alcohol? Alcohol should be criminalised as prostitution, because both are unacceptable Islamically, morally and socially." He has vowed "We will not stop until alcohol disappears from the country and any place where alcohol is sold will be targeted by MPs until they close down, if not today in the future."http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=139102&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29006 Bahrain International Airport has gained the ire of Bahrain's Islamists on several occasions, with an Asalah MP seeking to have it moved from Muharraq
because of complaints from constituents about 'noise pollution'.
Mr Khalid has been at the forefront of efforts to free Bahrain's three remaining Guantanamo Bay detainees and has been critical of anti-terrorism legislation passed by parliament in 2005, asking: "What is an anti-terror law supposed to achieve? There is no terrorism in Bahrain. We don't need a law. The United States is the center of terrorism on this earth. The American president should be indicted."http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,449914,00.html
During a parliamentary session to debate the budget on 1 July 2006, Mr Khalid was punched in the face by another MP Jassim Malawi after MPs exchanged a barrage of expletiveshttp://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=148091&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29104.
Mr Khalid has vowed to constituents to continue to campaign on these issues, promising that if he ever were to go back on his word he would offer his bisht
for ceremonial burning.
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...
representative from the Northern Governorate
Northern Governorate
The Northern Governorate is one of the five governorates of Bahrain. It includes parts of the former municipalities of Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah al Shamaliyah, Jidd Haffs and Madinat Hamad....
. A Sunni Islamist whose party is the political wing of 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...
(Al Eslah Society
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....
), Mr Khalid has been a constant critic of government, business leaders and liberals, and the effectiveness of his political campaigns says much about the political process in Bahrain today.
Mr Khalid has used his parliamentary privilege to question government ministers to the full. In the knowledge that a two thirds majority of MPs is enough to remove a minister, Mr Khalid has used the combined Sunni-Shia Islamist majority in the lower house to force the government on to the defensive on issues such as cultural festivals, the sale of alcohol, and foreign policy.
Two notable successes helped set new cultural boundaries in the traditionally liberal state. In October 2003, when they heard that 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...
, was to perform in Bahrain, Mr Khalid along with other Islamists in parliament put forward an emergency motion to ban her concert on the grounds of ‘immorality’. The motion was rejected by parliament, but in the aftermath of the parliamentary outcry youths went on the rampage outside the concert beating up Ajram’s fans and burning cars. While opponents of the concert did not have the parliamentary majority to ban the singer, they showed they could use their parliamentary platform to mobilise the street.
Several months later, Mr Khalid was involved in another incident that helped establish cultural boundaries when he led Islamist protests against the Arab version of the reality TV show, 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...
. Although the producers, MBC
Middle East Broadcasting Center
The Middle East Broadcasting Center Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. MBC Group provides multiple channels of information, interaction and entertainment...
, prior to filming had made adjustments to the format after consultations with clerics, Mr Khalid condemned the ‘immorality’ of the programme at a large demonstration of Sunni Islamists outside the Big Brother House. Police reinforcements had to be called after the demonstrators threatened to storm the set, and the production ended after technicians were followed home and given death threats.
Following these successes, Mr Khalid has been outspoken on several other issues: he described rebel fighters facing assault by US troops in Falluja in Iraq as ‘heroes’, which annoyed Shia MPs and embarrassed Bahrain’s government which has good relations with Washington. He derided the annual Spring of Culture arts festival jointly sponsored by Batelco
Batelco
Bahrain Telecommunications Company - - is the principal telecommunications company of Bahrain. The company is headquartered in Bahrain and is listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange.-Ownership:...
and the Culture and National Heritage Department, in 2006 as the ‘Spring of Sakhafa’ (Silliness) http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=137266&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28350, and in 2007 as the 'Spring of Sex'http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=172236&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29354; in 2004 he described young people competing in the Arab version of Star Academy
Star Academy Lebanon
Star Academy Arab World, also known as Star Academy: Al-Academya or Star Academy LBC, is a pan-Arab televised talent show, which began in 2003 that features a group of young male and female candidates from all over the Arab world....
as ‘scum’http://www.benadorassociates.com/pf.php?id=14422 and alleged that Satanists in Bahrain are organizing rock concerts as cover for devil worshiphttp://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=22158.
Mr Khalid has dismissed criticism that his campaign to ban alcohol will damage business, telling parliament: "If this issue will cause trouble, then it makes me proud, because this means that I am pleasing God." His first target is duty free alcohol sales at Bahrain International Airport
Bahrain International Airport
Bahrain International Airport is an international airport located in Muharraq, an island on the northern tip of Bahrain, about northeast of the capital Manama...
, saying "This is an Islamic country and imagine the nation's frontier is booze shops. Prostitution is a profitable investment, so why is it banned in the country? Why don't allow it in the open like alcohol? Alcohol should be criminalised as prostitution, because both are unacceptable Islamically, morally and socially." He has vowed "We will not stop until alcohol disappears from the country and any place where alcohol is sold will be targeted by MPs until they close down, if not today in the future."http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=139102&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29006 Bahrain International Airport has gained the ire of Bahrain's Islamists on several occasions, with an Asalah MP seeking to have it moved from 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...
because of complaints from constituents about 'noise pollution'.
Mr Khalid has been at the forefront of efforts to free Bahrain's three remaining Guantanamo Bay detainees and has been critical of anti-terrorism legislation passed by parliament in 2005, asking: "What is an anti-terror law supposed to achieve? There is no terrorism in Bahrain. We don't need a law. The United States is the center of terrorism on this earth. The American president should be indicted."http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,449914,00.html
During a parliamentary session to debate the budget on 1 July 2006, Mr Khalid was punched in the face by another MP Jassim Malawi after MPs exchanged a barrage of expletiveshttp://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=148091&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29104.
Mr Khalid has vowed to constituents to continue to campaign on these issues, promising that if he ever were to go back on his word he would offer his bisht
Bisht
The Bisht are a Rajput community living primarily in the Central Himmalayas, such as the Indian state of Uttarakhand.Bisht Rajputs refers to the title of Rajputs in Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand...
for ceremonial burning.