03-14-2017, 10:02 PM
*** 15-Mar-17 World View -- Bahrain postpones trial of Shia cleric after threats from Iran
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Bahrain postpones trial of Shia cleric after threats from Iran
****
![[Image: g110612.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g110612.jpg)
Manama's Pearl Square after March 15, 2011, Arab Spring protests. The beautiful Pearl monument was torn down by the regime on March 18, because it was thought to be encouraging protests.
A ruling in the trial of Bahrain's leading Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa
Ahmed Qasim, on charges of corruption and money laundering, was
postponed on Tuesday to May 7. No reason was given for the
postponement, but it was announced after an Iranian cleric said that
the arrest of Qasim would be followed by a "bloodbath" in Bahrain.
Qasim was also charged with promoting "sectarianism and violence" and
"helping terrorism."
On Sunday, a senior adviser to Iran's parliament said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Holding trial for Ayatollah Sheikh Qassim is an
> unwise act and the Bahraini government should know that it will
> never be able to bear the consequences of such an unwise measure.
>
> "The Bahraini government is facing a serious crisis much worse
> than the challenge that it faced when detaining Sheikh Ali Salman,
> as trying Ayatollah Issa Qasim will be the depth of the
> crisis."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
In a speech on Monday in Iran, Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqqaq said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The Bahraini government felt threatened by the
> popular uprising under the leadership of Sheikh Qasim and has
> taken some measures against him.
>
> Bahraini youths will not leave their leader (Qasim) alone. If
> Sheikh Isa Qasim is arrested a bloodbath will occur in
> Bahrain."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Al-Daqqaq called for nationwide strikes and civil disobedience.
Bahrain is led by an oppressive Sunni Muslim government closely allied
with Saudi Arabia. Tensions are high because 2/3 of the the
population are Shia Muslim, while only 1/3 are Sunni Muslim. In the
days following the "Arab Spring" protests in 2011, Bahrain's security
services overreacted with extremely violent and bloody massacres of
unarmed protesters, backed up by troops from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi
troops arrived in Bahrain after crossing a long bridge connecting the
two countries. The protests began in Bahrain on February 14, 2011.
Dozens of protesters were killed, over 1,600 were arrested, and
thousands were injured.
Writing about Iran and Bahrain is always interesting, because both
countries are equally bloody, jailing, massacring and torturing
peaceful protesters. Reuters and Ahlul Bayt News Agency (Tehran) and Tasnim News (Tehran)
Related Articles
****
**** Iran - Saudi Arabia relations continue to deteriorate
****
The increasingly sectarian war in Syria between Shia/Alawites and
Sunni Muslims continues to polarize the entire Mideast along the
Shia-Sunni fault line. This has been particularly true in the
relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, respectively the major Sunni
Muslim country and the major Shia Muslim country.
Relations between the two countries became explosive early in 2016
when Saudi Arabia executed 47 alleged terrorists -- 46 Sunnis and one
Shia, Mohammad Baqir Nimr al-Nimr. Iran and Shias were infuriated
because the execution implied that Shia terrorism is equivalent to
Sunni terrorism. Iranian mobs firebombed the Saudi embassy in Tehran,
and attacked the consulate in Meshaad. Saudi Arabia and Iran broke
diplomatic relations as a result. Other Saudi allies followed suit.
There are many bitter disagreements between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and
one of the worst is the outcome of stampede that occurred at the
annual Hajj pilgrimage near Mecca in 2015. All Muslims are required
to take part in the Hajj at least one in their lifetimes, and so there
are always millions of people taking part each year. In 2015, one of
the roads became so crowded with people that there was a stampede that
killed hundreds of people who were trampled to death, including 464
Iranians. Although Saudi officials blamed "inevitable fate and
destiny" for the disaster, Iranian officials blamed the disaster on
the incompetence of Saudi officials, and even criminal acts by them.
Iran banned Iranians from attending the Hajj in 2016, after months of
talks between the two countries failed to lead to agreement over blame
for the 2015 incident and security guarantees for the 2016 Hajj. The
2017 Hajj will occur in August. Iran and Saudi Arabia are in talks
over the same issues as in 2016, and although "relative progress" has
been claimed, it's quite possible that Iranians will be banned from
this year's Hajj as well.
Another major issue separating Saudi Arabia and Iran is the war in
Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels are fighting Saudi-backed Sunni
militias, supported by Saudi airstrikes.
China has offered to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, according
to China's foreign minister Wang Yi:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"We hope that Saudi Arabia and Iran can resolve the
> problems that exist between them via equal and friendly
> consultations. China is friends with both Saudi Arabia and
> Iran. If there is a need China is willing to play our necessary
> role."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
China is actively seeking friendship with all Mideast countries, since
it needs to import vast amounts of oil. However, as regular readers
are aware, Generational Dynamics predicts that in the approaching
Clash of Civilizations world war, China will be allied with the Sunni
Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, while the West
will be allied with Iran, Russia and India. Al Monitor and Al Araby
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Bahrain, Iran, Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqqaq,
Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qasim, Saudi Arabia,
Mohammad Baqir Nimr al-Nimr, Hajj, Yemen, China
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Bahrain postpones trial of Shia cleric after threats from Iran
- Iran - Saudi Arabia relations continue to deteriorate
****
**** Bahrain postpones trial of Shia cleric after threats from Iran
****
Manama's Pearl Square after March 15, 2011, Arab Spring protests. The beautiful Pearl monument was torn down by the regime on March 18, because it was thought to be encouraging protests.
A ruling in the trial of Bahrain's leading Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa
Ahmed Qasim, on charges of corruption and money laundering, was
postponed on Tuesday to May 7. No reason was given for the
postponement, but it was announced after an Iranian cleric said that
the arrest of Qasim would be followed by a "bloodbath" in Bahrain.
Qasim was also charged with promoting "sectarianism and violence" and
"helping terrorism."
On Sunday, a senior adviser to Iran's parliament said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Holding trial for Ayatollah Sheikh Qassim is an
> unwise act and the Bahraini government should know that it will
> never be able to bear the consequences of such an unwise measure.
>
> "The Bahraini government is facing a serious crisis much worse
> than the challenge that it faced when detaining Sheikh Ali Salman,
> as trying Ayatollah Issa Qasim will be the depth of the
> crisis."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
In a speech on Monday in Iran, Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqqaq said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The Bahraini government felt threatened by the
> popular uprising under the leadership of Sheikh Qasim and has
> taken some measures against him.
>
> Bahraini youths will not leave their leader (Qasim) alone. If
> Sheikh Isa Qasim is arrested a bloodbath will occur in
> Bahrain."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Al-Daqqaq called for nationwide strikes and civil disobedience.
Bahrain is led by an oppressive Sunni Muslim government closely allied
with Saudi Arabia. Tensions are high because 2/3 of the the
population are Shia Muslim, while only 1/3 are Sunni Muslim. In the
days following the "Arab Spring" protests in 2011, Bahrain's security
services overreacted with extremely violent and bloody massacres of
unarmed protesters, backed up by troops from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi
troops arrived in Bahrain after crossing a long bridge connecting the
two countries. The protests began in Bahrain on February 14, 2011.
Dozens of protesters were killed, over 1,600 were arrested, and
thousands were injured.
Writing about Iran and Bahrain is always interesting, because both
countries are equally bloody, jailing, massacring and torturing
peaceful protesters. Reuters and Ahlul Bayt News Agency (Tehran) and Tasnim News (Tehran)
Related Articles
- Iran threatens coup, after Bahrain revokes citizenship of Shia cleric (21-Jun-2016)
- Bahrain tensions rise as Sunni government cracks down on Shias (18-Jul-2016)
- HRW: Bahrain's Sunni government continues abusing and torturing Shia majority (03-Dec-2015)
- Bahrain uprising becomes explosive as Saudi troops arrive (15-Mar-2011)
****
**** Iran - Saudi Arabia relations continue to deteriorate
****
The increasingly sectarian war in Syria between Shia/Alawites and
Sunni Muslims continues to polarize the entire Mideast along the
Shia-Sunni fault line. This has been particularly true in the
relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, respectively the major Sunni
Muslim country and the major Shia Muslim country.
Relations between the two countries became explosive early in 2016
when Saudi Arabia executed 47 alleged terrorists -- 46 Sunnis and one
Shia, Mohammad Baqir Nimr al-Nimr. Iran and Shias were infuriated
because the execution implied that Shia terrorism is equivalent to
Sunni terrorism. Iranian mobs firebombed the Saudi embassy in Tehran,
and attacked the consulate in Meshaad. Saudi Arabia and Iran broke
diplomatic relations as a result. Other Saudi allies followed suit.
There are many bitter disagreements between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and
one of the worst is the outcome of stampede that occurred at the
annual Hajj pilgrimage near Mecca in 2015. All Muslims are required
to take part in the Hajj at least one in their lifetimes, and so there
are always millions of people taking part each year. In 2015, one of
the roads became so crowded with people that there was a stampede that
killed hundreds of people who were trampled to death, including 464
Iranians. Although Saudi officials blamed "inevitable fate and
destiny" for the disaster, Iranian officials blamed the disaster on
the incompetence of Saudi officials, and even criminal acts by them.
Iran banned Iranians from attending the Hajj in 2016, after months of
talks between the two countries failed to lead to agreement over blame
for the 2015 incident and security guarantees for the 2016 Hajj. The
2017 Hajj will occur in August. Iran and Saudi Arabia are in talks
over the same issues as in 2016, and although "relative progress" has
been claimed, it's quite possible that Iranians will be banned from
this year's Hajj as well.
Another major issue separating Saudi Arabia and Iran is the war in
Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels are fighting Saudi-backed Sunni
militias, supported by Saudi airstrikes.
China has offered to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, according
to China's foreign minister Wang Yi:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"We hope that Saudi Arabia and Iran can resolve the
> problems that exist between them via equal and friendly
> consultations. China is friends with both Saudi Arabia and
> Iran. If there is a need China is willing to play our necessary
> role."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
China is actively seeking friendship with all Mideast countries, since
it needs to import vast amounts of oil. However, as regular readers
are aware, Generational Dynamics predicts that in the approaching
Clash of Civilizations world war, China will be allied with the Sunni
Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, while the West
will be allied with Iran, Russia and India. Al Monitor and Al Araby
Related Articles
- After Hajj stampede disaster, Muslims debate the 'Will of Allah' (27-Sep-2015)
- Increasingly hostile Iran-Saudi relations affect this year's Hajj (27-May-2016)
- Pakistan tries to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran (18-Jan-2016)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Bahrain, Iran, Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqqaq,
Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qasim, Saudi Arabia,
Mohammad Baqir Nimr al-Nimr, Hajj, Yemen, China
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
