Shiites enjoying full constitutional, national rights: Jaafari department

Manama, July 18 (BNA): The Jaafari Endowments Department overseeing all Shiite matters has rejected allegations that Shiites were targeted by the state and stressed that the Shiite sect was a major Islamic sect and that its followers were a principal component in Bahrain. The department said that Shiites enjoyed full constitutional and national rights in the country and lived in Bahrain with all their religious affiliations and schools as an integral part of the Bahraini society. The department added that the sectarian and inflammatory bickering and alignment included in the allegations are fueling strife and dissension and contributing to the creation of divisions that serve the enemies of the homeland and the nation, and therefore should be avoided. The Department noted that the national identity of Bahrain was the shield that protected everyone and that the faith, religious rituals, security, lives, assets and honour of all the citizens in the kingdom, regardless of their sectarian and ethnic affiliations, are well protected. All people should be actively involved in the stability, development and prosperity of the nation and in the amelioration of the performances of its institutions, the department said. All citizens must make sure that the national unity, civil peace and peaceful co-existence should never be targeted or harmed in any way and that all aspects of violence and sectarianism are strongly resisted. Full support to the wise leadership and an effective participation in the nation-building process and development for the sake of a brighter future for all are also responsibilities that all citizens should exert, added the department which oversees the religious interests of the Shiites in Bahrain and looks after their mosques, community centres and all matters related to their religious rituals. The department said that Shiites, as a principal component of the Bahraini society at the popular and geographic levels, do have an outstanding presence at all levels within all the official institutions of the state. Shiites are represented at the legislative level in the two chambers of the bicameral parliament, at the executive level as holders of the major service ministries and at the judicial level as judges. They also have an independent supervision of their places of worship and enjoy full support from HM the King, HRH the Prime Minister and HRH the Crown Prince. The department referred to the most recent meeting held between HM the King and several Bahraini families and the heads of Shiite community centres during the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan. “We had the great honour to meet HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and we stressed to him that the loyal people of Bahrain highly valued his initiative for major reforms launched in the early 2000 and which included all people,” the department said. “We stressed that Bahrainis recalled with pride and a sense of glory the bright history of Bahrain and the role of his grandfathers in providing care about places of worship and how they offered great support to all mosques, Shiite community centres and religious rites and rituals. The support and generous contributions increased spectacularly during the reign of HM the King.” The department said that it had a long history of presence in Bahrain and that it would celebrate in December its 90th anniversary, stressing that it was established in 1927 during the era of the late Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa. “Since its establishment, the department has throughout its existence benefitted from the care and attention of Shaikh Hamad and his sons and grandsons who ruled Bahrain. Today, it enjoys full support from HM the King, HRH the Prime Minister and HRH the Crown Prince,” it said. The department added that it announced on the occasion of the meeting with HM the King that it was launching a campaign to renovate 900 mosques, community centres and graveyards within a larger and integrated plan. The department also announced that it was launching investment projects in all the governorates of the kingdom to serve the interests of Shiites and bring more benefits for Bahrain. The projects have official support, it said. “The department is also working on extending its role in promoting religious awareness and a culture of tolerance and compassion among all components of the Bahraini society. It is also contributing to achieving sustainable economic and social development.”