ABU DHABI — Bahrain has launched an effort to block an Iranian
takeover of the Gulf Arab kingdom.
Officials have drafted a series of regulations meant to prevent Iranian
agents from spreading Teheran's influence in the Gulf Cooperation Council
state. They said the regulations were designed to block Iran from purchasing
property through Shi'ite supporters in Bahrain.
The focus of the Bahraini effort has been the province of Muharraq.
Officials said Iranian agents have been purchasing property from the
minority Sunni community in a trend that has alarmed the government.
Sixty percent of Bahrain's population is comprised of Shi'ites, Middle East Newsline reported.
During elections in November 2006, Sunnis and other loyal to King Hamad
managed to retain nominal control of parliament.
Muharraq Gov. Salman Bin Hindi has ordered a halt to all land and
property transfers in his province. Bin Hindi said all such transactions
would require his approval.
Another regulation stipulated that only families deemed indigenous would
be
allowed to purchase property in Muharraq, Bahrain's second largest city.
Officials said the reference was mostly to Sunni families.
"No one can accuse me of sectarian discrimination because I am closer to
the Shi'ites in Muharraq than the Al Wefaq Society," Bin Hindi, referring to
the Shi'ite opposition group, said in a statement.
The Iranian embassy in Manama has denied that it was seeking to buy
property in Muharraq. Shi'ite politicians said the new government policy was
discriminatory.
"The government has allowed non-Bahrainis to own property in Bahrain,
but Bahrainis are denied such rights," Abdul Nabi Al Ekri, a prominent
Shi'ite opposition member, said. "Such a policy is totally wrong and would
have grave implications for national unity."
Shi'ite groups said they would protest the new policy to international
human rights organizations. They said the policy violated international
law as well as Bahrain's constitution.
"The decision violates fundamental rights and we might take up the case
with the competent international human rights commissions," Bahrain Human
Rights Society leader Abdullah Al Durazi said.