Al-Wefaq, an Example of a Rationalist Popular Movement
In the reports and news from the Bahraini uprising, Al-Wefaq is usually mentioned as the backbone of the opposition. Even though this movement has taken a moderate path and is politically active within the Bahraini Kingdom framework, it has been able to gain the support of a majority of the Bahraini people. Even in the current security state it has been able to hold meetings with thousands of participants. Last week, when it backed off from national talks it once again showed off its popular support by holding a large gathering. These talks only considered 5 seats out of the 300 seats in parliament for Al-Wefaq. But the withdrawal of only these five members brought about failure and to the negotiations.
A review of Bahraini developments shows that people have always supported Al-Wefaq’s decisions in the past ten years. In 2002, when Al-Wefaq boycotted the unfair elections, people followed them as well. During that term a number of independent individuals from Shia regions came to the parliament but in other terms when Al-Wefaq participated in the elections, none of them were able to maintain their seats. In 2006 and 2010 Al-Wefaq participated in the elections with all its conservatism and no other candidate from Shia regions-- other than those supported by Al-Wefaq—gained seats in the parliament. In the 2011 protests Al-Wefaq had its 18-member faction in parliament and still continued with its political participation rather than taking extreme actions. However, a number of extremists who had left Al-Wefaq during past years were able to control the situation for a few days and excite people.
Through depicting the map of the revolution, Al-Wefaq unofficially got into negotiations and bargaining with the Bahraini king. The entrance of Saudi forces to Bahrain occurred when Al-Wefaq had agreed on a constitutional monarchy with the Bahraini crown prince. The silence of the international community with regard to the Bahraini forces cracking down on civilians, the deployment of Saudi forces to this island, the evident violation of human rights, and Iran’s inactive diplomacy towards its regional rival were all reasons why the Bahraini people did not abandon Al-Wefaq, and still support them.
For a better understanding of the developments in Bahrain, Al-Wefaq should be explained. This political organization was established in 2001, when Shiekh Mohammad Al Khalifa replaced his deceased father and arrived with promises of reform. Even though the organization has been on the Bahraini political scene for only about ten years, it has the experience of four decades of political and religious organizations within it. Shia opposition in the 1970’s consisted mainly followers of the Aldaava party and Seyed Mohammad Bagher Sadr. The spiritual leader of Bahraini Shias, Shiekh Isa Ghasem, studied in Iran and went back to Bahrain in 2001, when he was warmly welcomed by his fellow countrymen. He began a simple life in his village and never used his popular base or charisma. The Al-Wefaq movement, which is close to him, has a democratic electoral procedure within it. His thoughts and his speeches in Friday Prayers have created a character for him that people greatly respect, and the government does not dare harm him. He has a young cleric named Shiekh Ali Salman as the general secretary of Al-Wefaq beside him. He studied mathematics in Malek Fasal University in the 1990’s, and went to Qom for his religious education before he returned to Bahrain where he was imprisoned and sent to exile. He went back to his home country in 2001 and established the Al-Wefaq party with a number of other Bahraini activists. In addition to Al-Wefaq, a number of other Sunni and Shia opposition groups became active in Bahrain. Some of the successes of Al-Wefaq in the past ten years are:
1- It has been able to show its independence from Iran, which was an accusation leveled at most Shia parties, including Al-Wefaq.
2- Al-Wefaq was able to gain a high popular stance among Bahrainis. 64% of the voters in 2010 voted for Al-Wefaq.
3- Al-Wefaq has been able to introduce itself as a political-civil movement among Shias and Sunnis. This party does not emphasize religious concepts and forms coalitions with the Sunni and secular opposition, and with leftists, based on mutual demands. Al-Wefaq has been able to overcome the division between Arabs and Persians and has individuals from all groups in its establishment.
4- Al-Wefaq was not ignorant of diplomatic activities when it had the power in the opposition faction in the Parliament. It was able to establish good relations with other influential countries in the region. Ambassadors and foreign representatives in Bahrain have official contacts with Al-Wefaq and are present in Al-Wefaq’s Ramadan visits.
5- Al-Wefaq, as the backbone of the Bahraini opposition. has a clear and planned map for the government. The main axes of their plan focus on establishing a constitutional monarchy and its necessary elements-- meaning free and fair elections.
6- Al-Wefaq has also been able to reveal the empty promises of reform in the past few years. It was able to show that reform as a gift from the kingdom will not be beneficial to the people, and just a it is given to them by the pressures of the West, it can be taken away as well. They believe real reform should be obtained by the people through their resistance.
Al-Wefaq’s moderate approach has disabled the Bahraini government from overcoming the popular uprisings despite its crackdown on its people. The Bahraini Foreign Minister has admitted-- in his interview with Alhayat newspaper-- that the recent incidents have endangered Bahrain’s prestige in the international community; therefore King Hamad has formed a group consisting of international lawyers to investigate the issue. In addition, Bahrain’s hasty decision in announcing Al-Wefaq as an illegal party was faced by international opposition and the government was forced to back off.
Shiekh Salman, the young crown prince of Bahrain, is almost the same age as Shiekh Ali Salman, the Secretary General of the Al-Vefgah movement. He knows that his years as a king will coincide with the presence of wise and moderate figures in the most powerful popular organization in the country. Perhaps that is why he tried to negotiate with Sheikh Ali Salman during the first days of the uprising. The military intervention of Saudi Arabia created more turbulence in Bahrain. However, many observers claim that the solution to the Bahraini crisis is in negotiations taking place between the negotiating groups, and between the two Salmans.