Manama: Bahrain has announced the formation of a committee promote patriotism in the country.
The Committee to Reinforce Loyalty and National Values, announced by Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, comprises 16 members who will be drafting a comprehensive strategy and vision.
“The Interior Ministry has come up with a comprehensive initiative to reinforce the spirit of belonging to the nation,” Shaikh Rashid said.
“To achieve this national project, an initiative to form the Committee to Reinforce Loyalty and National Values was presented to patriots and we thank them for agreeing to join it with their brothers in the Interior Ministry.”
The minister said that the community’s unity and bonds in Bahrain were disrupted after the country had to face incidents in 2011 and foreign interference that targeted the Bahraini patriotism and aggravated sectarianism and extremism.
He added that although Bahrain succeeded in achieving security despite the magnitude of the challenges, there is a need to work to create within the spirit of belonging to the nation an impenetrable security barrier against extremism and foreign interference.
“The constant interference by Iran and other countries in our internal security affairs, Iran’s continuing efforts to recruit Bahrainis to change their national ideology and train them to carry out terrorist acts, the use of weapons and explosives, and the cooperation between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Qatar are the regional signs of extremism and terrorism,” Shaikh Rashid said on Tuesday.
“Even as we face the security challenges, we are determined, by the grace of God, to protect our social fabric. We will sincerely work together to promote the spirit of patriotism. It is hard for anyone in a nation that has a strong society to disturb security since patriots rise against foreign schemes. We will not allow Bahraini children to become tools for the destruction of their own country through foreign control and support. We will strengthen awareness among them and advise them. They should know that their interests lie in their commitment to assume their national responsibility through constructive participation.”
Shaikh Rashid said that s deep sense of patriotism was crucial.
“Bahrain is a state that believes in patriotism. I am talking about the patriotism that voted for Arabism of Bahrain under the leadership of Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Late Amir of Bahrain, in response to the demands of the Shah of Iran, in front of the Commission of Inquiry in 1970. I am talking about Bahrain that voted ‘Yes’ with 98.4% in the National Action Charter under the leadership of HM the King, Bahrain that overcame chaos and reverted to order in 2011, Bahrain that voted for its parliamentarians after the resignation of those who wanted to disrupt our democratic ethos. There is no doubt that we are proud and protective of our national achievements.”
