Manama: Al Asala, the major Salafi formation in Bahrain, has elected Abdul Halim Murad, an outspoken lawmaker, as its new chairman.
He succeeds former MP Ganim Al Buainain who joined the government in April after he was named state minister for foreign affairs. In the other two nominations, Sameera Rajab, a former member of the Shura Council, the upper chamber, was appointed state minister of information and Salah Ali, who was member of the lower chamber before he was named to the upper chamber, was named state minister for human rights.
MP Abdul Halim, a human resources specialist who enjoys great popularity within the Salafi society, is the chairman of the parliamentary committee looking into the status of Gulf Air, Bahrain's national airline that has flown into financial trouble following the unrest that hit the country.
Since 2006 when he was first elected to the lower chamber, the lawmaker has been among the most vociferous voices calling for "clean" tourism in Bahrain and for imposing strict rules and regulations on all hotels to ensure there are no "immoral activities."
The new chairman of Al Asala insists for an end to the unrest as a condition to launch a meaningful dialogue that will help cure the malaise that struck the country.
