'Extremists should not dominate politics'

More than 200 Bahraini liberals have launched an unprecedented campaign "to decry threats to Bahrain's civil society and individual freedom by waves of extremism, fanaticism, intolerance and intellectual terrorism."

Business people, intellectuals, politicians and journalists agreed, at a conference organised by Al Muntada Society, on the need to protect civilian rights, which they considered a robust guarantee for social stability, favourable business environment, employment opportunities and protection from fanaticism and exclusionism.

"The government should assume the responsibility of saving people from the onslaught of the extremists," Al Muntada chairman Adel Fakhro said.

Businessman Farooq Al Moayyad warned against "the grip over the country's legislative chamber by religious extremists who considered anyone who opposed their views as heretics."

Islamists dominate political life in Bahrain, both at the Council of Representatives and within the opposition. Islamist societies Asalah (Sunni), the Islamic Bloc (Shiite) and Al Menbar (Sunni) field the highest number of MPs at the elected 40-member Council of Representatives.

The largest opposition society, Al Wefaq, has often promoted a religious agenda, and has recently contradicted its earlier calls for more powers to MPs by stating that only religious leaders had the authority to amend the family law because MPs could "misinterpret the word of God".

The Shura (Upper) Council, with a strongly liberal majority led by Al Mithaq Society, is perceived as a government-backed liberal bulwark to prevent clerical domination of politics.

Liberals in Bahrain have repeatedly criticised the MPs for trying to impose a restrictive social agenda on the country and curtailing freedoms.

"Bahrain's business reputation is being eroded by the pressure exerted by extremists on personal freedoms. The whole democratic experiment is being threatened by the misuse of religion for political purposes," Al Moayyad said at the conference.