Opposition leader defends meeting with Shiite scholar

Manama: Opposition leader Hassan Mushama defended his meeting last week with Shiite Lebanese scholar Mohammad Hussain Fadhl Allah in Lebanon by saying that as a Bahraini citizen he has approached leading international and regional figures to fight for better democracy in Bahrain.

His visit was criticised by politicians, including MP Jassem Al Saidi who said in a statement that interior affairs of the kingdom shouldn't be discussed outside the country.

"If we have problems we should solve them between us, as attracting bad publicity about Bahrain in the outside world wouldn't help anyone."

Al Saidi called upon the government to react to stop "irresponsible behaviour" of Mushama and other political leaders.

Mushama told Gulf News that his meeting discussed Bahrain's political and social affairs and Fadhl Allah didn't criticise Bahrain and its democratic approach.

"No one has the right to control me, as I'm a free person who can fight for better future for Bahrain in my own way."

Great opportunity

He said that he went to Lebanon for interview with Alalam TV and went to meet Fadhl Allah as he had the opportunity of meeting the great man.

"Fadhl Allah is a respected man in Bahrain and other Islamic countries, so meeting him wouldn't make me less loyal to my country than others."

Mushama is one of the top political leaders in Bahrain and he is chairing the unregistered Haq Movement.

He was arrested along with opposition leader Abdul Wahab Al Khawaja last year for criticising the leadership of Bahrain and promoting hatred against the regime and was later given special pardon by the king of Bahrain.

Regarding criticism that his movement isn't authorised and he shouldn't practise politics, Mushama said: "As a Bahraini citizen I should be fully involved in politics and fight for my rights."

Mushama said that he meets international human rights and democratic organisations on a regular basis to highlight his views of things happening in Bahrain.

"I'm seeking the help of outsiders because there are many things I don't like in Bahrain and local media refuses to highlight my calls for better democratic atmosphere, as our newspapers aren't neutral."

He called for real freedom of expression policies in Bahrain to give the opposition stronger voice in fighting for better future for the younger generations.

He said that he was jailed and struggled for years for Bahrain in years before political reforms and no one can question his patriotism.

Suad Hamada is a journalist based in Manama.