Shiite MP's web remarks on imams draw flak

Manama: A Shiite lawmaker who had accused the imams of the Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah of hating and being hostile towards relatives of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him), has drawn strong criticism from a fellow MP.

Jasem Al Saidi said Hamza Al Dairi's statements are outrageous and shouldn't pass without actions.

Al Dairi, from Al Wefaq political bloc, was quoted in a forum at http://www.aldair.net/forum on Al Wefaq's acceptance to pray behind a Sunni imam at the parliament, by saying, "why not pray behind Al Saidi with his hostility towards the Prophet's relatives, while Shiite scholars allow us to pray behind Imams of Makkah and Madinah and they are more hostile than him".

Al Saidi told Gulf News the statements weren't acceptable and the government should react fast to stop Al Dairi and those following his approach from disrespecting Islamic figures. He doesn't think such remarks would affect the strong relations between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

"It very upsetting for an MP to make such statements that could jeopardise the progress of the political reforms in Bahrain as lawmakers should work to remove differences between all segments in society," Al Saidi said. "All Muslims love the Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] and respect his relatives so Al Dairi should grow up and try to realise that he is representing all Bahrainis [and] not only Shiite citizens."

The head of Al Wefaq Bloc, Khalil Marzooq, told Gulf News yesterday the statements of Al Dairi were his personal views and doesn't represent the bloc's policies or opinions. "When Al Dairi made the statements he wasn't representing us or referring to our parliamentary agenda."

Al Dairi couldn't be reached to comment.

Suad Hamada is a journalist based in Manama