MANAMA – The Bahraini and international communities are decrying a March 3 bombing in Bahrain’s Daih area – north of the capital, Manama – that killed three members of the security forces, including an Emirati national.
“Such acts of violence cannot be justified by any cause,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
Bahrain has arrested 25 suspects in connection with the attack, said Bahraini Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.
A little-known group going by the name Saraya al-Ashtar has claimed responsibility for the bombing. On March 4, the cabinet decided to put the group on the country’s list of terrorist organisations and pledged to take the necessary legal action to prosecute and detain its members.
The cabinet instructed the Ministry of Interior to continue fighting terrorism and the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments to monitor groups that preach hatred and sectarianism and incite violence.
Trained by Hizbullah
“Cowardly terrorist activity is strongly condemned and cannot be justified in any form. It is a deplorable act and hated by God. It is a sin to take human life,” said Shia cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Muqabi, sociologist at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments.
Premeditated murder and terrorism are forbidden by Sharia Law and from a legal, constitutional and human rights standpoint, al-Muqabi told Al-Shorfa.
Clerics, instead of inciting violence, are required to unite people under a patriotic banner of co-existence and tolerance, he said.
Iran and the Lebanese militia Hizbullah have been “supporting the criminal activity and terrorist attacks happening in Bahrain,” he said.
The deputy chair of the Dubai police, Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, tweeted March 3 that the attacker had frequented Lebanon and received explosives training from Hizbullah.
‘Iranian fingerprints’ on attack
Sawsan Taqawi, chairwoman of the Bahraini parliamentary foreign affairs, defence and national security committee, also condemned the attack.
“The young people of Bahrain are being led astray and are turning into tools of destruction,” she told Al-Shorfa. “The main reason behind this is a discourse of sectarian hatred, abhorrent political agendas and spreading a culture of hatred and violence among the segments of society.”
There are “Iranian fingerprints” and “Hizbullah’s hand” in such incidents, Taqawi said.
“The Bahraini justice system has issued its final verdict with regard to Iranian interference in Bahrain’s affairs in more than one issue,” she said. “Many suspects have been convicted of being involved or associated with Iran or Hizbullah whether at an organisational or funding level.”
The death of the Emirati security officer in the March 3 bombing “increases the responsibility of Gulf countries to [address] the aggressive attack against the kingdom coming from individuals, organisations and foreign countries that do not want to see a peaceful Bahrain,” Taqawi said.
Shura council denounces attack
Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa, chair of the foreign affairs committee of the Bahraini Shura Council, denounced the attack, saying, “The right to live is inalienable for individuals and society, and it is a right that comes before any other right.”
Bahraini legislators have put in place tighter provisions to fight terrorism, Sheikh Khalid told Al-Shorfa.
“Iran has sought to bring explosives into Bahrain and has trained terrorists to use them,” he said. “As a result, Bahrain has entered a dangerous stage in its political history and this could lead to a schism in Bahraini society, which Tehran is trying to deepen.”
He also called for international measures against Iran in the face of “this blatant incitement and interference in Bahrain’s affairs as well as support of terrorism.”