Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Sheikh Adnan Al-Qattan, the imam and preacher of Friday prayers at Al-Fateh Mosque and head of the Bahrain Hajj mission, was not known for delivering extremist or sectarian speeches, but his recent sermon took another approach, describing Shiites as people of falsehood.

This might be a dangerous indication of what to expect in the coming days, if Al-Qattan is saying such words, what about the rest of those known for their sectarian and Takfiri rhetoric and discourse?

Al-Qattan's speeches are semi-official. He said in his last Friday sermon (June 16, 2023) "The people of falsehood have idols, sanctuaries, graves and shrines that they circumambulate around and worship," in a clear reference to the Shiite community. It is no secret to anyone in Bahrain and the Islamic world that the Shiite community has sacred religious shrines, in which religious figures such as the Prophet, Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, as well as the imams and a number of righteous saints are buried.

It is a sudden shift in speech that deepens division and tears society, and it is unlikely that the speech of Al-Qattan is just a slip of the tongue, since the man was reading a pre-written speech. Was the stance schemed by him and the authorities, which is an indication to what's to come?

This speech comes as Shiite scholars delivering sermons from the Friday platform are being harassed and incited against by the official media and subjected to legal prosecution and political and non-political pressure.

It also comes in the context of the violations practiced against the shrine of Sa'asa'a bin Souhan Al-Abdi, which has been closed by the authorities and been violated by uncontrolled groups that are not being held accountable. Shiites of Bahrain have recently demanded in a media campaign to reopen the shrine; however, the authorities allowed blocking the shrine's entrance, and have lately removed the name written on the gate.

Unfortunately, Sheikh Al-Qattan did not talk about the conditions of the country's unemployed young men and women, nor about the normalization project with Israel, which occupies Al-Quds and Palestine, which is the most dangerous project that threatens the identity of Bahrain. He did not even talk about naturalization, nor about the preference of foreigners over Bahrain's citizens, the poor living conditions of Bahrainis and widespread poverty.

On the other hand, Al-Qattan's speech illustrates in an indirect way the real situation of Bahraini Shiite citizens, as they have become an officially and openly targeted sect, which can be attacked by anyone in all areas of their lives without fear or concern or accountability by security or judicial authorities.

Every time, the state fails to test the credibility of its slogans about tolerance, coexistence or respect for religions.

Sheikh Al-Qattan's speech may be a dangerous indication, but it certainly will not drag the Shiite scholars' discourse into verbal wars or sectarian controversies, because the focus of Shiite scholars in Bahrain is on reforming the country, improving the conditions of the people and adhering to everything related to national unity, and they do not allow themselves or those around them to be dragged into a sectarian war of words.

Arabic Version