Bahrainis debate freedom of expression in the context of Islam

The Middle East Media Research Institute reports on the debate about freedom of expression going on in Bahrain and spreading to other Gulf countries.

In reaction to Islamists protestations in response to "immoral acts" in a dance performance at the country's annual Spring Cultural Festival that contradicted the laws of Islam and Bahraini customs and morals, Bahrain's parliament voted to formally investigate the matter.

The Islamist position on the issue was summed up by MP Abd Al-Halim Murad. As he explained:

What happened at some of the activities of the Spring Cultural Festival was not part of [our] culture!... The MPs saw the scenes in which the male and female dancers were in perverted positions.... Our country is Bahrain, not France or America! Bahrain is a Muslim country, and its identity is Islamic and Arab; its principles are Islamic, and its character is Islamic...

But other Bahrainis were outraged that the Islamists would even try to ban such artistic expression. According to Memri, the editor-in-chief of the Bahraini daily Akhbar Al-Khaleej, Anwar Abd Al-Rahman, had this to say:

Since the 1930s, Bahraini society has been a model looked to by all the peoples of the region. [Bahrainis were known as] a respectable people that knows its path from the outset – a path of culture and respect for the other, a path of tolerance and love... Unfortunately, however, we are [currently] witnessing a dangerous turning point, [one that is] counter to the political openness and the era of freedoms of modern Bahrain.

[This is happening] because of... groups that are insisting on controlling others and on imposing their views on them. Furthermore, [these groups] are aspiring to abolish the views of the citizens [who think differently from them]. Unfortunately, these groups are choosing for all people what they [should] read or what they [should] watch, and even what they [should] eat and wear!

These groups have forgotten... that Bahrain heads the [Arab] countries in terms of literacy, and has the highest percentage of educated individuals, physicians, engineers, lawyers, computer experts, [university] lecturers, university graduates, and literate people in general – and the attempt to abolish the views of all these [people] is undoubtedly an ignominious crime...

As he concluded his editorial:

Only dictatorial countries tell their people what to read, what to watch, what to eat, and what to drink. It will be a disgrace to you if you permit our democracy to become a 'thought dictatorship,' and to brainwash [the citizens]...

In a Qatari daily, Bahrain Cultural Dialogue Center Chairman Dhiya Al-Mousawi wrote:

I do not know why every time I see a young Muslim man I feel sorrow, because I feel that they [i.e. young Muslim men] have a mistaken understanding of the religion. Islam is not a narrow alley, and it is not a dank, repugnant dungeon.

Islam is life, love, and respect for individual rights... Islam means love and beauty, humanity and openness to life. It does not mean rage and hatred of the world, misery, and presenting yourself as pitiable...

This young man must know that Allah created him so that he may live, rejoice, be energetic, and carry out activities of a beautiful life, without this being against Islam...

"I know that some of the Islamic groups in the Arab world forbid young people aged 20 to go to cafes, to the beach, or to sports stadiums, claiming that they fear that the young people will be exposed to negative influences... Our young people are trapped in the dungeons of political parties; they cannot express their views and they cannot even maintain [normal] personal relationships with relatives and friends, even from childhood, because they are not from the same party... They must not love, they must not make friends with anyone except with [those who are in] the same political party...

Unfortunately, Islam has wrongly explained to the Muslim that the life of this world is a prison for the believer and Paradise for the non-believer. That is, he must not laugh and amuse himself with friends. He must not wear fancy clothes or cologne, and he is trapped in the formalism [of Muslim religious law]... In fact, the Muslim does not know the value of life, to the extent that he [is incapable of] distinguishing between a kiss and a bomb, a flower and a bullet, the sea and a dungeon, a waterfall and an electric pole.

I say to our [extremist] groups and their preachers – Have mercy on these young people – after all, Allah spoke of the fires of Hell, but He also spoke of the fruits of Paradise...

Yes, please.