This is just getting ludicrous, but I fear might be symptomatic of the sectarian and racial tensions between some in Bahrain and Iran. If this is not put in perspective (read as: tell people not to overreact) then this could very well escalate into things we just do not need.
Bahrainis should know that throwing stone at a civilized country like Iran would backfire and pose a danger to their own glassy house, a prominent Iranian lawmaker said after recent insults to Iran by certain Bahraini officials.
Fars News Agency
This probably came in response to the following utter stupidity:
Following traditional Friday prayers, protesters chanting anti-Iranian slogans and waving Bahraini flags gathered in front of the heavily-fortified Iranian embassy compound in Manama, calling for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador if the Iranian government failed to present a formal apology. Some protesters also called for the liberation of Ahwaz, an Iranian city with a large Arab population.
Kuwait Times
Formal apology for what exactly? Iran, as a nation, did not wrong us. Who did is an official acting – by all measures we have seen so far – individually.
So shut the hell up and don’t blow things out of proportion, and there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to go racial on us all like this.
Let me state that the morons who printed that slogan above do not represent me and are not speaking in my name, nor for that matter the vast majority of Bahrainis from whichever religious persuasion. They are sullying their own name by once again exposing their racial and sectarian intentions.
Comments
It does seem to me as well, that this is a reflection of sectarian sentiments. I share your opinions on this issue.
How sad. How disturbing.
Well said Mahmood!
If we could only find a way to humanely convert the political idiots into fuel….
All political idiots, all extremists, no matter where they’re from, no matter which religious sect they belong to, will succeed only in bringing the fire down onto the heads of innocents.
So much for ‘Freedom of Speech‘!
So, it’s OK for Iranian ‘Individuals’ to say anything, but it’s not OK for Bahrainis to reply?
We are not afraid of Iran. Everyone should defend Bahrain, not become a coward from head to toe.
BTW, did I hear ‘Civilized County’ somewhere? We’re not talking about Iran are we?
Author
Khalid, since when did freedom of speech include the incitement to violence and propagating racial hatred?
Bahrainis can – and have – replied appropriately to Shariatmadari’s claims. Their foreign minister came over and explained the official position of his country and disassociated it from Shariatmadari’s article and claims. That, to me, is a very civilised response and I thank the Iranians for taking this approach to calm the waters. It was a politically astute thing to do.
They could have if they wanted, just do nothing, and say that Shariatmadari was exercising his freedom of speech and as it did not come from a the government, they are not responsible.
This – you will understand – is no defence of Iran, it can defend itself without my help. I am stating these facts for you to understand.
I hope you can. I somehow think; however, that your mind is not open to such thinking especially taking that last paragraph of yours into consideration.
Now how safe is it to walk back home?
I mean how safe is it to walk around without a religious zealot shout sectarian gibberish at a person like me?
How safe is it to talk Persian within our group of friends? bare in mind that it is our native tongue.
I don’t know what this Iranian official said about Bahrain belonging to Iran and all but I think that people in Bahrain love to overreact.
I can’t believe how much our beloved country have changed from a loving peaceful environment into this now.
Is this an ideaology that we have to keep up with for life ? From when did a zionist is at the same time a facist ?
There is a difference between idiocy and freedom of speech …
And the frist step to do that is to express your idea appropriately and correctly …
To express their hatred to a country because of its different sect all what I say is :
yaboonha min allah …
I agree, one guy said something crazy does not mean we should discrace there flag, we honor freedom of speach but should also respect them to be respected, the guy who designed this altered flag is trying to push the situation out of proportion and this will lead to back & forth stupid acts from both sides and will not sort anything, we (Humans) should always treat people the way we want to be treated, and i sure hate someone who changes the design of the Bahraini flag for just some brainfart who is a non-official said something.
Don’t let emotions drag us to dark places, let us use our brains to take us to the path of light.
Well said Mahmood, he sure does not represent any honest man on this island, he only represents hate.
Honestly Mahmood, you shouldn’t put too much faith in the statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry distancing them from Shariatmadari’s comments about Baharain being a province of ‘its motherland Iran’ — one that should again be ‘under Iranian control. What he said isn’t only his personal opinion, it’s the opinion of the people who currently rule Iran.
Shariatmandari was appointed to his position as managing director of the Kayhan newspaper by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And he is a close aide and adviser to Ahmadinejab. He serves at their pleasure, and any comments in his newspaper are reflection their views, stated or otherwise. What he wrote about Bahrain is what his masters believe in their heart-of-hearts — and if an opportunity arises for them to take back Bahrain, they will do it as cheerfully and sanctimoniously as China would gobble up Taiwan.
I love how they’ve put a magen david AND a swastika on the Iranian flag, considering how much the Iranian government likes Israel, and how blonde and blue eyed and genocidal the Iranians all are.
Excuse me!
I will not comment on how free and frank the media in Iran is but this is really another irresponsible statement from a political figure that will result only in increasing the sectarian tensions.
Author
not to mention the “Allah Akbar” graphic imprinted as a delineator between the colours. I wonder if that means that the holder of the poster is objecting to Allah too? Or is he including Him into the mêlée too?
Author
I am sure there is some measure of truth to that, otherwise that psyche should have already been done and dusted by now.
The truth of the matter however is that Bahrain is a full fledged member of the United Nations and is a recognised independent country; hence, no matter what people like Shariatmadari or his superiors say won’t change any of that. And if they are stupid enough to attempt a military take-over, that probably would be the signal for the much anticipated Third World War.
This is getting ridiculous; i hope the government of Bahrain is not using this to in flare its grassroots supporters and other Sunnis. I hope they are not trying to say this “look Iran and their supporters in Bahrain (the Shiaa) want Bahrain to be part of Iran, it’s a national security issue, so we have to continue with our policies”
Read Mr. Mansor AlJamiri editor’s column in today’s (July 16) Alwasat newspaper. He wonderfully responds to what these people dared to say in that demonstration.
I hope you post that article somewhere on your website Mahmood, it is definately worth the read
I think the Government in Bahrain would never change the way it is treating the poor souls of this Island in a million years, even if Iran actually strikes (which sounds more like fiction) nothing is going to change, Its all about the money and thats what its all about.
On the other hand, the Shia in Bahrain Don’t Generally support Iran, and believe me, No one wants to live under the very strict, very stone ageish Irani rules, and think about it, Shia, Sunna, Mawaleed 7war, they are Bahraini and this is still their country.
Yep, a total overreaction, which some people in Bahrain are actually using to catapult their status to become heros and saviors of the people, and the rally the troops of easily manipulated minds and lead them to believe that the word of one person is, infact, the actions of a nation and that we are under imminent threat.
I also love how the flag displays both the Swastika (representing the Nazi’s, who killed jews for a living) and the Star of David (representing Israelis/Zionists, who totally abhor the Nazis). They’re not the same thing.
that is neither here nor there.
the way these iresponsible idiots have behaved is no better than what they accuse the other side of doing. just because you believe someone has wronged you does not mean that you attack back all holds barred.
that is what diplomacy implies, thinking about the consequences of our actions before we commit them, regardless of what the other side has done.
if this is the same demonstration that was mentioned on another thread, which includes an MP and a shura council member, they should be held accountable for
when will we learn to think before we open our mouths? when will we learn that actions have consequences and if we are not ready to accept the consequences we shouldnt act? what will it take for us to stop reacting to everything and become proactive and strategic?
Author
yep, same demo presided over and aided and abetted by a couple of our dear beloved representatives.
I think we should look at this from another perspective. Iran is not interested in getting Bahrain and making it part of Iran. This was just a warning and a reminder to Al-Khalifa that they better not help the Americans in case of a strike against Iran. Bahrain is of course an excellent base for a strike against southern Iran, like it was in 91 against Saddam, and of course the US navy’s fifth fleet headquarters location.
Did that guy realise the irony of calling iran a nazi country and at the same time a jewish one? Because the nazi’s killed the jews in WW2
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It just occurred to me that this could be a well-orchestrated move by Iran to stir up sectarian division in Bahrain — one more thing to stir up anger and misunderstanding.
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