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'File 19/165 III (C 24) Bahrain Reforms' [‎63v] (133/426)

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The record is made up of 1 file (208 folios). It was created in 2 Jan 1924-13 Aug 1925. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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scheme of reforms aimed at the improvement of the status of the oppressed
Shiahs of Bahrein, is rendered perfectly useless as long as their lives are in
constant jeopardy. Of what avail is Hamad's Court, in which for the first
time Bahreinis have an opportunity of obtaining redress, if after decisions
therein, the witnesses can be murdered with impunity ?
Sheikh Muhammad, who has been acting for Hamad in the latter's
absence, has been unable to induce any of the accused to surrender themselves,
and has no means of enforcing any orders, had he the desire to do so, which is
certainly not the case. They have sent him messages to the effect that they
are willing to appear before the Sbara' Court, but inasmuch as no member of
A1 Khalifah has ever been condemned before that court, although several have
nominally been " tried the reason for this is obvious, although they present
the matter in the guise of religious scruple.
Yesterday the Chief Qadhi called on me and expressed his abhorrence of
the outrage, and said he had no doubt that Sheikh Khalid's sons and their
followers were guilty.
I endeavoured, therefore, to ascertain how he would be likely to dispose
of the case if it went before him. He proceeded to give a number of ingenious
reasons why it would probably be impossible for him to give an effective
decision.
He stated without hesitation that this was a Political crime, the punish
ment for which should be dealt out by the Ruler, or failing him, His Majesty's
Government. He added " Great Britain has protected these Islands for 96
years. She placed Sheikh Isa and his descendants in power on condition
that they should rule with justice. They have failed to do so and your Gov
ernment has neglected the matter. The policy of your Government is beyond
my understanding in these matters. She is responsible for the maintenance
cf order in Bahrein. Ho they fear Mustafa Kernal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , that they do not
force order ? What more obvious reasons can they need than these outrages.
Bahrein needs direct rule by a strong Government until a Buler can be taught
how to govern. I told all this to Sir Percy Cox many years ago ".
How far the Qadhi is sincere in his statements one cannot say, but he is
without doubt the most experienced and educated man in Bahrein.
Several deputations of Baharneh have called at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . They all
state that His Majesty's Government is pledged to remove gross oppression.
They quoted replies to questions in the petitions as assurances of adequate
protection. They are deriving considerable support from the Persian Shiah
community, with whom the Baharneh are much inter-married. The Persians
are making political capital out of our alleged connivance at the murders of
Shiahs. and there are rumours that alarmist reports have been sent to Teheran
to this effect. Doubtless, there will be the usual crop of anti-British articles
in the Persian Press.
j •
I m
GCP, Delhi—XI-708 (S)-12-2-21—7.

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Content

File includes correspondence related to a number of topics including a request to the Governor General of Sudan for a copy of Sudan's Penal Code, correspondence between Abdul Wahab Zayani (Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa’s Attorney in exile in Bombay) and the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain, reports of Sunni violence against the Shia community in Bahrain, discussion regarding the need for a levy corps in Bahrain, discussion on where and how Shaikh Hamad bin Isa’s younger children should be educated, correspondence between Bushire, Bahrain and the Government of India regarding the extent of reforms in Bahrain and the nature of Britain’s role in the country.

The movements of an Egyptian journalist (Ahmed Rifaat) in the region are also mentioned as are several other matters in brief. The file also includes a letter from Herbert Samuel, the British High Commissioner in Palestine that reports news that King Hussein had heard about the removal of Isa as ruler and expressed his concern that it could cause unrest.

Extent and format
1 file (208 folios)
Arrangement

Arranged in chronological order, from earliest at beginning of file to latest at end.

Physical characteristics

A bound correspondence file. The volume is foliated from the front cover to back cover, with small uncircled numbers in the top-right corner of each front-facing page. Some folios originally missed out have had letters added, e.g. 1a. 1b etc.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 19/165 III (C 24) Bahrain Reforms' [‎63v] (133/426), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/339, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024110738.0x000084> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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