File 522/1922 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Internal' [‎300r] (604/616)

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Letter from Major C. K. Daly, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrein, to
Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. Trevor, C.S.L, C.I.E., Resident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , No. 13-C., dated the 13th January 1924 (Confi
dential).
Outrage in Sitrah.
I have the honour to forward a petition presented to me by representa
tives of the Baharneh Community who desired me to forward it to you.
During the past nine months five armed attacks by Sunnis on Shiahs
have occurred resulting in about twelve deaths and a number of serious
injuries. This does not include the deaths during the Manameh riot in May
last.
Y ou will remember that for the attack on ’Ali the Sheikh inflicted a light
monetary fine on the leader of the Dowasir, who was responsible.
Shortly after an ’Alim and another person were murdered. Por this
crime nobody was apprehended, although it is beyond doubt that the Dowasir
were the offenders.
As a result of the previous attack on Sitrah, the Sheikh, much against his
sympathies, sentenced one son of Sheikh Khalid to deportation for life, and
another for deportation for one year to the mainland.
It is evident that such light punishment for so serious a crime has
encouraged the perpetration of this further outrage.
The first deportee is detained in India at the expense of the Bahrein
Government, and is probably in greater comfort than previous to the crime.
The other went, with some followers, to a place on the mainland which is
within four hours of Bahrein, to which it has been customary to go for
hawking expeditions, lie may be said, therefore, to have escaped all punish
ment Prom this place he returned and took part in the recent outrage.
Sheikh Khalid and his son Ibrahim have been importuning Sheikh Hamad and
myself for some time past, for the return from India of his son, although he
knows he was sentenced to deportation for life and has been absent only a few
months.
Sheikh Hamad is due back from Lingah to-day . I fear that he will not
take any action in the present matter w hich will have the desired effect of
putting a stop to these outrages. He is fully aware of the necessity of doing
so but I am convinced he fears for his personal safety, and is afraid that if he
sentenced any member of his family to dea*h for murder, he would start a
blood feud among Al Khalifah, which is in fact by no means improbable,
although I think it highly unlikaly. He is of course unpopular with his
family^ who are constantly set against him by Sheikh Isa and his wdfe and
Sheikh Abdulla They are also not unnaturally displeased with his efforts to
curtail the constant oppression of his subjects. The difficulties of his position
are very apparent, still, I think, if he had the courage to assert himself, all such
opposition would quickly disappear. On the other hand, the difficulties of
Hamad’s position does not seem to me to justify our countenancing continued
inability to deal justly with his subjects. His difficulties are largely the result of
his endeavours to carry out the reforms desired by His Majesty’s Government,
which he is without doubt endeavouring to do. At the same time, any
scheme of reforms aimed at the improvement of the status of the oppiessed
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 Hamai 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 be 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 Shara’ Court, but inasmuch as no member of
Al 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.