MANAMA, 10 November 2005 — Thousands of people filled the streets of the Bahraini capital Manama yesterday in the largest of a series of protests that began a week ago as part of a campaign by Shiite leaders to block a proposed family law from passing.
A group of about 300 people held a counter-protest along the same road, as the largest of the two opposition political forces faced off against each other for the first time, indicating a further deterioration in the opposition alliance.
A senior Bahraini official said that the initial estimate by the government suggested that about 14,000 people took part in the protest, a figure confirmed by the Interior Ministry, but other estimates put the figure at over 80,000.
The law, which is also known as the personal status law, is supported by women’s rights activists that see it as a guarantor of fair treatment in court as it governs domestic cases such as child custody, inheritance and divorce.
The protesters, who were led by Shiite scholars and figures from the Al-Wefaq (National Accord) Society, were joined by thousands of women.
They marched along the highway in the busy business district of Seef in the suburbs of Manama demanding the government not pass the bill. They called instead for the alternative draft put forward by the Shiite Ulema Islamic Council (UIC), which is spearheading the protest efforts, to be adopted.
The UIC once more warned that passing the law would only agitate the situation, adding that they do not oppose adopting the law if their demands were met.
UIC Chairman Isa Qasem had warned in his Friday sermon that passing the law in its present format could lead to unrest, accusing the government of wanting to pass the law to please the United States.
Less than five kilometers away and along the same stretch of road, hundreds of supporters of the law gathered, led by women’s activists and the National Democratic Action Society (NDAS), which is one of four opposition societies in which Al-Wefaq is included.
The chairmen and members of both societies faced off for the first time in more than four years, fuelling further speculation of a troubled opposition that has been rocked in recent months by mass resignations of some of their leaders and members over differences in policy.
Women’s Petition Committee chairwoman, Ghada Jamsheer, warned that not adopting the law would only create more chaos in the Shariah courts.
Jamsheer said that the present law discriminates against women and gives judges, whom activists accuse of bias toward men, wide powers.
“This law is a guarantee of the rights of everyone — men, women, and children,” she said.
“As the population grows we will see more family disputes in courts and we need a law to guide judges. The number of countries who do not have such a law could be counted on one hand.”
The Supreme Council for Women (SCW), which is chaired by the wife of Bahrain’s king, Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, is spearheading a three-month campaign that began in October to promote the new law in the hope that public support would result in its adoption.
SCW Secretary-General Lulwa Al-Awadhi had earlier welcomed discussion with those opposing the law, denying accusations that it went against Islamic principles. Shariah was the main source for the purposed legislation, Al-Awadhi said.
