From Shia rights to opposition to normalization; the protest statement of Bahrains February 14 Coalition

The council, in its weekly statement published on the coalition's website, called on students to make full use of their time to acquire knowledge and achieve the highest degrees. It emphasized that these efforts are rooted in religious and national belonging, and are essential for preserving identity and strengthening the nation's power against challenges targeting its civilizational and spiritual existence.

Parents were also encouraged to pursue their children's affairs despite "restrictions and targeting" and to provide them with a suitable environment. The importance of ensuring their educational and religious well-being through religious education was also emphasized, to preserve their identity and authentic belonging and protect them from the effects of a dangerous plan threatening their values and ethics.

Condemnation of restrictions on religious pulpits and rituals

The council condemned the Ministry of Justice's requirement to obtain a security permit before setting up religious pulpits and performing religious eulogies in mosques and Hussainiyas, considering this action part of ongoing policies targeting the existence of Shiites in Bahrain, their identity, symbols, institutions, and seminaries.

The statement added that Bahraini authorities over the past years have issued a series of decisions and decrees that, according to the coalition, aim to besiege Shiites and criminalize their beliefs and rituals. These measures include the personal status file, the criminalization of khums and mourning processions, the dissolution of religious associations, the termination of Ja'fari endowment management, the arrest and exile of a number of prominent scholars, and ultimately, the conditioning of speeches, guidance, and sermons to prior approval by the Ministry of Interior.

Warning about the "existential danger"

The statement added that the Al Khalifa regime, as described by the coalition, is implementing a "clear plan aimed at ending the presence of Shiites in Bahrain." The coalition called for describing what is happening as "open genocide" that intends to destroy the identity of original citizens.

The coalition called for adopting a comprehensive approach to build an integrated plan to confront the existential danger, and emphasized the need to establish a discourse and steps beyond the fears and illusions that, according to it, authorities play a role in spreading among citizens to influence public reason and the positions of elites and internal forces.

The statement emphasized that the popular stance of religious and social leaders includes rejecting decisions and decrees that harm identity, belief, and rituals. It also called for not submitting to these decisions, and emphasized that the Bahraini nation, according to this statement, will continue the path of steadfastness and resistance.

Position on normalization with Israel

In a different context, the coalition recalled the anniversary of the signing of normalization agreements between Bahrain and Israel, which falls in mid-September. The coalition considered these agreements as an entry point for Bahraini authorities to join a US-Israel-led coalition against Iran and resistance forces in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

The coalition emphasized that the Bahraini nation's position of rejecting normalization and the presence of an Israeli delegation in Manama is part of its supportive stance for resistance and confrontation with hegemonic powers, and stressed that normalization agreements and repressive policies will not create a rift in this position.

Warning about economic collapse and reduced sovereignty

The Political Council of the February 14 Youth Coalition warned about the worsening economic and sovereign situation in Bahrain, noting that the total public debt, according to the statement, is about 20 billion Bahraini dinars, which has occurred in the shadow of systematic financial corruption.

The statement linked this situation to economic and administrative policies that, according to them, are based on the division of influence and interests. It also referred to the domination of the two companies "Mumtalakat" (government partnerships) and "Bapco Energy," and considered this, along with linking Bahrain to foreign policies and the interests of international powers, which according to the statement, has led to the undermining of national sovereignty and the threat to the security of citizens and the stability of their livelihoods and dignified lives.

From Shia rights to opposition to normalization; the protest statement of Bahrain's February 14 Coalition