AhlulBayt News Agency - The Bahrainis are marking the fifth anniversary of their uprising which started on February 14, 2011, when the people pushed to see the end of al-Khalifa family’s over 250 years rule. The Ruling family has reigned the country during this period without considering the most basic principles of human rights and democracy in treating the Bahrainis. The hierarchical monarchy of the country is seen by many as a real embodiment of the dictatorship. Bahrain has not held a real election or seen a parliament the members of which are directly elected by people. To know about the Bahraini revolution in details and about the role of the regional and global powers in holding back the success of Bahrain’s popular uprising while it is entering its fifth year, the Alwaght News has arranged an interview with the London-based Bahraini opposition figure Jalal Firooz.
Q: Has the Bahraini regime managed to break down the uprising of February 14 and block the way of its success?
Firooz: Considering the circumstances and developments, the uprising has so far been successful while the regime has its capabilities and is supported militarily, politically and financially by its allies like Saudi Arabia and Britain. On the one hand, the Persian Gulf Arab states’ money has silenced the global media that are covering the revolution’s developments and on the other hand, large numbers of troops have been deployed to suppress the popular revolution, however, the process is still incessantly ongoing as the people and the opposition hold protests in the streets as actively as in the beginning. Due to all these evidences we can say that the motion is still alive and at the end of the road it would succeed.
Q: Some analysts suggest that it is because of the absence of a unified leadership of the opposition parties that the revolution after five years has not managed to overthrow the al-Khalifa regime. How do you analyze that?
Firooz: On the contrary, the Bahraini revolution is unique. There is no divide between the different sides, all gathered under the leadership of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, so there is no gap between the Bahraini opposition parties. This is a factor that helped strengthen the uprising even after five years since it has started despite all the crackdowns. The presence of the Saudi forces in Bahrain for supporting the regime is an apparent reason for the regime’s survival. Another reason is the support offered by the Persian Gulf Arab states. The third factor which made the regime prevent falling is the backing by some of the global powers, on top of them is Britain.
Q: As you said, Arab states’ support is one of the factors led to the regime’s survival up to date. How do you see this regional backing especially that of Saudi Arabia, and why is Riyadh afraid of the Bahraini regime’s fall?
Firooz: Essentially, the Saudi regime is authoritarian and tyrannical. It fears that any democratic change could leave impacts on the Saudi interior. On the other side, the Persian Gulf’s ruling families all give support to each other. That’s why the Saudi regime has rushed to have the Bahraini regime’s back since 2011 in a bid to prevent collapse of al-Khalifa regime.
Q: You also touched upon the Western support to al-Khalifa family, including Britain which provides the regime with suppression instruments. How do you interpret the British backing of the Bahraini regime against the people?
Firooz: Unfortunately, the British government is authoritarian, and historically, it has supported the tyrannical rulers, as is supported the apartheid regime in South Africa for 30 years while even the Western states came against it. It was Britain itself which has imposed the al-Khalifa family on the people of Bahrain. Now it wants to tell the world that its project and the regime it founded in Bahrain is a success. Furthermore, London seeks restoring its toehold in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East region, as it wants building military bases in the region. Britain supplies the regime not only with the suppressive tools but also with advisors facilitating quelling of people without letting the regime’s face be damaged regionally or globally.
Q: Some observers suggest that the US’ approach towards Bahrain is not that much different from Britain’s. Washington tries to deceive the public opinions through some of its moderate criticism of the Bahraini regime while the Bahrain-based US’ Fifth Naval Fleet is playing a significant role in propping up the al-Khalifa ruling family. How do you see all these paradoxes in US behavior in dealing with the Bahrainis?
Firooz: The US administration is mean and it is like a fox disguising under different covers. While saying publicly that it supports people’s demands, the US works only to achieve its specific interests at the cost of destroying the people’s interests. The US officials see the Bahraini regime as obedient, therefore, of course they are not interested in a change in the small country in favor of people. On the other hand, the Americans see Bahrain as part of the collection of the countries, led by Saudi Arabia, which guards Washington’s interests in the region. This block of countries is fortifying the US’ economy by its arms purchases from Washington and also by supplying it with cheap oil. For all these, the US supports the regime rather that the popular demands.
Q: Finally, how do you see the outlook of the uprising despite all the hurdles ahead?
Firooz: The regime in Bahrain relies on two pillars to survive. First the funding it has or those offered by its backers. Secondly, It also reposes confidence on the partnerships it has established within the American- Zionist alliance in the region. But, recently, the financial sources of al-Khalifa have seen a decline due to the plummeting oil prices. The regime is living a financial crisis, the same crisis felt by its allies. Additionally, there are rebalancing changes taking place in the region, all signaling that al-Khalifa has experienced a weakness while on the opposite side the people are gaining strength. Therefore, the Bahraini people are of lofty morale, looking forward to see in the near future the success of their movement.
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