Ayatollah Qassem’s statement entitled “Bahrain: Is there a solution to the national crisis?”

The day any government respects its people, appreciates the national interest, and is very intent on reform; its determination is inevitably directed into a dialogue. This dialogue is with the party, which is basic to achieve the reform, that it hasn’t initially lunched, as it is expected to believe that such an initiative is a must.

Indeed, the party that ought to be considered and accounted for in the issue of reform is the people and the opposition that truly represent them. Both are capable, along with the government, to stabilize the situation.

As for obtaining approval of one of the government’s forms of loose and temporary solution, by an individual here and an individual there, never tackle the situation. Beside, it is not a guarantee of stability because the approval of those individuals does not mean the people’s approval; their consent does not mean their consent, and because imagination does not mean the truth, otherwise things would be easy.

An effective solution must be a genuine solution, agreed upon between two influential parties. Does any government accept to sign a contract with another, whereby it is represented by whom it doesn’t approve?

It is not for any of us to confiscate the people’s opinion, nor to impose themselves on them as their representative. Dialogue and negotiation, in the name of the people, can only take place by those delegated by the people, otherwise it is specific to the negotiator themselves. It is their responsibility and they must bear its consequences.

What is required for any solution is to halt the problem, lead to justice, generate stability, and restore the status to its normal situation. This can only take place based upon a solution approved by both influential parties, i.e. the people and their true opposition. This opposition is a party and no one else can take its place from outside or inside Bahrain, and the government is the other party.

The rational solution must address the sources of disagreement, not some of the sub-filaments of the original problems, which are far away from its origins and do not provide an effective and constant solution.

Those who want to demonstrate sincerity and devotion to the homeland, the people and the government, and the national parties must all focus on the endeavour to a comprehensive and sincere solution, which places great importance on the fundamental problems.

The crisis is crucial for the people and the homeland, so let all the faithful parties appreciate it as much as it is, and perceive its influence. Let those concerned remember that all the homeland and the people have got exhausted and need rest. Their exhaustion is an honorable one, which is hoped to be followed by relief; a required relief for the whole people and homeland.

Let everyone adhere to the brotherhood of faith and the homeland, and let us all follow the path of religion, reason, patience, enjoining good and forbidding evil in order to save the homeland and shut the doors of sedition.

Issa Ahmed Qassem
September 1, 2021