Since the launch of the Bahrain Foundation for Reconciliation and Civil Discourse (BFRCD), I’ve been getting three types of feedback. One is very supportive, saying how great this initiative is and how badly it is needed in Bahrain. The second type of feedback is vehemently against it, which is coming from both sides. The extreme pro-gov camp says there can be no reconciliation with supposed traitors etc., while the anti-gov camp says there can be no reconciliation with the regime that has done so much damage. The third type of feedback has a “wait and see” attitude, giving us time to prove ourselves.
One of the things that was being consistently brought against me by the anti-gov camp was a blog post I wrote last year about the doctors. I was accused of calling them traitors and terrorists. Let me clarify, I said no such thing and have never used such words to describe my fellow countrymen.
However, I did use the word terrorist in quotation marks (” “) (علامات الاقتباس ) meaning that others were using this word, not me. Incidentally, though I thought the doctors were guilty (more about that in a minute), I did call for a pardon and I called for reform and for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission – which I still hope happens in Bahrain.
Now, the recent court rulings have shown us that at least nine were innocent, and most of the other nine were given much lighter sentences, meaning that many of the original charges were trumped up.
I was clearly wrong in my assessment, and to those doctors and their families, and anyone else, who may have taken offence to last year’s blog post, I offer my apologies. I was wrong, and I hope in time you can forgive me. I cannot imagine how difficult the last year must have been.
While I’m on this topic, allow me to talk a bit more about the BFRCD.
Not a political organisation:
Since before our official launch the BFRCD has caused a lot of controversy, with many people thinking that it is a political organisation. It is not, the Foundation is mainly concerned with social reconciliation, and civil dialogue (discourse).
Yes, I am the first to acknowledge that we need political reconciliation too, but why wait for the politicians to start? We might as well start on the social level, right? The BFRCD tries to work on the social/sectarian reconciliation in our beloved island.
I want to share a valuable take-away from the recent “Reconciliation Lessons from Northern Ireland” lecture we held this week, which was conducted by Peter Sheridan from Cooperation Ireland. Peter told the audience that the origin of the Northern Ireland conflict was political, which eventually became sectarian.
Our crisis may not have been sectarian at the outset (according to many), but it certainly has sectarian ramifications, which will only get worse if not addressed now, before the next generation has hate engrained in them.
The CP:
I am honoured and delighted that we are officially endorsed by HRH the Crown Prince. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you’ll know that I’m a big fan of his, and his endorsement means the world to me. The CP has always said “Bahrain is for all”, and it’s with that in mind that he endorsed us.
However, the BFRCD is independent and will have an independent board of trustees. We are also not spokespersons for him. I’ve been asked many questions about the CP, and my response is always the same: please address any questions to his court.
We hope that in time our track record will speak for itself. I fully acknowledge that many consider me a very controversial person. Some think I’m the perfect person to start such an initiative, while others think the opposite because of my past views. Some consider me too close the government, while some on the extreme right consider me way too close the opposition. I’m not here to defend any of my stances, I will forge ahead with love and respect for all, and our arms are open to those who want to work for us.
We’ve been acknowledged by the government, and by the opposition (I believe the only organisation to have this privilege) and we hope to work closely with both, yet always maintain our independence.
No outrage and no condemnation:
The BFRCD does not plan to show outrage towards any stance or incidence, no matter how dramatic, as we are not a political organisation. There are enough outraged people in Bahrain, and by extension outraged NGO’s and other organisations. We plan to stay neutral and forge ahead, even if the political crisis is not over (and the abuse allegedly continues).
Also, we will not condemn anyone or any acts. If a villager is attacked or hurt we will not comment, nor will we comment if a cop has been injured through Molotov cocktails. We will let others do that if they choose to. We will have a no-judgment policy, and we will not force our views on anyone. The only thing I will say is that we believe violence is not the answer, regardless of who does it.
My political stance:
For those who don’t know, I consider myself a royalist. But I’m a royalist who believes we desperately need 1) reforms and 2) reconciliation. And since I and the BFRCD cannot engage in political reconciliation, we might as well work on the social side. We’re not here to solve all of Bahrain’s problems, but we’ll do our bit to build bridges and make Bahrain better than it was. And the more NGO’s will work on this, the better this small island kingdom can become.
I want to end this blog post with an apology to anyone who may have been offended by anything I’ve written here in the past. I’m willing to turn a new page with anyone who is willing to do the same. And I fully acknowledge the fact that many are not willing to reconcile on any level. I know there is a lot of anger, hate and fear still lingering. All I can say that God willing in time our wounds will heal.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and talk to you soon.
God bless.
I would really wish that saying “sorry” can solve problems but lets face it, IT DOESN’T
Saying sorry wont make Dr. Ali AlEkri take back the torture he went through including making him eat his own “shit” and spetting in his mouth, it won’t bring the son for the medic Aldemstani back to life!
it seems that it’s a habbit you and your regime think it will work, “let’s kill, insulate/torture then we will apologies and they have to accept it because there’s no other way to move forward” well let me break it to you, This won’t work anymore.
We won’t forget how you stood during the what was called “National Safety” and you went on defending the regime and the criminal family acts, at the time we were moaning our martyrs, ppl like you went on all the media they can to defend the regime crimes. Yes we won’t forget.
And now after all the regime crimes are so clear and addressed by a commission and many international HR NGOs you come to take another role trying flip the people demands and show them as sectarian divide.
If you really feel bad about your previous act in supporting a bloody regime I believe you should step with those who are suffering every day and join their demands
A father/mother who lost a son and a son who lost his father won’t care about socializing and drinking tea with those who danced on his father/son blood
Reconciling is important but it has to be coming after giving the people their demands and to be lead by someone who’s hand is not covered by our youth blood
Some time sorry is to late ….. With respect to your apologize ……
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How am I suppose to reconcile when I got demoted from a curriculum specialist to a teacher for the plane reason of being summoned to an investigation committee that did not prove me guilty? Am I suppose to forget about it and carry on living my life!!! All this hardwork I put day in day out to get to the position I was in. All taken unjustfuly and I’m suppose to reconcile. The least they could do is give us back our jobs and then we might reconcile.
How r torture victims suppose to reconcile when their torturers are still free?? How r the families of the dead reconcile when the murderers that ruined their whole family are still free?? How can we reconcile when our mosques have not been built yet after more than a year?
These issues are not political, they are rights, and justice has to be served before any reconciliation can take place.
I do admire ur stance and what ur trying to do but do u honestly believe that any of the ones affected would want to reconcile if they are still not at there actual jobs, or served justice yet? And we r talking about 10s of thousands here Suhail, and that is excluding there family members who must feel the same.
Imagine one of ur family members got tortured to death in prison and the torturer is walking free. Then u have ur gym burnt down because u spoke against the torturers. And u had ur house ruined by Riot police. Would u try to reconcile before justice was served. I know I wouldn’t and I only got demoted from my job. Imagine how the rest who suffered much worse would feel.
But I still thank you for your effort as eventually when justice is served, these initiative will be needed to get Bahrain back on track. And back on track it will get.
Do you think sorry will solve the problem?
even the reconciliation you are taking part of it is not effective , can you stop AlWatan newspaper from writing their articles against Shiite? even the ambassador of USA now became Wefaqi ?
Dear Suhail,
since you explained the quotation marks (” “) (علامات الاقتباس ) in Arabic and your are talking to Bahraini people as it suppose, it’s better to write this article in Arabic.
Unfortunately, sorry usually required many things
appreciate your efforts. thanks
How do you propose to promote reconciliation when justice has not occurred? Two of the most famous cases of political and social reconciliation are South Africa and N. Ireland. In both the first step was the release of political prisoners. In South Africa it was a TRUTH and Reconciliation Commission and involved years of intentional hard work to establish truth. I applaud yor efforts but the BFRCD needs to appreciate the pain and suffering that people have gone through. Your blogs have judged people, whether you used quotation marks or not, so it is only fait that people wait to see whether you are “un trust-worthy” or “a naive PR stunt” as some other people (not me) say.
We are Still wating for the apology when you lied and said that we were hoilding Hizballah Flags in Lulu.
الغرور السافر اكثر نزاهة من التواضع الكاذب ” – غازي القصيبي
Thanks all for your comments. I repeat what I said in the blog post, God willing our track record will speak for itself. We are focusing on the future not the past.
We will not fix all of Bahrain’s problems, but we’ll do what we can. And to those who have negative feelings towards me, I understand. I won’t try to change anyone’s mind, there is still a lot of pain and anger, which I respect. Know that the any feelings of hatred are not reciprocated, and I know full well the extent of the pain and anger. God willing in time things will get better in Bahrain.
I don’t think that you understand our feelings simply because you don’t live in our villages. As a mother I fear that my 9 years old son go out to play and got arrested or got shot by shotgun like Ali Al naham (4years) got shot in his eye. You don’t know our feeling when we lose our neighbour Zakariya Al Asheeri (in 30s) by torture in jail and you cannot emagine seeing his kids everyday how that makes me anger that what this goverment done to them losing their father in this early age in a horrible way. And then by just saying sorry we will forget all that!!!!!! It’s still going on Suhail everyday police are everywhere just chasing people and doing horrible things. I say to you I am sorry I cannot forget and will never forget you at TV defending the government acts!
dear suhail,
i am one of those guys who reviewed your articles last year and recommended you start you campgain wtih a public apology to the dotors, and am glad you did. it is a courageous act. how ever, u must know that in such situaions, trust , once broken, is difficul to regain. In other words, you should understand why many people are skeptical and perhaps hostile to this idea of yours. you say you are not a loyalist, but boy you did sound like one to me and hunderds of thousands last year!
you idea of reconciliation is nobel, but you must understand- as i understand its not your responsibility- that in order for this to work, the original political issues which instigated all the injustice that bahrainis suffered last year must be addressed. there is no use going on with this if you, your team or the crown prince dont address this and pressure, by whatever ifluence and connections you have in this country, the government into showing that it does want reconcilliation. one way of doing this is allowing freedom of expression or perhaps stopping the daily night assaults carried out in villages. a better way, that would meet many peaopls expectation and would lead to solid foundation for reconcilliation is to release all politicial prisoners. Now all of this stuff maybe beyond ur scope, but if you guys are serious about this, and you want a young lively bahrain back and your idea to succeed, this must happen before or atleast hand in hand with any such act of reconcilliation. after all, we are not talking simply about people losing their jobs. many have lost their eyes or been severely injured, many have been tortured and humiliated, or had that done to thier loved ones.
My message to you is that for this to work, you literally must put yourself in the shoes of the bahrainis who were done unjust- ie majorly the opposition- so you can more acurrately address the urgent issues that need correction, in order for your act to subsequently succeed. that is, if you really want this to work. Good luck
Atlast someone publicized that at some time he/she experienced cognitive dissonance, very brave bravo!