You can't have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail"

Barack Obama, the U.S president, May 19, 2011.

Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Next to the royal court, the former first  deputy speaker of the Bahraini Parliament, Khalil Al Marzooq, spends his days isolated in solitary in police station in Riffa; a place which is well known to be under the direct authority of the intelligence and the army. 

The man who presided the last session of the Bahraini Parliament before 14 February 2011, topped the opposing party in negotiating the prince, met the US former assistant of Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman in the most difficult situations, then headed the opposing party in National Dialogue Forum invited by the king, is imprisoned for the first time after 21 years of political work of which some was confidential.

When the deputy chairman; one of potential opposition candidate for government presidency, is being charged with advocating terrorism and inciting to forcibly change the political regime and not to obey the laws, this means that the authorities is openly seeking the nemesis of official opposition and target 64% of electorates whom Marzooq headed the front that represents them.

The Second Man 

In the Wefaq board, Marzooq represents the secretary general, Shaikh Ali Salman if being not present, and welcomes the guests on his behalf. Marzooq also led the negotiating party instead of the Shaikh in several meetings which sat the opposition and the Crown Prince on one table. Moreover, he was the first, after Salman, to mount the protest platform and address the crowds.

In the first session, Khalil was elected a member of the board of directors of Al-Wefaq, and then became a vice president of Al-Wefaq Parliamentary Block and its representative in the highest position it occupied in the parliament. After its resignation from the parliament, Marzooq was named to be Assistant Secretary General, and became responsible for the foreign relations of Al Wefaq.

Khalil was a senior member in making the organization trend and composing its political discourse. In addition, he developed and reviewed the organization's statue. Marzooq holds the important press conferences and he is among the responsible group for issuing statements and preparing discourses, writes and letters related to Al-Wefaq.

The second man in Al- Wefaq National Islamic Society, the largest opposition political force, the private political assistant of Al-Wefaq secretary general, Shaikh Ali Salman, and the closed book of Ali Salman, is now in Riffa police station waiting for the first-time trial of a parliamentary deputy chairman in the country! One paradox is to accuse the second man in a political organization that officially works in the country with all these charges, whereas the organization is still working!

The Last Mission! 

The last political mission Marzooq did was traveling to Greece after his famous discourse during which he raised 14th February Coalition flag, after re-putting the Bahraini file on the table of Geneva and the 47-country statement, after the European Union decision against the Bahraini government, after the U.S president, Barack Obama's speech and after the leakage about meetings that put Marzooq and the prince together. (However, sources in political organizations did not verify it.)

There were strong indications the he would be arrested, yet he returned to his country to be summoned to investigation and led under protection to Rifaa police station, next to the royal court.

Since his arrest, Marzooq was mistreated. However, the sources reserved to mention details about this mistreatment. Even though he was imprisoned, he looked forward to political benefits in this tough conflict with the ruling regime! 

Shaikh Ali Salman's Closed Book

"I got to know Khalil before 1994-1995 uprising through meetings in the mosques" Shaikh Ali Salman says in a long conversation with "Bahrain Mirror" about arresting his assistant, Khalil Al Marzooq.

"He always talks about Shaikh Ali, I won't return to Al Khawaja mosque unless Shaikh Ali returns. We did not know who was Shaikh Ali at that time." one of Marzooq's brothers said. However, when Salman returned to pray before people in Al Khawaja mosque in Manama, the capital, Khalil was always his companion and was the one who take him by his car to the mosque.

"The first discussions between us showed that he was of mature and open-minded mentality, a mentality that can be innovative, raises deep questions and open unordinary horizons." Sometimes Friday khutba forms the discussions between Salman and Al Marzooq on their way.

Al Marzooq shared the same parliamentary committee (the legislative committee) with Salman. Being the chief and placing Salman a member in this committee surprised the media, "Shaikh Ali Salman renewed his trust in Al Marzooq through recommendation, for Ali sees him a promising leading project. Marzooq is known as Salman's closed book", Al Wasat newspaper wrote at that time.

"We used to go together to the deputy council on Tuesday and Friday. We also made the most of our way time discussing issues concerning the Parliament and political issues."

Shaikh Ali talks about the arrested leader, Kahlil Al-Marzooq, in way he never talks about anyone. "He is one of the promising youth samples, we need no evidence to prove that, for success was the fruit of his role which caused him internal and external calm. Marzooq was considered a successful and good choice that can hold part of the responsibility."

If there were difficulties in affecting the process of creating figures in society, no doubt that there are subjective elements to innovate and export political models. In the light of a strategy that works on the long term, the leader Khalil Marzooq will be one the most important innovative political models. 

Shaikh Salman adds," In general, Khalil's model forms a great challenge to the regime." He continues, "Khalil exceeds every model the regime may propose. Where can you a find a person such as Khalil in the regime?"

The Prestigious University

"Graduating from a prestigious university, Kalil was a special person who enjoys an administrative style in political work." Shaikh Ali Salman tells about Al Marzooq.
In 1990, Khalil graduated holding a baccalaureus degree in computer sciences from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, which is classified as the best Arab university and internationally occupies the 94th rank. Khalil was among the first Bahrainis to join this university; he was also among the first Bahrainis to obtain a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification. In 1998, Al Marzooq took his master degree in management and information technology form the third largest university in the UK; Sheffield Hallam.

Marzooq's personality academic part played a major role in his political life. "This helped in his management thinking and organizational behavior; in addition, he shined in every file he was responsible for. Among the files he followed were: the electoral rating file before 2006 elections, managing the legislative committee in the deputy council for 4 years and Constitution amendment project that failed on the hand of the committee after the front resignation," the resigned deputy Ali Al Aswad declared.

Marzooq was a witty and convincing spokesman. Some deputies used to surprisingly ask him how he can deliver organized speeches and interjections without papers?!

Marzooq promoted in his positions in Batelco Bahraini Communication Company. He moved from being a systems analyst, then support services director, then a collective system director until he became the director of electronic administration. Khalil has clear achievements in Batelco and he was the first to propose the application of the Intranet technique in the company. 

In 2003, he resigned from Batelco and established a specified company in software development. His political job affected his private business, so it took him no long time to leave his profession and devote himself to social and political work.

Shaikh Salman mentions," his acceptance to be a candidate for 2006 elections and stability was a bias and fully dedicate himself to political work and people serving."

Manama 2006: Presiding the Legislative Committee in the Deputy Council
Marzooq had a great ambition to change. He was excited to let the front enter the parliamentary elections trial despite all the expected results.

He faced several obstacles such as Wefaq's consultative council ratification where some of its members rejected for they did not enough know Khalil, and for the group he was to represent in Manama contained a lot of competences and elites that can compete whether they are from inside Al-Wefaq or outside it.

The district Marzooq was a candidate for, was one of its kind due to the variety of its people in sects, ethics and political views. Despite all of this variety, Marzooq won the majority of voices in the first run and exceeded 12 competitors. Meanwhile, other districts of less importance moved to a second run. 

Shaikh Salman says, "He was convincing when he mounted the platform and he was always ready for delivering a speech. He could strongly market himself."
Marzooq headed the legislative committee, the most important parliamentary committees, and he resisted for 4 years the regime desire to control the committee. Ali Al Aswad the resigned deputy declares, "Marzooq adapted with the authority, thanks to his patience, wisdom, listening and communicating with everyone."

The Salafi deputy Jassim Al Saeedi, the president of Al Menbar (Ikhwan) Abdul Latif Al Shaikh and others from different fronts were consisting the legislative committee. Marzooq could direct this committee without disputes. He, nonetheless, lessened its problems to the minimum. His management was effective and fruitful, Salman says.

The Parliament Vice President
Khalil Al Marzooq apologized to nominate himself for the 2010 elections, but due to Shaikh Ali Salman's pressure he accepted. He also received the most sensitive file in front of the crowds: the block achievements.

Despite a lower participation, the front could succeed to occupy 18 parliamentary seats, and have 64% of the electors' votes. Despite Al Wefaq refused to attend the parliamentary opening ceremony and the position distribution session in 2006 claiming that that the electoral district distribution was unjust and came to deliberately prevent it from the majority of the deputy council. However, it was present at the 2010 ceremony to form an important turn in the history of the official opposition political work.

To compensate the president position of the Parliament that Al Wefaq had to get, being the largest block, it was given the first vice president one in the council. Moreover, being an acceptable person to most of the parties, Marzooq's figure helped in deciding the legislative committee, so he was the most prominent nominee for this position. Thus, he was elected to be the first opposing parliamentary vice president.

A close man to Marzooq declare: "During his period in the parliament, he gave an impression to the world about Al Wefaq; a civilized front that can lead the government, and he also placed it in a convincing position to the people." 

Shaikh Salman sees the vice president position a weight to the political party and to Al Wefaq as well. Four years after participating in the parliament, this position came to be another factor of destabilizing the political balances and giving Al Wefaq more official image, in addition to clarifying its diplomatic and political relations inside, more effectively, and outside Bahrain. This is said to be a factor to change the 1990s prevalent way of dealing with opposition on the international level.

The last Session

Due to the absence of the council president Khalifa Al Dhahrani, Marzooq led the last session attended by Al Wefaq in the parliament on February 8, 2011. It was a historic session as all observers said; it was dominated and controlled by 14th February. This was the first step to the opposition joining the uprising, which will be later the only scene on the political aspect.

The session kicked up a row, and the start was when the resigned deputy Abdul Jalil Khalil asked Khalil Marzooq during the session to deliver a speech in the memory of the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter. Abdul Jalil read a historic speech through which he blamed the political decision makers in the country in hindering the country's political reforms and not making their pervious promises. Abdul Jalil also talked about plundering the national council's legislative authority.

Abdul Jalil's speech was a start to the deputies' hot interferences through which they showed their point of views regarding the National Action Charter. His speech, however, prolonged to address the 1990s uprising and its consequences. 

The session caused rumors at the level of the regime supporter deputies, and also caused the Bahrain television to temporary stopped broadcasting it. The committee chief Khalifa Al Dhahrani blamed Al Marzooq later and said, "Is this I recommended you?" Khalil, however, refused this blame, answering: "This is my responsibility."

"If Marzooq continued to serve in his position, he would have been the most prominent figure in the parliament". Shaikh Ali Salman mention that, despite Marzooq was an absolute person, he enjoyed a tolerant personality. 

In the second part of this report, we will address Khalil Marzooq's profile starting February 14, 2011 until his arrest date.

Margin:
The Arabic version of the report

Al Wasat: Khalil delivers a parliamentary controversy speech to the king on the anniversary of "The Charter".