Bahrain Mirror: Funding terrorist organisations is not the only untold story in Bahrain, Al-Qaeda flags and its leader's (Osama Bin Laden) pictures are untold too. Gradually, radical Islam and its icons turn into a common place in our daily life. The corroboration between the regime and the Salafist groups has reached a flagrant level. America has to adapt with that. The following is a review of the main activities that revealed that trend.

28 April 2006
The National Justice Movement with the cooperation of Islamic Shura Society and The National Constitutional Assemblage organised a demonstration at the court adjacent to the Muharraq cemetery close to Bahrain Sport Club. It was a show of solidarity with the Palestinian and Iraq peoples. Approximately 150 people of the organising societies and citizens took part. Some of them were dressed in T-Shirts that had pictures of Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda leader.

April 2008
The National Justice Movement that was constituted of the ex-Guantanamo detainees and Salafists who had been earlier accused by the Bahraini authorities of being affiliated to cells that had connections to Al-Qaeda organised a sit-in in Al-Fateh Islamic Centre in Jufair close the American base. The pictures of Osama Bin Laden were flaunted side by side with flags that had Al-Qaeda logo. The participants chopped off the head of an effigy of an American soldier.

The 80 participants protested re-opening of the Bahrain embassy in Iraq and appointing an ambassador in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The Security Directorate of the Capital Governate summoned the people in charge of the sit-in. The deputy head of Public Security Tareq Bin Dina said: "What some of the participants in the sit-in did of holding pictures of Al-Qaeda leader was a transgression of peaceful expression." He warned of "Repeating that act which contravenes Bahrain's stance that condemns terrorism."

The secretary general of the National Justice Movement and the Salfist groups lawyer Abdulla Hashem commented: "The movements considers Sheikh Osama Bin Laden one of the Islamic resistance leaders in the world." He said: "I and the member in the general secretariat in the movement Mohammed Janahi met with Colonel Isa Al-Mussalam and Officer Osama Al-Mahri in the Capital Security Directorate, we defended our concept of considering Sheikh Osama Bin Laden one of the Islamic resistance leader worldwide", he revealed that: "The other party (The Ministry of Interior) acknowledged that, accepted our observations, and co1mmended it."
He continued: "In relation to the sit-ins that address Jihad and resistance fields, we are going definitely to raise those pictures."

4 March 2011
During the peak of Bahrain crisis, a number of pro-regime people organised a march in Madinat Hamad south of Manama. They held Al-Qaeda flags. The marchers posted a video footage on YouTube showing a number of them who were believed to be naturalized Arabs wielding sticks and flags that had Al-Qaeda logo. The government never commented on that.

14 September 2012
Pro-regime salafist group organised a sit-it in front of the American Embassy in Manama. Masked men carrying Al-Qaeda flags appeared there. The demonstrators protested film that was produced by an American of Coptic background and was considered blasphemous of Prophet Mohammed. They chanted: "O'Obama, O'Obama, Today All of us are Osama", in remark to Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden. A number of Brotherhood and Salafist MPs took part in the sit-in e.g. the ex-MP of Islamic Manbar Society (Muslim Brotherhood) Nasser Al-Fadahala and the MP of Islamic Asala Society (Salafist) Abdulhaleem Murad. In his speech MP Murad said after he had turned to face the American Embassy: "The days will tell O'Cross worshippers and Jews"

A salafist named Abu Sufian As-Salami said: "Those who claim to criticise the Amerians for instulting the Prophet are not right if they don't apply their Sharia law." Then the masked men chanted: : "O'Obama, O'Obama, Today All of us are Osama". The Coalition of Al-Fateh Youths the political wing of the National Unity Gathering (before their separation) and led by Mohammed Al-Othman who is present in the London had called for the sit-in in front of the American Embassy, he reneged of that call afterwards.

Link to the Arabic copy ●

America's Major non NATO Ally, Safe Haven for Al-Qaeda «1-3»

Summary - Al-Qaeda in Bahrain

Near to Naval Base.. Obama, Obama, Today All of Us Osama