Haq Movement

Infobox_Social_Political_Party
party_name = Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy
حركة حق حركة الحريات و الديمقراطية
colorcode = #9D0000
party_
leader = Hasan Mushaima
foundation = 2005
nationality = BHR|Bahraini
website = [http://www.haaq.org/ www.haaq.org] |

The Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy (ArB|حركة حق حركة الحريات و الديمقراطية ) is an opposition political organization in Bahrain founded in 2005 with Hasan Mushaima as its Secretary general. Mushaima was previously the deputy head and co-founder of Al Wefaq [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/05/09/18/182300.html| Al Wefaq society vice-chairman quits over new associations law] Gulf News, September 18 2005] , Bahrain's biggest Islamist organisation. Several of its other leaders were previously in the leadership of the Al Wefaq society, but it also contains others, Ali Rabea, a secular nationalist and former member of parliament previously associated with the National Democratic Action Society, and Shaikh Isa Al Jowder, a Sunni cleric [ [http://chanad.weblogs.us/?p=487 Chan’ad Bahraini » Blog Archive » Shaikh Isa Al Jowder and the Haq movement ] ] .

Background

Haq was formed out of the schism in Al Wefaq in September 2005, when Mushaima’s opposition to the society participating in the political process and contesting the 2006 elections was rejected by a majority of Al Wefaq's members. In response to the defeat, Mushaima led a sixty strong faction in a walk out, comparing the decision to leave as "like drinking poison", and he announced that he would "withdraw from politics for some time" before launching Haq Movement in November 2005. Haq opposed participation in the parliamentary elections because it considers the 2002 Constitution of Bahrain to be illegal and unilaterally imposed by King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah, replacing the 1973 Constitution [http://www.haaq.org/en-US/15/ViewArticle/44/4/Default.aspx] .

The group campaigns under the slogan: “The rule of rights, not the rule of law” [ [http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=19163&prog=zgp&proj=zme#al-ekry| Bahrain: Al-Wefaq and the Challenges of Participation] , Abd al-Nabi Al-Ekry, Arab Reform Bulletin, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 2007] .

Haq movement called on the United Nations November 15, 2006 to investigate allegations that a secret government grouping has been conspiring to fuel sectarian tensions and rig the results of upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections. In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and delivered to Sayed Aqa, the UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Bahrain coordinator, Haq called for the forming of an international fact- finding committee to scrutinize the claims made in an August 2006 report by the Gulf Centre for Democratic Development (GCDD). As of October 2007, Haq is still awaiting a response.

The 240-page report, dubbed Bandar Gate after its co-author Salah Al Bandar - a Briton of Sudanese origin who was deported in September to Britain after its publication - alleged that a ring masterminded by a government minister was secretly planning to manipulate the demographic makeup of the country, through the selective granting of citizenship [ [http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Bahrain_opposition_calls_on_UN_to_i_11152006.html The Raw Story | Bahrain opposition calls on UN to investigate "Bandargate" scandal ] ]

Election boycott

Along with a splinter group of salafists in the city of Muharraq, Haq organised a boycott of the 2006 general election. The move was opposed by the Shia religious establishment, with the highest clerical body in Bahrain, the Islamic Scholars Council, urging people to vote for Haq's main rival, Al Wefaq, designated by the Council as the 'Bloc of Believers' [ [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/11/14/10082339.html Bahrain Shia body accused of bias] , Gulf News, November 14, 2006] . Despite Haq's boycott, poll turnout was 72%, up by 19% on 2002's poll [ [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/11/27/10085541.html Bahrain opposition storms to victory] Gulf News, November 27, 2006] . According to a survey by the opposition-run Al Wasat newspaper, the combined Haq/salafist boycott was supported by 1.9% of the electorate [ [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/11/16/10082914.html High turnout expected in Bahrain polls] Gulf News, November 16 2006] .

Advocacy of political violence

In June 2006, Haq leader Abdul Wahhab Hussain called for supporters to take up arms if peaceful channels prove unsuccessful in achieving the group’s objectives. Hussain made the call at a memorial for ‘martyrs’ in Manama on 29 June 2006. In response, 24 NGOs - Shiite and Sunni social, political and charitable societies - signed a petition condemning Hussain’s comments and urging him to promote his agenda through peaceful dialogue and not through threats of violence. [ [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/07/16/10053405.html Political leader's call to take up arms against authorities draws flak] Gulf News, June 17, 2006]

Prominent figures of Haq Movement

* Hasan Mushaima (Secretary general)
* Abdul Wahhab Hussain
* Abdul Jalil al-Singace
* Shaikh Isa al-Jowder (Sunni cleric)
* Ali Rabea
* Sayed Hadi Jawad al-Aali
* Abbas Abdul Aziz Nasser
* Layla Khalil Dishti

References

See also

* Bandar Gate
* 1990s Uprising in Bahrain
* Abdulhadi Al Khawaja

External links

* [http://www.haaq.org Haq Movement website]