Bahrain's al-Wefaq National Islamic Society stirred controversy after refusing to sign a statement expressing its solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to news reports late on Thursday.
The Shiite Wefaq party, which occupies 17 out of 40 seats in the Bahraini parliament, justified its decision by stating it is against any intervention in the internal affairs of neighboring states, a stance that was slammed by the party's critics.
They circulated the draft in secret and never called any of the Wefaq MPs as if they planned in advance to put us in an awkward and were ready with their accusations. In all cases, our stance is clear and we were not to sign the statement anyway
The parliament of Bahrain issued a statement supporting Saudi's war against the Houthi insurgency in Yemen and considered any attack on Saudi Arabia an attack on Bahrain. The statement was endorsed by a majority of MPs.
Wefaq's stance is in line with the laws of the Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry, which rejects any intervention in other countries affairs, said party MP Mohamed al-Mazaal.
"In addition, the party is in favor of looking for peaceful solutions to any conflict that takes place between Arab countries," he told Al Arabiya in a phone interview.
Although Mazaal asserted that the security of Saudi Arabia is of high importance to his party and to Bahrain as a whole, he explained that had reservations about the way the statement draft was circulated amongst MPs.
"They circulated the draft in secret and never called any of the Wefaq MPs as if they planned in advance to put us in an awkward and were ready with their accusations. In all cases, our stance is clear and we were not to sign the statement anyway."
The Bahraini Foreign Ministry issued earlier a statement supporting Saudi Arabia's military operations in Yemen. After the solidarity document was ratified, the ministry issued another statement praising the initiative made by the Bahraini parliament and thanking MPs for their stance.
Shameful
The stance taken by Wefaq MPs tarnishes the image of Bahrain. call upon the government to investigate the possibility of a link between Wefaq MPs and Houthi members
MPs supporting the document considered Wefaq's stance "shameful" and "disgraceful" and argued that it demonstrates an unmistakable sympathy for the Houthis.
"The stance taken by Wefaq MPs tarnishes the image of Bahrain," said Salafi independent MP Jassem al-Saeedi. "I call upon the government to investigate the possibility of a link between Wefaq MPs and Houthi members."
Before the last conflict between the Yemeni government and the rebels, Saeedi accused members of Wefaq party of receiving people allied to Houthi insurgent group.
The party vehemently denied those allegations and called upon Saeedi to present evidence.
Ghanem al-Bouainain, leader of the Sunni al-Asalah Party parliamentary bloc, expressed absolute solidarity with the Saudi cause.
"I am totally supporting the kingdom of the two holy shrines," he told Al Arabiya.
(Translated from the Arabic by Sonia Farid)
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