While Bahrain demolishes mosques, U.S. stays silent

[Jefferson23]

By Roy Gutman | McClatchy Newspapers
MANAMA, Bahrain — In the ancient Bahraini village of Aali, where some graves date to 2000 B.C., the Amir Mohammed Braighi mosque had stood for more than 400 years — one of the handsomest Shiite Muslim mosques in this small island nation in the Persian Gulf.

Today, only bulldozer tracks remain.

In Nwaidrat, where anti-government protests began Feb. 14, the Mo'men mosque had long been a center for the town's Shiite population — photos show it as a handsome, square building neatly painted in ochre, with white and green trim, and a short portico in dark gray forming the main entrance.

Today, only the portico remains.

"When I was a child, I used to go and pray with my grandfather," said a 52-year-old local resident, who asked to be called only "Abu Hadi. "The area used to be totally green, with tiers of sweet water wells."

"Why did they destroy this mosque?" Abu Hadi wailed. "Muslims have prayed there for decades."



Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/08/113839/while-bahrain-demolishes-mosques.html#ixzz1M3Y17ng3

[atreides1]

1. Freedom for Libyans

Persecution for Shiite Muslims in Bahrain...talk about a double standard!

[Renew Deal]

2. Why is the US reponsible for saying something?

That said, this destruction sounds very wrong. Aren't the people running Bahrain also muslims? How can they do this to their own people and their own faith?

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Saudi Arabia is backing the crackdown in Bahrain, US backs the Saudis,

so yeah, the US does have a certain influence.

And the Saudi Sunnis despise the Shia, in the same way - and to the same effect - as the Catholics despised the Protestants (and visa versa) during the European religious wars. A heretic is always more of a threat than an unbeliever.