Don’t mix religion, politics : Minister

Manama : The Kingdom is keen on separating religion from politics, said Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister for Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments in the House of Representatives yesterday. 

“Employees in the Ministry are aware of their duties to separate religious activities from politics,” the minister said, adding that the ministry has dealt with several religious societies involved in politics, in addition to political groups following sectarian orientations.

Shaikh Khalid was replying to a query by MP Dr. Majeed Al Asfoor on the strategy followed by the Ministry to protect the Kingdom from sectarianism. Shaikh Khalid said that the ministry had tightened its grip on fundraising processes in the name of religion. He affirmed that exploiting it for political and sectarian purposes is prohibited. Shaikh Khalid also announced that special permits to regulate fundraising in religious places would be finalised soon.  

“A special committee was formed in 2009 to monitor and analyse religious speeches and sermons. The committee studies the political and sectarian effects of such sermons on the public. Since then, nine violating khateebs (religious speakers) were suspended, eight were advised to rectify their speeches and seven were warned. The ministry is now following training and rehabilitating programmes for khateebs on general knowledge and principles,” Shaikh Khalid said while speaking about the ministry’s efforts to eliminate hate and sectarian political speeches on religious platforms.

DT News had reported last year that religious clerics and speakers were prohibited by a Royal Order from involving in political activities. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had issued Law 12/2016 last June, amending some of the provisions of Law 26/2005 regulating political societies. The amendment banned the simultaneous membership in a political groups and engagement in religious preaching, guidance or speeches, even if there is no remuneration. “Under no circumstances can anyone combine religious preaching and membership in a political group,” the Royal Order had mentioned.