When dreams are born, they snuff out ghastly

Perturbed by terror attacks, experts call for ramping up security

Manama

Taking into account the repeated terrorist attacks across the region, officials and experts in the Kingdom feel that as such violent acts are rapidly gnawing into the region’s strength, unity and stability.

The terrorist attack yesterday on Al Anoud Mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, some 30 km to the western shores of Bahrain, has prompted political, religious and economic experts and clerics to urge for more vigilance in the region.

The suicide bombing attack, which killed four people, including the attacker, and it was the second blast-of-its-kind in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in one week. The victims were worshippers of the Shia sect and both the attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (IS).

 According to Commissioner at the National Institution of Human Rights (NIHR) and Former MP Ahmed Al Saati, who was once a participating member of the National Consensus Dialogue in 2013, Bahrain is safe, thanks to the awareness of its people, caution of security authorities and wisdom of the leadership.

He underlined that the increase of political conflicts had led to social dissociation, that in addition to aggressive religious speech.

“It’s important to overlook political disagreements, especially in this vital stage. The responsibility of preserving our homeland is growing and priorities are reshaping now. Security is the main concern now and we must stay vigilance,” Al Saati stated.

The former MP called for more support to security forces and provide them with the latest intelligence technologies to prevent any possible threats. Meanwhile, Al Saati urged the GCC leaders and the governments to strengthen unified efforts to protect the region from foreign conspiracies.

“GCC states are emerging as a prominent regional power and that conflicts with the interest of some states in the region,” he added.

Speaking to DT News, Bahrain Association for Religious Coexistence and Tolerance Vice Chairman and Bahrain’s National Evangelic Church Pastor Rev. Hani Aziz stressed that “killing is rejected under all circumstances.”

He explained: “This is against the teachings of all religions. We are all created from the same soil. God bestowed the responsibility of life, spreading peace and the reconstruction of the earth to humans. Such acts are against the God’s plans. Only God has the right to take a man’s life and not fellow humans, for the simplest reasons of differentiating with in beliefs or backgrounds.”

He pointed out the harmonic pluralism and unity that were granted to the people of Bahrain, under the rule of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and following the leadership of the Premier HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

As the adequate measures to tackle the galloping terrorist ideologies in the region, Rev. Hani commented: “The first step is to admit that we are facing a disaster, that we ourselves brought onto ourselves. We should start from within and eradicate this phenomenon. Improving individuals’ value is the first step.”

“Marginalised people are the majority of individuals being misused by such terrorist groups. Houses, schools, religious speeches also have a big role in reinstating peace in the region,” he opined.

 About the effects of terrorism on economies, Parliament Financial and Economic Affairs Committee Head Isa Al Kooheji said that “the prevailing security instability in the region would surely have a negative impact on the economy.”

“Foreign investors will shy away if such insecurity continues. As the closest country to the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain will also be negatively affected by these terror attacks. It’s a fact that a big sum of the whole region’s economy was depending on foreign funds,” the MP explained.

Al Kooheji also underscored the massive efforts paid by governments to build solid economies, while terrorism simply demolishes it.

He remarked: “Not only the capital funds but also the citizens will suffer from such attacks. States’ purchasing power will be harmed by terrorism, which will also have a direct impact on the workforce. It’s all connected.”

The MP made a quick comparison between war-torn and terrorism infested countries, such as Syria and Iraq, where the economies of both countries were burgeoning before the disruptions almost four years ago.

However, Al Koheeji added that he’s optimistic about the future, stating that security authorities in GCC states were trustworthy of maintain peace and stability in the region.