Page 318 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

734 Records of Bahrain

leading Bahraini, Ahmad al Khamls, himself a victim of
persecution a few years ago, recently visited him, and after
expressing disappointment at Government’s inaction, assured
him that the Shiahs were convinced their only hope of relief
lay in a vigorous Press agitation. There is some reason to
believe, too, that in pressing their old claim to the

possession of Bahrain as they are doing at present, the
Persian Government are influenced by the complaints of
Bahraini6 of whom, a6 Government are aware, thero are large
communities in Lingah, Bundar Abbas, and Mohammerah, All
this merely confirmsjthe opinion of the Foreign Office,which
you quoted in your telegram of the 10th July last, that for
the 6ake of the well-being of the Shiah population, and of
our good name, the administration of Bahrain is in great
need of improvement.
3. The reforms which Western Standards might suggest as
desirab'l. are numerous; but it 16 not necessary to consider
for the purpose of practical politics, more than the minimum

necessary for the removal of the most flagrant abuses. These
are: -

(a) The inequality of taxation as between Sunnis who
evade all payment at present, and Shiahs. To remedy
this the introduction of an equitable system of
taxation is called for.
(b) The liability of Shiahs to imprisonment and any
other punishment at the mere whim of the ruler and
his family without any kind of legal sanction: a
state of things which demands the introduction of a
i
regular judicial system.

I (c) Tne complete disregard/^ of the diving rules, and the
resulting injustice to the divers who are at the
mercy of the Nakhudas especially in the matter of
their accounts. The observance of the rules, proper
maintenance of accounts, and their production before
1 some impartial tribunal, must be enforced.
4. The creation of machinery suitable for the purpose of

carrying