Page 141 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

Reaction to the reforms, 1923 129

CONFIDENTIAL.
o-
i
422.2 No. 5G2-S., doted Busin re, tho 7th (received 15th) October 1923.
From—'Tho Hon’dle Lieut.-Colonel S. G. Knox, C.S.I., C.I.E., Political ffesi-
CJS22-J dent in' tho Persian Gulf.
Relations between Sunnis and Shiahs in Bahrain.
Witli reference to your letter No. 480-X., dated 13th September 1923, I have
tho honour to forward for the information of the Government of India, copies
of two reports, dated 20th and 25th September 1923, from the Political Agent,
Bahrain regarding a recent attack on Shiahs*in Bahrain.
With regard to the second of the two reports from Bahrain, the rcsoluto
action taken by Similes Hamad and Abdulla will, I trust, have the entire
approval of the Government of India ns indicating their intention to rule with
u Jinn lmnd. I also hope that Government will be good enough to assist Shaik
Ilamad in the matter of the disposal of the prisoners in the Various ways indi­
cated in the Political Agent’s letter, and that the Government of Bombay may
bo requested to make the necessary arrangements with regard to the domicile
of Ali bin Klmlid in the Bombay Presidency and the imprisonment in Karachi
of his two servants. As the matter is urgent I request the favour of telegraphic
instructions.
I am discussing with the Political Agent, Bahrain, what steps can be taken
to remove the root cause of the trouble namely the presence of large herds of
ciimcls in Bahrain : and when the position is more mature I shall submit u
further report.

Copy of a• Confidential letter No. 122-C., dated 20th September 1023, from th#
Political Agent, Bahrain, to the Ilon’blc the Political Resident in the
Persian Gulf, Bush ire.
Attack on Bahrain Shiahs.
I havo the honour to report, in continuation of my telegram No. llo-C., the
details of a further attack on Bahraini Shiahs.
On 18th September a servant of Shaik Klmlid (brother of Slmik lCasa)
reported to his master tlmt one of his camels lmd been found wounded near a
Bahraini village in Sitrnh. The large herds of camels which the Similes allow
to wander into gardens and destroy the dates have been a fruitful source of
trouble for years. It is reported that on hearing this, Shaikh Klmlid said a
Bahraini should be killed for it. It transpires tlmt Slmik Klmlid then went to
Muharraq and visited Slmik Easa. On his return to Sitrah he with one, if not
two, of his sons went out with a number of armed followers and attacked the
village, killing one man, whose body was brought to tho Agency Hospital. The
villagers fled into the adjoining gardens and their houses were looted. On the
morning of the 19th Shaik Hamad sent a summons to the accused persons to
appear before him this morning. It is regrettable tlmt lie took no action to
actually arrest them. 1 saw Slmik Hamad this morning and the uccused had
not obeyed the summons, and ns is usual, he was engaged in sending them reas­
suring messages, while they in turn were bargaining and demanding tlmt the
matter should be referred to the Sunni Qadhi. It is obvious tlmt tho Bahrainis
aro unlikely to accept this, and it would appear to be a ease for Shaik Hamad,
assisted by Simile Abdulin, to deal with. Mcamvhilo excitement is intense
among tho Bahrainis and a crowd remains collected outside the Agency and
outside Hamad’s Court. Although it is not likely to come but in the onquirv,
I fear tlicro is littlo doubt that the attack was ordered by Slmik Klmlid, ami'
with tho knowledge and probable encouragement of Shaik Easa and his wife.
Tho latter’s hatred of the Bahrainis is intense, and sho would be likely to wel­
come any disorders which would tend to bring Hamad’s administration into
ill-repute. Ilamud is doubtless awaro of the intrigues within Ins own family
connected with this outbreak. The fact that in the recent Ali affair tho
Dowusir Simile received no moro sovero punishment than a lino, which was paid
with tho assistance of othor Sunnis, prominont among whom was Yusuf Kanoo
coupled with the fact that no punishment was meted out for the murder of the
vGcontly reported, lms undoubtedly encourugcd members of Al
ixlmhfck to tako this lmq.