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Judge by the name of Baqir Al-Asfour. Al-Asfour was at the first meeting merely to

explain his decision to withdraw. The cleric claimed that the code had been

presented to highly learned Shi’ite religious figures in Iraq who decreed that the

code contradicted Islamic law. Subsequently information reached the Residency

that some Bahrainis were calling for the intervention of a prominent Egyptian legal

expert, Abdul-Razeq Al-Sanhouri, who had previously assisted the Libyans and

Iraqis in drawing up their own Penal Codes. 370

With the Shi’ite religious festival of Muharram fast approaching on 28 and 29

August, celebrating the martyrdom of Hussein, the Political Agency feared that the

occasion might end in unwanted disturbances. News had already reached the

Agency which suggested that the HEC was attempting to organise an anti-British

demonstration on 3 September. The Political Agent feared that this demonstration

might turn violent and would target British property and persons. The Agent noted

that, for the first time, Egypt was mentioned by name in HEC notices. Gault also

observed a rise in the Party’s tone when railing against British interests. An

unnamed member of the Residency, according to Gault’s account to the FO, met with

Al-Bakir. The Bahraini nationalist informed him that he had failed to persuade his

fellow party members to avoid attacking Britain through their published notices.

Gault’s informant further claimed that Al-Bakir had threatened to resign as a result

of his disapproval of this policy adopted by the HEC. Gault added that Bahraini

Shi’ite agitation was rising ad infinitum against the Administration due to their

disapproval of marriage regulations introduced in the Penal Code. Others (both

370 TNA, FO 371/114587, Burrows to FO, 2 September 1955.

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