Page 365 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat
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Police and public security.
and in two of these cases the principals were arrested
although some of the gang were able to escape*
Although the courts have dealt severely with cases
under the liquor law the trade is such a lucrative one
that it still flourishes, especially in Ihiharraq. In
that town it is difficult to deal with, because it is
under the patronage of highly placed people.
The whole question of liquor is liable to become
more complicated with the inevitable advent of more
foreigners, apart from Europeans and Americans.
Originally permits were issued only to Americans and
Europeans, now permits are issued to Jews, Goanese and
Indians. The local Jewish community ashed that they
should be given permits, but permission was refused.
On this account they resent the fact that certain
foreign Jews, Iraqis, are allowed permits.
Apart from the foreigners there is a feeling among
some of the young Arabs that liquor should no longer
he forbidden but as H. 3* Shaikh £anadys views on this
subject are so well known it is improbable that anyone
will give voice to this opinion.
M. E. Shaikh hamadts opinion is that Bahrain is
a I'oslem State ruled by a Uoslem Ruler and therefore
it should be "dry" but he does not object to Europeans
and Americans being given permits to purchase liquor
for their own use.