Bahrain - The Outside World's View

[SalmanBH]

I just thought it would be interesting to see what everyone thinks is happening in Bahrain. Shall we begin?

 

[PeterJB]

Well, it seems like one of the more peaceful Muslim countries. I haven't heard anything about the protests in a while, so I don't know if they're still going on, or what it was about the royal family that the protesters didn't like (unless it was another Shia-Sunni conflict).

 

[Dean]

The only two things, I can remember, is there's a F1 grand prix there, and then there was the guy, who didn't eat for ~100 days (I can't remember the exact number of days). I think he's a Danish citizen, I'm not sure, - but he's somehow got a connection to Denmark.

 

[cjmpe]

Well, last time I was there, I remember there being a big push among the less enlightened clerics to have the bars closed during Ramadan Those bars were about the only thing that mades working in the Dammam area bearable. Beyond that, it seems more recently that an economically disadvantaged Shia majority is being repressed by an economically powerful Sunni minority - I suppose that if they weren't using religion as an excuse, they would pick tribalism or skin colour

 

[Slash]

My uncle was actually stationed there as an MP for a few years when he was in the Marines. His base was in Hawaii. He said he enjoyed being there, he brought back a lot of stuff for me as a kid. I still have $100 in Iraqi money, he said it was worth about $20 in US dollars at the time he was stationed there.

 

[SalmanBH]

There was the guy, who didn't eat for ~100 days (I can't remember the exact number of days). I think he's a Danish citizen, I'm not sure, - but he's somehow got a connection to Denmark.

He has a danish passport, but in no other way is he Danish.
His name is Abdulhadi Al Khawaja.

 

[sumbrownkid]

You guys are hosting the 2022 world cup right?

 

[SalmanBH]

You guys are hosting the 2022 world cup right?

That's qatar. But apparently they cheated in the draw. Google it, i'm not sure.

 

[PeterJB]

I'll be honest, Qatar is not the first nation that comes to mind as a potential World Cup host.

 

[Wiegert]

Seems like they might still have a revote on that. I also wonder if they could have ever proposed a joint bid with Bahrain to host it.

I'll be honest, Qatar is not the first nation that comes to mind as a potential World Cup host.

I think everyone was surprised (and still is to an extent) when their bid turned out to be successful.

 

[Dean]

He has a danish passport, but in no other way is he Danish.
His name is Abdulhadi Al Khawaja.

Yes, that guy. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[m8h3r]

That's qatar. But apparently they cheated in the draw. Google it, i'm not sure.

I'd never actually heard of Qatar before the World Cup draws. Since then the only think I've learn about them is that they have a band called Skip the Foreplay come from there. Who I like very much. I wonder if they'll play at the world cup.

Anyway back to Bahrain. I don't know much about these either. Except there was quite a row over the F1 going back. Can't you get stoned for drinking alcohol there?

 

[ZohsixGT5]

Can't you get stoned for drinking alcohol there?

No.

"Bahrain's lawmakers approved a law that will impose a ban on drinking alcohol to Muslims only; allowing non-Muslims to drink in places specified by the government."

"After the law is put into force, violators face jail and/or a fine of not more than 200 dinars. The owner of the place in which Muslims are caught drinking will also be penalized if prior knowledge of the offence is proven. Penalties are doubled in case of repetition."

 

[SalmanBH]

Bahrain's lawmakers approved a law that will impose a ban on drinking alcohol to Muslims only; allowing non-Muslims to drink in places specified by the government."

"After the law is put into force, violators face jail and/or a fine of not more than 200 dinars. The owner of the place in which Muslims are caught drinking will also be penalized if prior knowledge of the offence is proven. Penalties are doubled in case of repetition.

Never seen that law being put into action. There's a lot of expats in Bahrain, so they stopped checking who's Muslim and who wasn't, mainly laziness.

 

[SalmanBH]

I'd never actually heard of Qatar before the World Cup draws.

They currently have the highest GDP per capita in the world.