The Sunni Majority In Bahrain: Understanding Religious Demographics

Bahrain is a small island nation in the Persian Gulf, just off the coast of Saudi Arabia. It is ruled by a Sunni monarchy, the Al Khalifa family, despite the fact that Shia Muslims make up the majority of the country's population. The country's Shia majority has historically faced oppression and worse economic circumstances than the Sunni minority, who hold most high-ranking official positions. In recent years, the government has attempted to erode the Shia majority by recruiting foreign-born Sunnis to serve in the security forces and become citizens, while simultaneously revoking the citizenship of hundreds of Shia citizens.

The ruling family in Bahrain practices Sunni Islam

The ruling family in Bahrain, the Al Khalifa family, practices Sunni Islam. The family first arrived in Bahrain in 1783, and the country has been governed by the Sunni monarchy ever since.

The Al Khalifa family is the world's longest-serving prime minister, currently led by Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who is first in line to the throne. The ruling family governs over a Shia majority country, with the last official census in 1941 reporting 55% Shia and 45% Sunni of the Muslim population. However, due to an increase in the naturalization of Sunni migrants, the percentage of Shia citizens has declined, with some sources estimating that Shia citizens now make up 49% to 55% of the population.

Despite the majority of the country identifying as Shia, the ruling family and elite of Bahrain are predominantly Sunni. This has led to sectarian tensions and political conflict between the two groups. The Shia majority has faced oppression and worse economic circumstances compared to their Sunni counterparts. There have been reports of Shia mosques and cemeteries being destroyed, and Shia citizens being detained, tortured, and restricted in their movements.

The Sunni ruling family has made efforts to maintain their power and tip the demographic balance in their favor by recruiting foreign-born Sunnis to serve in security forces and granting them citizenship. Additionally, the government has revoked the citizenship of hundreds of Shiite leaders, activists, and citizens. The Al Khalifa family's governance and the sectarian tensions in Bahrain have resulted in widespread protests by the Shia majority, demanding equal rights and an end to discrimination.

Shia Muslims are estimated to make up 55-60% of Bahrain's Muslim population

The 2010 census indicated that 90.2% of Bahrain's population is Muslim. The last official census in 1941 to include sectarian identification reported 55% Shia and 45% Sunni of the Muslim population. This distribution is reflected in the number of mosques in the country, with most major mosques following Shia Islam. Despite this, the ruling Al Khalifa family practices Sunni Islam and the country observes the Muslim feasts of Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Muhammad's birthday, and the Islamic New Year as national holidays.

Sectarian tensions exist between Bahrain's Sunni elite and its Shia majority. The Sunni-dominated monarchy and elite are often in opposition to the Shia majority of the population. This tension has resulted in the government's efforts to erode the Shiite citizen majority and shift the country's demographic balance in favour of the Sunni minority. This has been achieved by recruiting foreign-born Sunnis to serve in the security forces and become citizens, as well as revoking the citizenship of hundreds of Bahrainis, including Shiite leaders and activists.

Despite the sectarian differences, there are areas of consensus between Bahrain's Sunnis and Shias. Polling suggests that both groups hold similar views on several key foreign policy issues, including the importance of good ties with Washington and promoting Palestinian-Israeli peace. Additionally, three-fourths of both sects believe that Arabs should work harder towards coexistence and cooperation.

Sunni Islamists in Bahrain have struggled to formulate agendas independent of regime interests

Sunni Islam is the state religion in Bahrain. However, the country is ruled by a Sunni royal family, the Al Khalifa, despite the fact that Shia Muslims make up the majority of the Muslim population. The Sunni al-Khalifa family arrived in Shia Bahrain in 1783.

Since 2011, Sunni Islamist groups in Bahrain have struggled to formulate agendas independent of regime interests. Both the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi groups have aligned politically with the government, with state authorities mobilizing these groups against Shia protests. This has resulted in a loss of political capital among their supporters in the kingdom, as demonstrated by their poor outcomes in the 2014 and 2018 elections.

The position of Sunni Islamist groups in Bahrain has been underexamined, as most inquiries have focused on the rift between the Sunni ruling family and the largely Shia opposition movement. The sectarian dynamics in the country have prompted Sunni Islamist movements to align with the government. However, their struggles to formulate independent agendas have led them to fall back on loyalism and political quiescence common to oil-rich states. This mindset makes these movements less likely to push for reforms that could benefit the Sunni bloc as a whole.

The Bahraini government's portrayal of the 2011 uprisings as Shia-led further discouraged cross-sectarian political cooperation. The Sunni Islamist environment in Bahrain is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi organization, al-Asala. While the Muslim Brotherhood's agenda is shaped by its relationship with the ruling family, al-Asala is linked to Saudi quietist Salafi networks. Despite their differences, both groups have struggled to separate themselves from the regime and have faced challenges in maintaining their relevance in Bahraini political life.

The Bahraini government has made efforts to penetrate the Sunni Islamist sphere, creating an umbrella organization for Sunni Islamists called the National Unity Gathering (NUG) during the Arab Spring. However, Sunni Islamists have failed to reach the expectations of their constituents, and their internal struggles have contributed to their decline. The introduction of a law in 2016 banning preachers from engaging in political activities further highlights the government's efforts to separate religion and politics in the country.

The Bahraini government has tried to erode the Shiite citizen majority

The Bahraini government has attempted to erode the Shiite citizen majority, which has resulted in political tension and human rights violations. The government has tried to tip the country's demographic balance in favor of the Sunni minority by granting citizenship to foreign-born Sunnis and recruiting them to serve in the security forces. This, along with the increasing rates of political naturalization of Sunni migrants, has led to a massive increase in the Sunni Muslim population in Bahrain.

The Bahraini government has also revoked the citizenship of hundreds of Bahrainis, including Shiite leaders and activists, in recent years. Since 2011, the government has maintained a heavy security presence in primarily Shiite villages, with security personnel restricting the movement of Shiite citizens and periodically destroying their property. The Shiite population, which has long been underrepresented in government, continues to face harassment and violent responses to protests from the government.

The ruling Sunni elite and the Shia majority population have witnessed a great deal of sectarian tension over the past decade. Despite this, a recent public opinion poll reveals that both groups hold similar views on several key issues, including the importance of coexistence and the need for internal political and economic reform. The survey also highlights areas of divergence, particularly in attitudes towards Iran's policies and proxies in the region.

The Bahraini government's efforts to erode the Shiite citizen majority have been met with international criticism and allegations of human rights abuses. The systematic discrimination and recruitment of foreign Sunnis have contributed to the political and social unrest in the country. The government's actions have also led to the underrepresentation of the Shiite population in government and restricted their freedom of expression and belief.

The Bahraini government's attempts to alter the demographic balance have had significant social, political, and economic implications for the country. The erosion of the Shiite citizen majority has resulted in a power struggle between the ruling Sunni elite and the Shia majority population, with the latter facing political repression and economic marginalization.

The country's Sunni and Shia citizens diverge sharply in their attitudes toward Iran's policies and proxies in the region

Bahrain is a small but strategic island nation in the Persian Gulf, just off the coast of Saudi Arabia. It has a population of around 700,000 citizens, with a Muslim population of around 90%. While the country is governed by a Sunni monarchy, the Shia majority has historically been marginalised and faced worse economic circumstances.

Sectarian tensions have existed in Bahrain for much of the past decade, with a Sunni-dominated monarchy and elite often in opposition to the Shia majority of the population. A recent poll reveals that while Bahrain's Sunni and Shia citizens share similar views on several key issues, they diverge sharply in their attitudes toward Iran's policies and proxies in the region.

When it comes to Iran, only a small percentage of Bahraini Sunnis (2-13%) express a positive attitude towards the country's regional policies. In contrast, a significant majority of Shia citizens (60-68%) view Iran's policies favourably and believe it is important to maintain good relations with Iran. This divergence is also evident in their views on Iran's regional allies, with a vast majority of Sunnis disapproving of Hezbollah and the Houthis of Yemen, while a smaller majority of Shia citizens also express disapproval.

The reasons for the Shia community's more favourable view of Iran are not entirely clear. It may be due to their dissatisfaction with their socioeconomic status and partial exclusion from politics, or it could reflect a willingness to express opposition to the official policies of the Sunni-dominated government.

Despite these differences, there are also surprising areas of consensus between the two sects. Both groups generally agree that Arabs should work towards coexistence and cooperation, and that internal political and economic reform is a priority. Additionally, a significant portion of both Sunnis and Shias in Bahrain express a desire for a more moderate, tolerant, and modern interpretation of Islam.

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