Bahrain's Rich Cultural Diversity: Exploring Ethnic Groups

Bahrain is an ethnically diverse state, with over eight communities making up its population. The Baharna are the original inhabitants of Bahrain and are a Shia-Muslim ethnoreligious group. The Shia Bahrainis are split into two ethnic groups: Ajam and Baharna. The Ajam are Persian Shias, while the Baharna are Arabs. Bahrain is also home to Sunni Arabs, Shia Persians, Afro-Arabs, Huwala, Bania, and Jews. In addition, a large proportion of the population is made up of immigrants, with Southeast and South Asians constituting a significant percentage.

Indigenous inhabitants

The Baharna are considered the indigenous original pre-Islamic inhabitants of Bahrain. They live in Manama, almost all the villages of the main island of Bahrain, and several villages in the island of Muharraq in the north and the island of Sitra to the east. The Baharna speak similar dialects, with slight variations between villages, although the villages of Sitra have dialects that differ considerably from those of the main island. The traditional economic activities of the Baharna were palm tree farming and fishing.

The Shia Bahrainis are split into two ethnic groups: Ajam and Baharna. The Ajam are Persian Shias, while the Baharna are Arabs. The Shia Bahrainis are also distinct from the Sunni Bahrainis, who form the majority of the Bahraini population and hold most government positions. The Sunni Bahrainis have traditionally lived in areas such as Zallaq, Muharraq, Riffa, and the Hawar Islands.

The Baharna people are a Shia-Muslim ethnoreligious group who live in the historical area of Eastern Arabia. They are the original inhabitants of Bahrain and are known for their tolerance and peaceful coexistence with other cultures, religions, and sects. Bahrain is known for its cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity, with a significant percentage of immigrants from Southeast and South Asia.

The Shia Bahrainis are concentrated in several neighbourhoods in Muharraq City and are known as "Hasawis". They are distinct from the Baharna from villages outside the city and, as a result of their proximity to surrounding Sunni Arabs and Africans, they speak the Sunni dialect. The Shia Bahrainis have faced discrimination and persecution, particularly in the wake of the 2011 protests against the government, which were violently suppressed with the support of Saudi troops. Despite this, Bahrain has been praised for its initiatives to promote inter-community relations, such as hosting conferences on Islamic-Christian dialogue and the convergence between Islamic sects.

Shia Arabs

The Shia Bahrainis are the indigenous original pre-Islamic inhabitants of Bahrain and live in the historical area of Eastern Arabia. They are found in Manama, almost all the villages of the main island of Bahrain, and several villages in the island of Muharraq in the north and in the island of Sitra to the east. They speak similar dialects, with slight variations between villages, although the dialects of those in Sitra differ considerably from those in the main island.

The traditional economic activities of the Shia Arabs included palm tree farming and fishing. They are also known for their distinct culture and language, although they have largely assimilated into Bahraini culture.

Sunni Arabs

The Sunni Islamists in Bahrain have aligned themselves politically with the government and have been used to mobilize against Shia protests. The two main Sunni Islamist groups in the country are the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi organization, al-Asala. These groups have struggled to formulate agendas independent of regime interests, which has resulted in a loss of political capital among their supporters.

The Bahraini government has made efforts to recruit foreign-born Sunnis to serve in the security forces and become citizens, further tipping the country's demographic balance in favor of the Sunni minority.

Shia Persians

Bahrain is an ethnically diverse state, with a population of about 1,234,571 people by 2010. The Shia Persians, or Ajam, are a significant and influential ethnic minority in Bahrain, making up about 14% of the total population. The Shia Persians are non-Arab Iranians, whose ancestors arrived in Bahrain during the old Persian states/empires, particularly during the Achaemenid Persian and Sassanid empires, and in the early 19th century as labourers, artisans, and merchants.

The Shia Persians have established large communities in the towns and islands of Muharraq and Manama, with a significant number also residing in the numerous modernized Shia towns in Bahrain. They are bilingual, speaking both Arabic and Persian, and tend to identify themselves more as Persian Bahrainis or Bahrainis than Iranians. Almost all have possessed Bahraini citizenship since birth, with their parents and grandparents also often holding Bahraini citizenship.

The Shia Persians maintain a distinct culture and language but have assimilated into Bahraini culture. They have a long history in Bahrain, with the oldest mosque in the country, the Khamis Mosque, believed to be of Shia origin, dating back to the reign of Caliph Umar II. The origins of Shia Islam in Bahrain can be traced back to 656–661 AD, during the caliphate reign of Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Islamic prophet Muhammad appointed Aban Ibn Sa'id Al As, a major supporter of Ali, as governor of Bahrain during his lifetime. This appointment was endorsed by the inhabitants of Bahrain, including the influential Bani Abdul Qays tribe.

In more recent times, the Shia Persians in Bahrain have faced discrimination and persecution. Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Shia population has increasingly been represented as a threat to national security, leading to their exclusion from various civil service, army, and judiciary positions, as well as facing discrimination in accessing education, employment, and other needs. In 2011, protests against the government by predominantly Shia demonstrators were met with a brutal crackdown and the declaration of martial rule, resulting in thousands of arrests and several deaths.

South Asian expatriates

The migration of South Asians to Bahrain began in the late 19th century, and today, Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis form the largest expatriate groups in the country. As of 2014, there were 197,273 Indian workers and 56,666 dependents in Bahrain, with the majority working in the public sector. There are several schools in the country that offer the CBSE curriculum, the oldest being The Indian School, established in 1950. Pakistanis in Bahrain are predominantly Muslim, with an estimated 10,000 serving in the security forces as of 2011. Bangladesh recognised and established diplomatic ties with Bahrain in 1974, although Bangladeshi expatriates started arriving much earlier.

The languages spoken among South Asian expatriates include Urdu, Hindi, and Tagalog.

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