She said the Reform Project, which was the fruitful outcome of a series of negotiations and meetings between all parties, from top to bottom, has respected the distinctive united national fabric of the multi-ethnic and religious Bahraini society and preserved the unique Bahraini social model which is committed to the values of Islam all other religions, preserves deep-rooted genuine cultural values and respects freedoms, even prior to the issuance of constitutional guarantors, with full commitment to protecting women’s rights within a traditional regional environment.
The Minister of State explained that the democratic change in the kingdom started by the activation of constitutional life through a package of amendments to the 1973 Constitution in 2002.
She added that since its inception in 2001, the Reform Project has, thanks to the wise leadership of HM the King, upgraded the representative establishment in accordance with the democratic standards and promoted the constitution and the law as the references that govern all groups and parties so as to ensure justice, safety of the society and integrity of the national fabric and advance the country towards democratic practices, in theory and practice.
She noted that the reform march in the kingdom is far from being complete, stressing the importance of “gradual and disciplined” change amid the rapid developments the region is going through.
She said that in light of those developments, “the Bahraini citizens were surprised by the security incidents which gripped the country in 2011 and were exploited by some sides to call for the cancellation of the ruling system altogether and destruction of the pillars and landmark civilizational and democratic achievements of the modern state in order to start building a new state based on quota, rejected by all plural civil societies like the Bahraini one,” adding that “our civilised country was ravaged by dangerous incidents directed by religious platforms, references and fatwas, under the leadership of some politicians who were driven by narrow factional and sectarian ideas, without any regard to the other community groups who were then devastated with fear for their safety and the future of the homeland, amid the dangerous regional upheavals masterminded by bloody terrorists.”
She affirmed that despite what had happened, Bahrainis have opted for dialogue as the best means to put an end to those events and obsessions that prevailed during those incidents, adding that after HRH Crown Prince’s first call for dialogue to which protesters did not respond, HM the King launched a second dialogue initiative which resulted in 300 Bahraini personalities engaging in a four-themed National Consensus Dialogue which continuous throughout July, 2011 despite the withdrawal of some opposition groups.
She said that the dialogue sessions yielded 290 recommendations which the interlocutors submitted to HM the King, being the only guarantor of their implementation, who assigned the concerned sides to translate them into the ground in one year, pointing out to the package of major constitutional amendments which conferred more control and parliamentary powers to the Representatives Council.
She underlined that HM King Hamad had announced that dialogue doors would always remain open for those who hadn’t participated or had withdrawn from previous dialogue session, in line with his desire to bring Bahraini social segments together under the banners of the nation and citizenship, adding that a new series of meetings and consultations, led by the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister, was launched and ended up in the resumption of the National Dialogue on the political them, with the participation of the representatives of all political societies, along with other parties.
Minister pointed out to the Bahraini government’s interest in the National Consensus Dialogue and serious desire to work out a consensual deal in the political field with the participation of all social groups and through building on previous achievements so as to bring about new national accomplishments, and enhance the nation-building process and support the Reform Project, anchored by HM the King, out of its conviction that action within state of institutions and respect of the law.
She concluded her article by affirming that the National Consensus Dialogue is still continuing, calling for the need to respond positively with this opportunity without pre-conditions, within commitment to constitutional frameworks and the national consensus principle, for the aim to promote dialogue as a civilizational platform which consolidates the constitutional channels and serve as a platform in which all segments of the plural society are represented.