Shi'ite opposition boycotts Bahrain elections
- 9 years ago
They sit and wait.
Voters are few and far between in the village of Diraz.
Bahrain's Shi'ite Muslim opposition is boycotting parliamentary and municipal elections. They say that constituency changes would still favor the Sunni Muslim majority represented by the ruling family.
Shi'ite Muslim's -- who represent the majority of the population -- are complaining of being marginalized. And even though 419 candidates are running, Shi'ites fear they will still not have a voice.
But candidate Reema Hasan Hilal says there's merit to voting:
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CANDIDATE FOR MUHARRAQ GOVERNATE, REEMA HASAN HILAL, SAYING:
"I pray to Allah that all the people vote in these elections and turn out to vote. And this is all for the betterment of the country and the citizens, god willing."
This is the first election since 2011 when Bahrain was shaken by low-level unrest when Shi'ite protesters took to the streets calling for greater democracy.
They are
Voters are few and far between in the village of Diraz.
Bahrain's Shi'ite Muslim opposition is boycotting parliamentary and municipal elections. They say that constituency changes would still favor the Sunni Muslim majority represented by the ruling family.
Shi'ite Muslim's -- who represent the majority of the population -- are complaining of being marginalized. And even though 419 candidates are running, Shi'ites fear they will still not have a voice.
But candidate Reema Hasan Hilal says there's merit to voting:
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CANDIDATE FOR MUHARRAQ GOVERNATE, REEMA HASAN HILAL, SAYING:
"I pray to Allah that all the people vote in these elections and turn out to vote. And this is all for the betterment of the country and the citizens, god willing."
This is the first election since 2011 when Bahrain was shaken by low-level unrest when Shi'ite protesters took to the streets calling for greater democracy.
They are