"ملف 9/11 منح جوازات السفر والتصاريح من قِبل حكومة البحرين والمعاهدة مع بلاد فارس المتوقفة على بسحب المطالبة" [و‎‎٦‎٠] (١٥٠/١٢١)

GONFIDSNTIAL,
GOVERi ^MSifT Oi 1 BAHRAIN,
r Ko. G 46,
5th November 19^9.
To. H.B*M f s Political A^ent,
Bahrain;
From.
The Adviser.
i
Bahrain State.
jyl a M 0 fi A D u a .
With reference to your request for some notes on the Persian
question I enclose the following remarks.
Persians in -Bahrain consist of Shias and Sunnis* Shias
^•edominate in the proportion of three to two. The Sunnis include a
number of important and wealthy merchants and they own much property
in town and country. The Shias are almost entirely petty shop-keepers,
^jnlies, labourers and itinerant pedlars.
The Sunnis though numerically inferior are more influential
in Bahrain than their Shia compatriots. The reason for this is that
they are wealthy and on good terms with the local Arab mercantile
community many of whom are themselves of Persian origin.
The Shia Persians mingle a certain amount with the Snia
Baharna but on the whole they are not really friendly with them. Some
religious differences exist between them though outwardly their creeds
are the same.
o
The Sunni and the Shia Persians dislike eachother. They
associate only in trade. - The. Shias are publicly patriotic and openly
support their Government; the Sunnis publicly revile it.
The Shia Persians are disliked by the local Arabs
A bitter enmity exists between the ifegdis in Bahrain and
Persians of both sects. This feeling came to a head some years ago
v&en a riot was organised by the Kozaibis and several people were
billed.
The attitude of Shaikh hamed towards the Persians is a mild
dislike, though naturally he would not admit this openly. Shaikh
Mohamed admits being, and is, actively antagonistic towards them.
Shaikh Abdulla appears to be indifferent to them. The Khalifa as a
whole have few dealings with them. The fact that Shaikh liamud bin
Subah, ex President of the Meglis Tajara, is friendly with Persians
is adversly commented on by his own relations. Local Arabs and
Baharna generally resent the fact that Persians have acquired so much
landed property in Bahrain, but they equally resent the fact that the
Negdis have also acquired much property.
The two sects of Persians are each split up into two factions
The rival factions are very bitterly opposed to eachother.
Of the Sunni Persians the leader of one faojiioa is Khan
Lahaa-r -iO^iiica oiiciif, nis onponent is *iaji -^ohamed xaycb -Jiunji.
Mohamed Tayeb has the largest following but Mohamed She.rif, owing to
his superior intelligence and his friendship with the powerful Yusuf
Kanoo has most influence. The lasting emuity between these two men