N.O.R.F Posted April 19, 2007 Drive to remove 'immoral posters' from video shops By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief Manama: Days after it banned the sale of lottery tickets, the municipality of Muharraq has launched a campaign to remove all posters and pictures, mainly from video shops, that it deemed provocative and offensive to public morals. The latest decision is regarded as a consolidation of the rising power of Islamists in Bahrain's second largest city and which was for decades the bastion of pan-Arabism. "We want to make sure that the bans are fully implemented to ensure compliance with the decisions to eliminate disguised gambling and remove posters and illustrations that flout our morals and ethics," Mohammad Hamada, mayor of Muharraq, said on Tuesday as he toured the city to monitor the situation. Tradition of liberalism The island of Muharraq is home to a Salafi movement, Al Asala, and the Muslim Brotherhood political group Islamic Menbar. The two societies dominate Bahrain's Sunni political scene and have 13 deputies in the 40-member Council of Representatives, elected last November and December. Other political societies, although possessing a rich history of liberalism and strong trade unionism traditions, have failed to compete with the rising religious tendencies in the city, particularly in the 2006 elections. 'Imposing austerity' The overwhelming show by Islamists in the parliamentary and municipal elections has sparked concerns that they would seek to impose a more austere way of life on Bahrain's liberal society. Last month, the lower house endorsed a motion to ban men from selling lingerie in all shops. In 2004, hundreds of protestors led by Islamists in Muharraq forced Saudi TV channel MBC to suspend the filming of its version of the reality television show Big Brother in a purpose-built house on the island. gulfnews.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
