The current confrontation in the Persian Gulf was the result of acute confrontation between the Sunni Arab monarchies unit combined into a regional organization Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), led by Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, who was allegedly trying to establish its hegemony over the region. However, for some reason forgotten the fact that almost two shores of the Gulf inhabited by Shiites as Persians and Arabs. And on this actively speculating the rulers of Riyadh and its dependent Arabian monarchies, artificially inflating Sunni-Shiite strife to stay in power in the wind of change in the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia will break the "Shiite factor"

If you take the "Arab Coast" Gulf, excluding Iraq, where Shiites are in the majority and are in power, the main region of compact Shiites in the Arabian Peninsula is the opening of the Persian Gulf Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, which produces up to 90% of all the oil kingdom. There lives more than 3 million Shiite Arabs, constituting over 15% of the CSA. For clarity - 40% of working American oil company Aramco, is the main company producing oil in Saudi Arabia, are Shiites. Nevertheless, they are in poor financial position. Government allocates meager state support to areas with a predominantly Shiite population.

Saudi citizen Shiite religion since birth undergoes all sorts of humiliation.The school Shiites insulted and accused them of paganism and heresy.Tutorials crowded anti-Shia slander. In addition, representatives of the Shiite clergy forbidden to preach and explain the requirements of this branch of the Islamic religion. A similar situation prevails in the universities, where everything is steeped in anti-Shia propaganda. Shia students humiliated under any pretext. But encouraged students to write a thesis on anti-Shia theme. They receive additional scholarship. Saudi government allocates millions of dollars annually on books against Shiite religion inside and outside the country. Public support enjoyed by Internet blogs and media, anti-Shia and anti-Iranian involved propaganda, for example channel "Al Arabiya". Because of this, the Saudi businessmen prefer to avoid commercial transactions with Shiite businessmen. In addition, the Saudi authorities are trying to deprive the Shia places where they could perform religious rites. To this end, they closed or destroyed many Shiite mosques and Hussein (the place where Shiites gather for mourning). For example, only in 2012, by order of the Minister of Interior KSA were closed nine leading Shiite mosques.

In Saudi prisons languishing large number of supporters of the Shiite religion for political and religious charges. They are kept there in very difficult conditions. Most of them were detained on charges of holding the usual religious rites. There is no doubt that as long as the continuing discriminatory treatment of the Saudi government to the Shia, the authorities in Riyadh will not allow them to take political or military posts. Similar happens in government agencies. Almost all the key posts in the government to members of the Saudi dynasty.

Such discrimination is explained by the following reasons. First, it is groundless religious strife fueled Wahhabi fanaticism. And secondly, it is a political aspect. In Riyadh, always suspicious of Shiites and believe that they are under the influence of Iran. A success due Shiite movements for their rights in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, Al-Saud hostility towards Shiites further increased.Superimposed on it and the fact that the Alawite (note - the Alawites are considered Shiite) regime of Bashar Assad in Syria not only fell to the Sunni extremists and terrorists financed Wahhabi rulers KSA and Qatar, but also holds the position of using armed Shiite groups of "Hezbollah" and Iraq "Mahdi Army."

As a result of discrimination and to protest against the entry of Saudi troops to Bahrain in the Eastern Province, especially in the cities of Al-Qatif and Al-Hofuf, in 2011-2012 Laminate wave of mass Shiite performances suppression which were thrown security forces and police. Dozens of people were killed. And then all Saudi media sounded hints that the unrest in the Eastern Province were inspired by Iran. In this case, when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to somehow condemn this repression and encourage the Saudi rulers to respect human rights, from the mouth of Minister of Foreign Affairs KSA Saud al-Faisal was heard threat "to cut off the fingers of all those who try to get into their own hands in the internal affairs of the country . " Her visit to Riyadh was then canceled, and Washington on the rights of Shiites in Saudi Arabia just silent, continuing to shout about individual freedom in other Arab countries.

Kuwait: calm before the storm

Shia issue becomes a problem in neighboring Kuwait. In July 2013 his Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah accepted the resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers on the basis of place on the eve of the parliamentary elections. Their result was disastrous for the local Shiites who got incredibly small seats - two times less than in the previous parliament. After this time the Shiites suffered the heaviest defeat in the history of the National Assembly, received only eight seats out of fifty. A country where the Shiite population share is not less than 35%, this result seems to put it mildly, unrealistic. Accordingly, we can talk about a "change orientation of the political elite." In previous elections to the National Assembly Shiite politicians have won the maximum support of the population, with almost 35% of the vote. However, to consolidate the success they failed, as six months later, the Constitutional Court declared the election results illegitimate, accused of illegally emir to dissolve parliament of the previous convocation. Lately regular dissolution of the National Assembly has become the norm for Kuwait. On the eve of the election almost all analysts predicted that the country will continue to increase political instability. Over the past two years, protests erupted again spontaneously in the streets of the capital Kuwait City and other cities. Surrounded by Emir convinced that the main source of political provocation - living in Kuwait Shiites, who are sometimes referred to as "the fifth column of Tehran." How to find the local authorities, it was under the influence of Shiite "subversive elements" in 2011 in the Persian Gulf monarchies began a wave of unrest, triggered by the "Arab Spring" in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries. Kuwaiti authorities were forced to meet some demands of protesters, primarily financial. It is obvious that the composition of the parliament, in which the number of Shiites minimized in the interests of the ruling dynasty. Revealing that space previously owned by Shiitesoccupied by representatives of the liberal camp. This supposedly allows Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad maintain a moderate image, especially in the eyes of the U.S. - the main ally and "savior" from Iraqi occupation in 1991. According to the forecast of Arab and Western experts, at this level of discrimination can not be ruled out that Kuwait at any moment can turn into a new arena of confrontation between Sunnis and Shiites, following the example of the neighboring Arab monarchies - Saudi Arabia, and especially Bahrain, where the Shiite majority still strongly in 2011 opposed discrimination by the ruling Sunni dynasty, but their demonstrations were suppressed by military force in Saudi Arabia. Kuwait, so far easier as it hosted 35 thousand U.S. troops.

In the UAE, Shi’ites are not allowed to the civil service, the army and police

Not much better and Shiites live in the UAE, which are considered a showcase of the Gulf monarchies. Only in Abu Dhabi, they account for up to 20% of the population, and in Dubai - at least 30%. They can not occupy senior positions in the civil service, the army and the police, subjected to indirect discrimination in the business. After the events in Bahrain and the "Arab revolutions" UAE authorities, continuing its hostile policy against the Shiite population, began to deport thousands of Shiites from the Arab Gulf principalities. Moreover, the UAE government instructed by Israeli special services professionals working undercover in the company STG (Es-Tee-Gee), which cooperates with the Emirates in security issues, and in the state which among other employees Number of retirees and staff members of the Mossad. This project deportation Shiites living in the country, is a secret plan developed by the personal order of the Emir of Abu Dhabi as part of ethnic politics. Its main "goals" are Shiites - came from Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Currently, Emirati authorities think hard what to do with thousands of Iranian community, long living in the UAE. Only in 2013, more than three thousand Iranian businessmen, without explanation, were expelled from the country, and thus closed dozens of banks with Iranian capital.

Bahrain will be the second Arab Shia State

Creepy and pitiable situation of Shiites in Bahrain recently devoted a special article. But some important things can be mentioned again. After the armed suppression of Shiite protests in February 2011 by the Saudi troops arrived on the island stage is very fragile calm that guaranteed the Saudi occupation of the island. In fact, in Bahrain in receivership from Saudi Arabia. Everything that has happened has been qualified as a "conspiracy to overthrow the foreign state of the current regime." It is clear that in this case it was a "hint" on Iran. And today, the power of the Sunni royal regime in Bahrain is provided exclusively by military force Riyadh. At the same time the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf, as well, and the West led by the U.S. are blind to this problem and ignore it, thus leaving the explosive center capable erupt at any moment.

In fact, currently 70% of Bahrain’s population are ethnic Arabs, Shiites, and in the structures of power, they presented quiteunfair. Representation Shiites in power structures such as the Royal Court, the Royal Guard and the army is close to zero. Of the 29 ministerial posts in the government of Bahrain’s Shiites belongs only 6. Of the 29 deputy ministers Shiites are only 3. Of 230 high-level positions in the judiciary, including the Supreme Judicial Council, the Constitutional Court, courts, administrative boards, etc., Shiites occupy only 28 seats, while among them there is no president of the court, ie proportion of Shiites in the judiciary is about 12%. In the legislature of 40 members of the Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura) has 17 Shiites and 40 members of the Chamber of Deputies - 18 Shiites. Unfair electoral system continues to maintain rigid discrimination Shiite majority kingdom. Occurs serious infringement of the rights of religious Shiites. Destroyed or severely damaged more than 40 mosques or objects of worship. And this is even more angry Shiites, making peace with them unlikely. Realizing this, the Bahraini leadership went on a completely unprecedented step of launching a campaign tacit naturalization of Sunnis from other countries of the Persian Gulf, offering them citizenship country. It is understood that payment is made for future elections, as in other ways change seriously the demographic balance in favor of Sunnis seems unlikely. But be that as it may, the reality is that Bahrain, sooner or later will become the second Arab country (after Iraq), which will come to power Shia Arabs, as they make up 70% of the population.

In Qatar, almost none left a Shiite mosque

Externally "Shiite question" does not appear in the domestic agenda of Qatar, where officially almost the entire population of the emirate - Sunnis and Wahhabis. In fact, the proportion of Shiites there too high - 15-20%. Basically, these are the Arabs, who once came here from Basra and other areas of southern Iraq and Bahrain and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. There also came from Iran, mainly from its Arabic-speaking province of Khuzestan. They settled in Qatar during the time of Ottoman rule and the natives have long been the emirate. But the ruling clan of Al-Thani sees them veiled threat, including the ability to use Tehran as a "fifth column". Therefore, the road to politics they ordered, as well as a career in the civil service and in the power structures. However, Qatari Shiites have significant positions in the commercial sector, finance and contracting business. The most prominent of them - Fardan is a multi-billionaire and business from construction to banks. However Shiite mosques in Qatar almost out, and many local Shiites fear of persecution on religious grounds posing as Sunnis.

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Therefore, playing card "Shia factor" as a kind of Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the Sunni monarchies of the GCC states, led by Saudi Arabia strongly risk actually raise a storm of "Shiite Spring ’in themselves. Just behind this is not Tehran, and its own Arab population Shiite religious discrimination against and oppression. And then it is possible that the Persian Gulf turned into "internal Shiite Sea" where Iran and Iraq will belong to the role of natural leaders, given their military-political and economic potential, as well as their population.

The most surprising and most cynical is that neither the U.S. nor the EU, nor the numerous Western human rights organizations to focus not want to see this whole nightmare with violations of human rights and freedom of speech in the Arabian monarchies ignore humiliating discrimination Shiites in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf. And of course, where such cynicism and such a monstrous policy of double standards - because of the banal Western dependence on oil and gas supplies from the GCC countries. After all, if you start criticizing them, the decrepit ruling dynasties may punish, reduce the volume of energy. Where here to human rights!

Vladimir Alekseev - 13 january 2014