Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): The United States left Afghanistan after 20 years of occupation, handing it over again to the Taliban Movement, the movement that US forces crossed the oceans to uproot after their involvement in the 9/11 attacks.

The US abandoned the country that tops the rankings when it comes to corruption and settles at the bottom of the lists of security, health and education. It left it for the extremist movement to regain its full influence after the withdrawal of government forces and President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country.

Among the scenes of the early days of the Movement's re-deployment in Afghan cities were: men from the Movement removing some manifestations of Ashura, such as Husseini flags and black banners, from some streets, despite the Movement's pledges to change its behavior and transform into a civilian authority that preserves the rights of all.

The Movement turned away from all the important issues that needed to be dealt with, including maintaining security, and instead occupied itself with taking down Ashura manifestations, reminiscent of what the Bahraini regime is doing these days by restricting the Shiite community's commemoration of Ashura rites.

The fact of the matter is that such repressive behavior cannot build states or unite societies' efforts toward major issues. Only repressive regimes are preoccupied with religious rivalries; because they mobilize the support of extremist advocates, even if at the expense of the unity of the people.

Those who follow public affairs in Bahrain will find nothing but the government's fit over the commemoration of Ashura, as if Bahrain does not suffer from unresolved political issues and stifling economic problems such as unemployment, increasing public debt, and corruption.

Suddenly, the Umayyad Caliph "Yazid bin Muawiyah" became a figure not to be insulted, despite being the killer of Hussein, the Shiites' Imam. The Husseini flags and banners that read Hussein's words, lessons and sermons have been also deemed by the regime a matter threatening the security of the state. Hence, the Ministry of Interior has been summoning citizens to force them to remove the flags from atop their homes and sign pledges not to hang them again. It has also been summoning eulogy reciters and preachers to force them not to speak ill of Yazid. How does Bahrain differ from the Taliban? It doesn't, they are two sides to the same coin.

Arabic Version