Bahrain has experienced years of hardships. The constant battle since the 1971 independence has had three demands agreed upon by the people of the country: obtaining rights, participating in the decision-making process, and achieving justice. It was the indigenous people who exerted efforts to reach these aims.

The political experience in many Middle Eastern countries, including the Gulf states, is still growing towards maturity or is still far from the idea upon which democracy was built in developed countries, as individual or family rule is prevalent and there is no place for political partnership in governance.

Ten years following the eruption of the peaceful uprising in Bahrain, the European Parliament offers a chance to resolve the crisis and the opposition is adopting it, but will the authorities in Manama take this opportunity? Perhaps there are other questions, but the major question remains: Will the international community be able to make real sustainable change? This is the most significant issue worthy of attention at the moment by both the authorities and the opposition.

In so far as Bahrain is experiencing a public power-sharing dispute between the opposition and the ruling family, there is a rivalry, which may become a conflict among the ruling family, over the share of economic, political and security powers in the country, which adversely affects the overall internal situation.

My challenge is clear to the authorities. The opposition wants dialogue and has consistently said this on a regular basis for the past six years.