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MUHARRAQ
The Muharraq Governorate (Muhafazat al-Muharaq)
is one of the five governorates of Bahrain. It includes parts
of the municipalities of Al Hadd and Al Muharraq.
The centre of Muharraq contains some of the
oldest residential properties in the Kingdom, many of which have
been rented out by their Bahraini owners to expatriate workers.
There are also many buildings of historic interest in the town's
crowded lanes, including the Shaikh Isa bin Ali House, Siyadi
House, the wind towers, and the neighbourhood of journalist Abdullah
Al Zayed House, as well as the impressive Arad Fort.
The government has been accused on not putting
enough money into the restoration of these historic sites to turn
them into tourist attractions. The head of Salafist Asalah party,
Ghanim Al Buaneen, responded to news that the government was to
invest BD5 million into protecting these sites by dismissing the
amount as too little and said the island needed between BD50 million
and BD100 million for the facelift of entire old areas. Al-Menbar
Islamic Society MP Dr Ali Ahmed said the effort to preserve Bahrain's
traditions had not been a success story due to the government's
poor planning and the public unawareness about the initiatives.
“Although Muharrraq has a lot to offer to tourists, how
can we attract them if most of our traditional sites are in crowded
areas?"
Local councillor Majeed Karimi came to international
prominence in 2005 when his spearheaded Islamist party, Al Wefaq's
campaign decided to ban lingerie mannequins, blaming them for
rising divorce rates in the area. While Al-Menbar Islamic Society
local councillor, Saleh Al Jowder, launched his bid for a parliamentary
seat in 2006's election by announcing that the council would deal
with complaints about peeping toms by fitting all multistorey
buildings with one way glass so that residents cannot see out.
Muharraq island is also the site of Bahrain
International Airport, although the local Asalah MP has called
for it to be relocated because the sound of aeroplanes landing
and taking off has disturbed local residents.
