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Al Muharraq in Bahrain BAHREIN bahrain. almuharraq Informations and links Al Muharraq![]() ![]() Map Al Muharraq Photos Al Muharraq ------------------------------- Al Muharraq (Arabic: ??????) (meaning Place of Ashes), Bahrain's capital until 1923, has long been a centre of religiosity. The city's origins are ancient, going back to the time of Dilmun some five thousand years ago, but it came to prominence in the historical records during the era of Tylos when Bahrain came under domination of the Selucid Greeks, and Muharraq was the centre of a pagan cult dedicated to the shark god, Awal. The city's inhabitants, who depended upon seafaring and trade for their livelihood, worshipped Awal in the form of a large statue of a shark located in the city. By the fifth century AD, Muharraq had become a major centre of Nestorian Christianity, which had come to dominate the southern shores of the Gulf. As a sect, the Nestorians were often persecuted as heretics by the Byzantine Empire, but Bahrain was outside the Empire's control offering some safety. The names of several of Muharraq's villages today reflect this Christian legacy, with Al-Daih meaning 'the monastery' and Qalili meaning a 'monk's cloisters'. The area remains a bastion of religious belief today as the stronghold of Bahrain's main salafist party, Asalah. With most women veiled, as a city it is considered notably more conservative than other parts of Bahrain. Bahrain International Airport is located on the island, although religious extremist MPs have sought to have it move to another part of the country after residents complained of 'noise pollution'. Muharraq island is also home to Muharraq Club, which is the oldest sports club in the Gulf region. Muharraq Club has won the Bahraini Football Premier League 27 times. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.) Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly..
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