I sat facing a lizard with a smile who demanded, “Dismiss these people. They are bad people.” When asked on what grounds should I dismiss some of my finest staff he replied, “That’s up to you. I’m sure you can find something.”
“Do you have anything that shows they have broken some law justifying such actions?’
“We have files on all of them.”
“Then maybe you could show me these files so that I can understand the basis for your request.”
“No, they are secret. I need you to find something to justify their dismissal.”
End of debate.
Majed Noaimi, the so called Minister of Education for Bahrain is one of the most dangerous and destructive people in the country.
I had just been given this instruction from the Minister of Education for Bahrain , Majid bin Ali Al Noaimi within days of him assuming responsibility for Bahrain Polytechnic following the uprisings in 2011. My refusal to carry out his instruction (although later vindicated by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry which demanded that all sacked government employees be reinstated} wiped the smile from his face and led to a bitter and acrimonious relationship with the Minister until I resigned in March, 2012.
Tragically this travesty of an Education Minister remains in his job today despite being a proven malicious liar with a negligible knowledge of education. As the minister responsible for an education system aimed at the suppression of free speech, he is one of the most dangerous figures in a society led by some brutal and power hungry individuals.
Noaimi lied to the Independent Commission, lied to police and lied to others, me included, when he set out on a witch hunt to dismiss staff and hundreds of students from the University and the Bahrain Polytechnic for so called treasonous acts against the regime. Most had done little more that log into each other’s Facebook or walk in a peaceful march in support of greater freedom for Bahraini citizens.
The development of a new Polytechnic in Bahrain began as one of the most promising reform programmes in the Middle East but has become but a shadow of the intent but a ghastly reminder of the lengths Arab Politicians will go to in order to retain and exert power. Much of what occurred in Bahrain has been dressed up as a sectarian struggle, and that is certainly part of the consequences of the actions of those in power, but it is not the main reason for the marches and the rebellious actions of many of their citizens. To understand the struggle countries like Bahrain are facing one needs to understand the Arab society. Long before Islam there were tribal and clan power struggles. Families intermarried to preserve or broaden their power base and leaders imposed harsh and often brutal control over their families and tribes. The long-term consequence has been to create a society built on distrust and fear. No one seems willing to make a decision for fear it will be the wrong one and upset their boss, their clan leader, their Sheikh or family leader. This trait is so ingrained it has come to permeate and define Arab cultures. It is not Islam or sectarian discord so much as simple fear and avoidance behavior. Largely people feel disempowered and fearful of the consequences of their actions so avoid decisions or confrontation. Getting a straight answer is almost impossible. Fearful of upsetting you, or those they feel beholden to, Arabs in general and certainly many of my staff and students, would skirt around or avoid issues.
Days after Minister Noaimi took over control of the Bahrain Polytechnic I was confronted with the instruction that Mohammed Alaseeri would be my deputy. Assured that he was there to learn and to smooth the path it soon became apparent he could not be trusted and that he was there as the eyes and the ears of the Minister. He came and left as he wished and was at the call of the Minister 24/7.
Open discussions and debates at senior management level were reported to the minister resulting in a constant flow of instructions to dismiss this person or to appoint this person. or to rescind this or that action. On one occasion, it resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of student who had breached internal Polytechnic regulations.
We abandoned senior Executive meetings as a consequence. Open and frank discussion and debate was dead.
Two lawyers were planted by the Minister to the Polytechnic with nothing to do but sit in an office.
When confronted by revelations that Alaseeri had lied to senior executive colleagues over his role in deceiving the Independent Commission. I asked him, “How can you work like this. Where is your personal integrity when that man (Minister Noaimi) asks you to do this?”
He burst into tears, and blurted out, “The moment I say “No” to him I am finished and I have a family to look after.”
Such was the conflict that ravaged his daily life. A conflict between his personal values and the fear of those he knew ruled his life. He certainly felt no loyalty to colleagues or the Polytechnic.
However, it drove home the reality most Arabs deal with in their daily life. It’s not that they are not trustworthy people. I found the people I met and worked with mostly charming, pleasant and friendly and on all matters which did not impact on them, their families or their perceived power hierarchy, completely trustworthy and honest.
However, when it comes to matters that in even the smallest ways might undermine their personal or family’s safety, they prevaricate or blatantly deceive, such is the “instinctive” fear.
And Minister Naomi is no different.
In a Country ruled by the Khalifa family he is not a Khalifa, He is the son of the previous Emir’s falconer, raised in the Emir’s household out of respect for his father. While his childhood Khalifa playmates were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, made rich by newly discovered oil, Noaimi was merely given the opportunity to suck from the silver spoon. To preserve this privilege he will do anything (and has, but that’s another story) to ingratiate himself to those who hold the power. In a society where the magnificence of ones outward displays of loyalty and adoration for the Khalifa ruling triumvirate, has almost become a competitive sport, Noaimi is one of the top dogs.
However, the level of his ingratiating, groveling and sycophantic behavior to those who retain his services is only matched by his cruel, vindictive and iron fisted approach to those over whom he exercises power. The fear, weakness and powerlessness he feels in the shadow of the Khalifa rulers is in turn felt by those over whom he lauds his authority as Minister.
The so-called “Arab spring” was a western media term supposed to suggest the Arab nations were seeking democracy in place of the totalitarian leadership model. In reality the uprisings were more about a desire for greater personal power and a release from the stupefying fear of being distrusted and of being wrong. Democracy wasn’t and isn’t the answer for a society which is still dominated by family and tribal values. For Arab countries such as Bahrain democracy could be the answer. But so could a benevolent dictatorship or any other ruling regime which fostered a society where human rights and personal freedom give a sense of safety and relief from the fear, distrust and the excesses of tyrants like Minister Majed Noaimi.
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