The Salafist Society in Bahrain, Al Asalah, warned that it would take action against the country’s culture authority if Joumana Haddad, an atheist poet and journalist of Lebanese descent, was not banned from participating in a cultural event that is expected to take place on April 6.

Haddad was supposed to present a banquet of poetry and music at the event, which is part of the Spring of Culture Festival that is organized every year by Bahrain Authority of Culture and Antiquities, led by Saikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the disrespect by the Baca of the feelings of more than one billion Muslims and its challenge to the beliefs of the Bahraini people by inviting an atheist who advocates pornography and adultery to Bahrain to spread her sick mentality at an event of the Spring of Culture,” Al Asalah said in a statement. “Joumana Haddad has been rejected by her own Lebanese people who forced her to close promiscuous magazine that was promoting atheism and pornography.”

Haddad is currently the editor-in-chief of a magazine called “Jasad,” which is a quarterly Arabic publication based in Beirut, that deals with issues related to sexuality and art. Since the magazine is quite forthright about printing nude photographs and sexually explicit content, it has been criticized widely across the Arab world, often being labeled as a pornographic publication.

Al Asalah said that it was scandalized by the conscious derision of Islam by the country’s culture authority that condones a woman who openly declares she does not believe in God, refuses to accept the prevailing power of an omniscient being and dismisses faith as nothing but a myth that cannot be accepted.

“We demand that she not be allowed to enter our country under any pretext because our religion, morals and people do not accept or allow it,” the group said.

The Salafists threatened to resort to all available means at the lower chamber of Bahrain’s bicameral parliament to hold responsible the minister in charge of culture authority over Haddad’s brazen challenge and barefaced provocation against the religion and God.

Since the culture ministry has now been turned into an authority, Bahrain’s laws imply that legislators can raise issues with ministers only.

Established in 2002, Al Asalah said, “We will coordinate with the other lawmakers in order to prevent the dissemination of atheism and the celebration of atheists on the pure land of Bahrain. We will use all regulatory means to achieve our goals. What are the benefits of hosting such an atheist? The only results are creating chaos and confusion, sowing resentment and provoking the people. It is towards such deplorable situations that sick people want to drag the country.”

Haddad posted on her Twitter account that she was hurt by a hashtag that says Bahrain does not welcome atheists.

“I feel sad about whoever launched it, not about myself. Bahrain is my home, as well,” she tweeted on her account where she introduces herself as a poet, writer, journalist, secular, atheist, women & LGBT rights activist to her 12,031 followers.

The group’s statement triggered condemnation and support in equal proportions from across the Arab world.

Some people posted comments supporting Haddad.

“Those who launched the hashtag against you do not represent the people of Bahrain,” Dhafer Al Zayani said. “You are most welcome in your second home Bahrain and we have no business with your personal freedom.”

“Humanity is wider than anything else and the creatures that oppose everything will be mellowed by time or will simply die,” said Mohammad Al Asiri.

Those opposing Haddad’s visit however said Bahrainis must reject all radical ideologies, including atheism.

“The people of Bahrain fully reject the ideology of Daesh — the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq — but they also refuse the ideas of atheists who are against God,” Bassem Al Amer posted on his Twitter account.

“Culture must not be confined to singing, dancing and promoting Western ideas that clash with our religion, traditions and culture,” Salman Busaeed said while questioning what really constitutes culture.

Photo Credits: Al-Ahram Hebdo