Jawad Al-Arrayedh

Jawad bin Salmen Al-Arrayedh is Bahrain’s first Shia Deputy Prime Minister. He was appointed by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the position in the December 2006 cabinet reshuffle that followed the victory of Shia Islamist party, Al Wefaq, in parliamentary elections that month.

Al-Arrayedh (sometimes spelt Oraied) is the former Minister of Justice, and when appointed deputy premier he replaced a member of the royal family, Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid Al Khalifa. [http://www.tradearabia.com/news/newsdetails.asp?Sn=LAW&artid=116035] .

The ruling family in Bahrain, the Al Khalifas, is Sunni, and although middle class Shias form part of the governing business/political elite, Al-Arrayedh’s appointment was the first time that a Shia had been appointed as deputy prime minister. Al Arrayedh himself is from one of Bahrain’s most influential families which is prominently represented in business, the arts and politics.

An Al Wefaq spokesman responded to the appointment: "At the moment the rulers do not care about Sunnis or Shias, they just want their own interests as long as they have someone who obeys them." [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/20707160-C331-402E-BB49-DF2D6E6C73E7.htm]

ee also

*Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh
*Nazar Al Baharna