Did you know in Iran … – History
On 27th of may, year 1614, “Shah Abbas” (in Isfahan) recieved a message from “Philip the second” -King of spain at that time- in which “Philip the second” was commanded him for the second time to evacuate “Bahrain” and hand it to Spain.
“Shah Abbas” replied to the messanger: “according to the current documents and culture of Bahrainis, Bahrain has been a part of Iranian kingdom”, and he will never discuss and negotiate over Iranians territory with anyone; And if Spain’s king claims the ownership of Bahrain from the other side of the world(!), he can only take it by war, “I don’t think any army face Iranian’s soldiers” he said.
At the end of this meeting with Spain’s messenger, Shah Abbas said to him: “Hospitality is of our characteristics, but this would be your last time to bring us such messages!”
but afterwards “Mohammad Reza Shah” lose Bahrain -Which was the 14th province of Iran at that time- because of persistence of foreign countries; without even casting Iranian’s vote.
The interesting part is that, us -the Iranians- cannot even visit bahran, they won’t let us in!!!
see how people can forget who they were, we were brothers and sisters, we were the same…
of course I don’t blame Bahrainis, but currently no one wants to be a part of Iran anymore, and thats a shame for once “Empire of the World”.
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why do they not allow you in?
This is so interesting.. I have been learning a lot from everybodies blogs here.. loving it..
Why don’t they let you in Bahrain?
I apologize for my country’s stupidity! I think if I send you a formal invitation they will let you in, as that is what we do with our Iranian relatives when they want to visit.
Rasha, they don’t allow many Iranians in due to fear. Iran funds at least 24 Shiite organizations here in Bahrain, with their aim supposedly being to overthrow our government and reclaim the country as their own (as it once was, as early as 4 century AD.)
It’s a political decision to keep Iranians as far away as possible as Iran poses a huge external threat for Bahrain.
Not that Pouyan is a terrorist, he had an ACT exam to take here and could’ve easily submitted the proof for it.. but our silly authorities are also over-paranoid (sometimes for good reason, but usually no.)
Sorry Pouyan!! But you have to visit us here… and then we can take you to Saudi Arabia as well so you can see the big cultural and social difference.
By the way – we ARE brothers and sisters… my mother’s side of the family is from Shiraz originally, my father’s side has a lot of Kurdish and Iranian roots, but they were born and raised in Bahrain as 2nd generation citizens, like thousands of others here.
We even have our own Persian dialect here. The history between us is very obvious and can be seen today even in our culture (food, language, music, etc.)
So I welcome you my brother to OUR (yours and mine) country…
yeah.. why don’t we all have a party here in Riyadh! if you really want a culture shock.
Rasha, I think I’ll pass!
People say that we may lose another 2 islands in Persian gulf by Ahmadinejad.
Thank you very much, I cannot believe what I’m reading!
Esra’a said:
I didn’t know we have such organizations! I must add that Iran has over 70 million people, do the math your self! every 1 million of them want to do as they want! I think some of them also want to regain Bahrain! but that is so studip! some of them want to fight U.S! some of them want to kill Ahmadi Nejad! some of the want to kill themselves! … this is one of many problems with this many people!
I wouldn’t hesitate if I had enough money, but I have to wait a little longer,whenever I had the money I’d call you ASAP!
That would be great, but first we have to terminate religous police!
Leila said:
I doubt Shah Abbas ever talked about “culture of Bahrainis” in his letter for two reasons:
One, at the time they didn’t care about the people. Rulers just occupied wherever they could. Concepts such as “nationhood”, “culture”, and so on are invented later on in human history.
Secondly, we did not have a word for “culture” in Persian untill 1930s!
The fact is the borders in the pre-Modern times were very blured. Areas such as Bahrain or Herat (in Afghanistan) were and were not part of Iran. There was no central government back in those days. Local rulers could choose to pay their taxes to a certain power or sometimes two different occupiers.
It is true that Britain systematically emptied Bahrain of its Persian-speaking natives in the 19th century, but Bahrain is an independent country now. I think it is better for the Iranians, like myself, to put aside nationalism and try to respect Bahrain as an independent Arab country.
The Other said:
I beg to differ! it’s not about nationalism or such things, it’s about how an empire can turn into a third world country. I don’t think I disrespected Bahrainis. (If I would, Esra’a would kick me outa here ASAP! [kidding])
The Other also said:
If you conclude facts like this, I must say that “Shah Abbas” didn’t ever speak of those words at all! Common its like 350 years later! we cannot even reads stories and letter from 200 years ago that easy! I totally disagree with you. He said something that would ment “Culture”.
The Othe also said:
are you sure you know what you are talking about? Have you ever heard about the things that “Koroush the great” has said!? it was late “Ghajar” and “Pahlavi”s that kings started to care just about themselves and their wifes! in “Safavi” ages, Iran was one of the most powerful countries of the world!
“Shah Abbas” made a powerful army and secured the whole country! but they teard Iran apart, as they did “India” & “Afghanistan” and “Pakistan”.
I think it was good for Bahrain to depart from Iran and it can be even good for the other provinces to depart as well (don’t get angry with me).Look at some provinces like Boushehr and Fars .All the gas of Iran is produced in Boushehr and still people there don’t have it.They have oil too(Pars Jonouby).So they should be a rich province but they aren’t.They don’t have drinkable water and even this water is cut in summers(maybe a day for 12 hours they have it).They have the nuclear site but when electricity is off at 2 am you wanna kill yourself.Won’t it be better for them to get departed?and about Fars province:I don’t know what is their need to rest of Iran.If you get there every brand of food is different with others cause it is produced there.every fruit they produce inside there.They even have gas themselves.Departing of this 2 provinces change nothing to them but rest of Iran.They will remain Persian and speak Persian but more developed ones.If Bahrain was Iranian province now it was somewhere like Boushehr and khuzestan.
Dear Leila:
all provinces of Iran have their own problems except Tehran (the capital). This is because of the government, but the solution is not for them to depart from Iran! becuase in that case The only city of Iran would be Tehran!
Is it really good for a provience with no technology no water, no electricity and.. to get departed from Iran? NO! Who will take over of that so-called country? Iranians ? NO! foreigners? yes! what would they do with it? the same as Iranians did! You know I’m not really into politics and that kinda stuff, but I know for sure this is not a good solution!
Pouyan Tehran doesn’t have it’s own problems….?!! I am guessing you just mean it’s just more developed than the rest? not about the pollution, prostitution, drug problems, unemployment, the ever growing house prices, the never ending crack downs, etc etc?
The Iranian government has failed everybody. Oh and what is this about Shah giving away Islands “without casting people’s votes”?! what, do you think he gave it away as a gift to the people of Bahrain from his personal choice? no, it was under severe pressure from the Arab countries and the British, etc.
Thats it! The whole country is corrupted, I’m just comparing! no need to disscuss about obvious things!
Common man! read it once again! I said:PRESISTENCE OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES!
I must say that we Iranians used to contradict and negate eachother!
You missed my point, he didn’t want to give it away, he was forced to. So if you agree with that, then why do you wonder about the fact that he “didn’t cast Iranian people’s vote”!? What difference would that have made?!
are you kidding me or what ? it seems that you adore him for what he’d done! open your eyes! he gave away to please british and to keep his powers! He loved people! he was a saint.
even now Ahmadi Nejad is doing what he wants! we all are dying here and yet he’s doing what he wants!
give it a break!
Dude, who says I adore him?! don’t get facts mixed up, that’s all I am saying.
what facts?
the fact that he was a hypocrite and he was willing to lose Bahrain?
as I said he gave it up to keep his power!
no offence man but your taking sides.
What would have him giving up his power do exactly? Are you suggesting that if he had left the monarchy, this would have magically saved Bahrain? I find it unlikely.
my dear friend:
why things seems so complicated to you? all I’m saying is that he was supported by british and americans, and they put pressure on him to give up Bahrain, and he did so to keep his monarchy!
I totally agree that if he had left the monarchy, this wouldn’t have saved Bahrain magically!
The only confusing thing was what you had written my dear friend!
I would just like to point out that Bahrain islands have changed hands throughout history. At some point in time and for a long period Bahrain was ruled by Iran, it does not mean that Bahrain is Iranian. It was just a question of power play at the time. Before the Iranians it was someone else, and so on and so forth.
Furthermore, the common link between the islands of Bahrain and the east of saudi arabia, show that they share common roots in traditions(that stretch back way before the iranian rule), which is clearly distinctive from our Iranian neighbours.
We “the people of Bahrain” did not forget who “we” are. I would recommened some background reading on the indeginous population of Bahrain and the history of Bahrain prior to Iranian rule.
I should add that Bahrain is a melting pot of people from the region, but for the most part the largest ethnic groups clearly refelect the Arab character of Bahrain.
Some may argue, that Bahrain-Iranian connection is evident by them both being by majority Shia. I should add that it was not until the sixteenth century, under the Safavids, that a majority of Iranians became Shias, and historical records show that the people of “Bahrain” which includes what is known as the Bahrain islands were a Shia stronghold since Ummayad times. Furthermore, the first Shia scholars in the Safavid times in Iran had to come from Lebanon and Bahrain to layout the religious system there…and the rest is history…
With all my respects to our Iranian brothers who think we are an indeginious part of the “motherland”. We are neighbours and brothers but we did not forget who we are (and have always been).
I should add, that when you say ” no one wants to be a part of Iran anymore” is not entirely true, those who are of iranian heritage worldwide are proud of their roots irrespective of borders and in some way many still have a link even if they have been out of Iran for generations. Politics is another subject..
To the iranian nation and its people, my respects and admiration.
Your Arab neighbour in Bahrain.