The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ratified the unified Family Law (Personal Status Law), despite being rejected by the Shiite Majority in the country.

The emergence of Sheikh Isa Qassim as a unifying leader and as high authority of the Shia in Bahrain is reminiscent of the role of Sheikh Khalaf Al-Asfour, and is perceived by the authorities as a threat of history repeating itself.