Bahrain Court Upholds Dissolution of Al-Wefaq
Local Editor
A Bahraini appeals court Thursday upheld an order dissolving the country's main opposition group despite international criticism of the Gulf kingdom's intensified crackdown on dissent.
A lower court had ordered the dissolution of the al-Wefaq association in July over claims including "harboring terrorism" and ordered its funds to be seized by the government.
Al-Wefaq was the largest group in parliament before its lawmakers resigned en masse in protest at the crushing of the tiny island inspired demonstrations in 2011 calling for an elected government.The court order drew criticism from UN chief Ban Ki-Moon, and the kingdom's allies in Washington and London.Commenting on the unfair decision, Deputy Secretary General of al-Wefaq Sheikh Hussein al-Dayhe said that "the authority's decision to dissolve the largest political organization in Bahrain is a serious step and a declaration of absolute unilateralism as well as military rule."
Denouncing the absence of a modern state by Al Khalifa dynasty, al-Dayhe stressed that "Bahrain today entered into a narrower and darker tunnel after terminating political life, eliminating the institutions of civil society and the spread of sectarian persecution in all aspects of the country."
"This presence and this national identity will not be affected by arbitrary executions from here or there," the opposition leader assured.
He further reiterated that "al-Wefaq's project is that of national and true Bahrain's one based on justice, dignity, democracy and the peaceful transfer of power as well as equality."
Source: al-Ahed news, Translated and Edited by website team
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