Islam Times - Bahraini Regime’s Court Upholds Dissolution of Opposition al-Wefaq Party

Islam Times - Bahraini regime's court of appeal has upheld the dissolution of the country’s main Shiite opposition group, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.

On Monday, the Court of Cassation turned down an earlier appeal to challenge al-Wefaq’s dissolution and seizure of its assets, and upheld a previous ruling.

On July 17, 2016, the Bahraini High Administrative Court ordered the dissolution of al-Wefaq and the seizure of its funds.

The court ruling drew criticism from the United Nations, with then Secretary General Ban Ki-moon describing the dissolution as “the latest in a series of restrictions of the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association, and freedom of expression in Bahrain.”

The Bahraini Justice Ministry had suspended the activities of the opposition group on June 14, 2016.

The ruling by the apex court comes as the ruling Al Khalifah regime presses ahead with its heavy-handed clampdown on political dissidents and pro-democracy campaigners in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.

Since February 14, 2011, Bahraini people have been holding peaceful protest rallies on an almost daily basis, demanding that the Al Khalifah family relinquish power and let a just system representing all Bahrainis be established.

Bahrainis have also been complaining against widespread discrimination against the Shia majority in the kingdom.

Manama has responded to the protests with lethal force, drawing international criticism. In March 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were also deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.