On 28th October, a Bahrain court issued an order suspending the activities of the country's main Shia opposition group, al-Wefaq. This came less than a month before elections are to be held.
This ruling against al-Wefaq would have meant that the group effectively could not operate for three months in Bahrain. It also prevented the group from organising rallies, press conferences, issuing statements or using its offices. Earlier this month, al-Wefaq had announced its intention to boycott the parliamentary elections scheduled for 22nd November. It complained that it felt that the Bahrain government had not made genuine efforts for reconciliation or reform since the 2011 demonstrations.
In a statement, al-Wefaq accused the Bahrain leadership of "ruling with an Iron fist" and "considers the measure irrational and irresponsible." It also said that "the regime is heading to a unilateral life and replacing the people with sham foundations and projects." Opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman stated that they will be appealing the verdict, "we will appeal for sure and will continue on our peaceful struggle and path."
In July 2014, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs filed a lawsuit seeking to suspend all activities of Shia opposition groups for three months, This came after the leaders of al-Wefaq, Sheikh Ali Salman and Khalil al-Marzooq were charged with holding an illegal meeting with Tom Malinowski, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour. Mr Malinowski was subsequently asked to leave the country.
The Ministry of Justice took the group to court on charges of "violation of the law on associations" after failing to comply with transparency rules when holding general meetings. The decision was issued after the opposition had decided to boycott the upcoming elections against the advice of much of the international community. The Administrative Court issued a decision to suspend al-Wefaq's activity and gave it "three months to correct irregularities observed against it."
In an interview with al-Monitor, Sheikh Ali Salman commented, "This decision is political and aimed at punishing opponents of the status quo and advocates of reform and democracy. There is little doubt that this is linked to our boycotting of the formal elections. The decision was taken out of revenge for our practice of the natural right that associations and citizens ought to exercise."
And then . . .
The government of Bahrain announced it would suspend the suspension. Thank God for some common sense at last.
This ruling against al-Wefaq would have meant that the group effectively could not operate for three months in Bahrain. It also prevented the group from organising rallies, press conferences, issuing statements or using its offices. Earlier this month, al-Wefaq had announced its intention to boycott the parliamentary elections scheduled for 22nd November. It complained that it felt that the Bahrain government had not made genuine efforts for reconciliation or reform since the 2011 demonstrations.
In a statement, al-Wefaq accused the Bahrain leadership of "ruling with an Iron fist" and "considers the measure irrational and irresponsible." It also said that "the regime is heading to a unilateral life and replacing the people with sham foundations and projects." Opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman stated that they will be appealing the verdict, "we will appeal for sure and will continue on our peaceful struggle and path."
In July 2014, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs filed a lawsuit seeking to suspend all activities of Shia opposition groups for three months, This came after the leaders of al-Wefaq, Sheikh Ali Salman and Khalil al-Marzooq were charged with holding an illegal meeting with Tom Malinowski, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour. Mr Malinowski was subsequently asked to leave the country.
The Ministry of Justice took the group to court on charges of "violation of the law on associations" after failing to comply with transparency rules when holding general meetings. The decision was issued after the opposition had decided to boycott the upcoming elections against the advice of much of the international community. The Administrative Court issued a decision to suspend al-Wefaq's activity and gave it "three months to correct irregularities observed against it."
In an interview with al-Monitor, Sheikh Ali Salman commented, "This decision is political and aimed at punishing opponents of the status quo and advocates of reform and democracy. There is little doubt that this is linked to our boycotting of the formal elections. The decision was taken out of revenge for our practice of the natural right that associations and citizens ought to exercise."
And then . . .
The government of Bahrain announced it would suspend the suspension. Thank God for some common sense at last.
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