Shaykh Husayn al-Dayhi:

Dissolution of Bahrain’s main opposition group proves regime’s despotism

Rasa – The deputy secretary-general of al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Bahrain’s main opposition bloc, condemned the Al Khalifah regime for its move to dissolve the group, saying that it proves the rule of “authoritarian thinking” in the kingdom.

News ID: 422577

Date: 18 July 2016 - 19:44

RNA – “The ruling by the Al Khalifah regime to dissolve al-Wefaq… is indicative of the authoritarian thinking that rules Bahrain,” Shaykh Husayn al-Dayhi was quoted as saying by the Arabic-language al-Ahed news website on Monday.

The Manana regime’s move also highlighted the absence of rule of law in Bahrain and the weakness of its legal institutions, the cleric added.

He further emphasized that the Al Khalifah regime’s allegations to justify dissolving al-Wefaq have no legal or political basis, because the group won over 64 percent of votes in the 2006 and 2010 elections and represents the majority of the Bahraini people.

His comments came after the so-called administrative court in Manama ordered the dissolution of al-Wefaq and the seizure of its assets almost a month after the regime suspended its activities.

The Bahraini justice ministry had suspended the opposition group’s activities on June 14.

al-Wefaq’s secretary general, Shaykh Ali Salman, has been in prison since December 2014 on charges of attempting to overthrow the regime and collaborating with foreign powers, charges he has denied.

Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifah dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.

Amnesty International and many other international rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition groups and anti-regime protesters.

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