Bahraini Court Bans Opposition Party for Three Months
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A Bahraini appeals court upheld a previous ruling that bans the Persian Gulf country’s main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, for three months, local reports said on Sunday.
According to the ruling by the court of appeals, the main opposition party will be banned from political activities for a three-month period, Bahraini media said.
Earlier this week, another court in Bahrain adjourned the trial of Sheikh Ali Salman, the secretary-general of al-Wefaq.
The first hearing of Sheikh Salman in the appeals court had been set for Tuesday, but was adjourned to October 14, according to the official website of al-Wefaq.
Sheikh Salman’s trial has triggered condemnation inside and outside Bahrain, with leaders, governments and international organizations across the world calling for his immediate release.
In a statement read out by Switzerland to the UN Human Rights Council last week, 32 countries expressed deep concern about Bahrain's human rights record, urging the Western-allied kingdom to protect the right to peaceful assembly and address reports of torture.
Sheikh Salman was arrested in late December 2014 over alleged anti-regime incitements. Manama had accused him of seeking regime change and collaborating with foreign powers.
On June 16, a Bahraini court acquitted Sheikh Salman of the charge of trying to overthrow the government, but gave him a four-year jail sentence for other charges.
Insulting Bahrain's interior ministry and calling for defiance of the Arab country’s laws, were among the charges for which the court sentenced him to 4 years in prison.
Bahrain has been the scene of almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa regime since early 2011, when an uprising began in the Persian Gulf kingdom.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others wounded and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on peaceful protests.