Constant Threats to Political Activities through a Partisan Judiciary Illustrates the Suppression of Freedom in Bahrain

Constant Threats to Political Activities through a Partisan Judiciary Illustrates the Suppression of Freedom in Bahrain

The Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs yesterday stated their intention to file a case against Al-Wefaq, the largest political society in Bahrain, for what seems to be for unjustified reasons. The Ministry intends to push for a suspension of the Al-Wefaq for three months until they “fix their unlawful situation” as stated in their statement. The Ministry also warned another political society, Wa’ad, of their intention to pursue them.
 
Bahrain SALAM confirms its anxiety at such a case, which seems solely intended to target political parties and stifle political activism, which may further set a precedent for attempts to stifle human rights and other freedoms. More confounding, this case is being brought on the back of a joint statement from 47 countries in UN Human Rights Council condemning the lack of human rights and political improvements in Bahrain.
 
This case also comes in a long line of Bahraini societies and organisations being discontinued, like the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Islamic Works Society, Teachers Society, Nurses Society, The Board of Directors Association doctors, Lawyers Society, and recently the Muslim Scholar Council. This is all demonstrating the misuse of the judicial system as a suppressive mechanism by the Bahraini authorities to silence political or human rights dissent.
 
Bahrain SALAM confirms that the people and organisations in Bahrain have the right to display political opposition, and the Bahraini authorities do not possess the legal powers to arbitrarily close down societies without openly breaching international treaties and standards.
 
With that, Bahrain SALAM for Human Rights urges the international community with all its human rights and political entities to impose significant pressure on the Bahraini authorities to end the episodes of violations and suppression of freedoms, and commence genuine dialogue intended to create proper democracy and stability in Bahrain.
 
Bahrain SALAM for Human Rights
22/07/2014