Al Wefaq temporarily shutdown

Manama : All branches of Al Wefaq Islamic Society have been temporarily shut-down by today an urgent court order.

Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry said in a statement that the court has ordered to “reserve all of the society’s funds and halt its activities, until the ongoing case filed by the ministry against Al Wefaq is finalised.”

The ministry attributed the decision to “the continuous practices of the society still targeting the principles of respecting the law and the foundations of citizenship that are based on coexistence, tolerance and respecting others, in addition to providing an embracing environment for terrorism, extremism and violence and calling for foreign interference in internal and national affairs”.

It’s noteworthy that the ministry had previously filed a suit against the society, saying that it must rectify its “illegal status following the annulment of four general assemblies for lack of a quorum and the non-commitment to the public and transparency requirements for holding them”.

The High Administrative Court earlier found Al Wefaq guilty of breaking laws governing political societies, and failing to meet a one-month deadline to hold a fresh internal election. 

However, execution of the verdict has been postponed and the ministry said it would not be implemented until the soceity holds a general assembly. 

The High Administrative Court said that the society had broken the law by holding two general assemblies without following quorum rules and calling for two similar meetings without informing the concerned authorities.

The society was also found to have broken the rules governing association by holding two general assembly meetings in ma'atams, even though such meetings are not allowed to take place at religious venues.

The society was then suspended for three months, despite appealing against the verdict. Read the full story on DT News tomorrow.