MPs and politicians welcome closure of Al Wefaq Society

Manama: Bahraini lawmakers and politicians yesterday welcomed the recent decision to shutdown Al Wefaq Islamic Society. They described the society as “a source of extremism that lives off the country’s funds and targets it internally”.

Al Wefaq, which was closed down by an urgent court order, following a complaint filed by Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry on Tuesday, has been proven to work against the law and constitution by embracing violence and extremism.

The decision to close the society spurred nationwide welcome from many segments of the Bahraini society, including lawmakers, politicians, journalists and local majlises (traditional gathering centres), which supported the State’s firm procedures to eliminate extremism and radicalism from the Kingdom.

Parliament supports 

The House of Representatives’ supported the Ministry’s decision in a statement issued yesterday, including the viewpoints of five MPs-- Khalid Al Shaer, Mohammed Al Maarifi, Theyab Al Nuaimi, Anas Buhindi and Khalifa Al Ghanim.

Al Shaer said, “The decision taken by the Higher Administrative Court to shutdown the headquarters of Al Wefaq Islamic Society and halt its activities until further notice comes as a result of persistence of the society to embrace wrong behaviours such as terrorism, incitement and violence.”

“These are not the goals a political society is established for and is contrary to the laws and regulations followed in the Kingdom,” Al Shaer stated, and added, “had the society been allowed to continue its suspicious activities, the Bahraini society would have vastly suffered from its dangerous effects.”

Sharing a similar view, Al Maarifi  pointed to the society’s statements, which repeatedly expressed an inciting and violent tone against the State. 

He lauded the decision saying, “It will put an end to the foreign support received by Al Wefaq and the harm it causes to the country”.

On his part, Al Nuaimi mentioned that Al Wefaq didn’t adhere to the Law despite numerous warnings. 

“The society continued to target national unity by pumping a spirit of hatred and sectarianism among the public,” Al Nauaimi commented.

Supporting the verdict, Al Nuaimi added: “Peace and preserving national unity are the keys to any nation that is seeking progress and development. Curbing sectarianism and corruption is completely justified.”

MPs Anas Buhindi and Khalifa Al Ghanim reiterated the importance of joining hands to combat oprganisations working to hit national unity and are supported by the “enemies of Bahrain”.

 A symbol of sectarianism

“Al Wefaq Islamic Society is an example of sectarianism in Bahrain,” politicians remarked.

Head of the Political Bureau of the National Action Charter Society Ahmed Juma said, “Since established more than a decade ago, Al Wefaq has been depending on wrong standards that are based on sectarianism. We were among the first to demand the rectification of the society’s situations.”

Juma lauded the Ministry’s tolerance towards the repeated violations of Al Wefaq, adding that the latter has “exploited the authorities’ patience and had gone too far with its violations”. “The society’s speeches has always been provocative, sectarian and disregarded the country’s political societies’ law,” Juma added.

Local and Political Affairs Head at a local daily Omar Al Jaber noted that “Al Wefaq misused the freedom of expression that is provided in Bahrain to strike national unity and deliberately challenge the law by organising illegal gatherings and creating a state of chaos in the country.”

Al Jaber stressed that such a decision should include any political society in the country that attempts to promote sedition and sectarian tension.