Alert over secret meetings held by dissolved political societies

Lawmakers have demanded strict action against secret meetings hosted by political societies that were dissolved for violating laws of the land. They allege these societies were holding meetings with an aim to target the Kingdom’s democratic gains. The Political Affairs Bureau within the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, had already issued a statement terming the activities and meetings carried out by these dissolved societies as “illegal”.

“Political activities can be carried out only according to the established laws of the land. The principle of public political action must be followed in accordance with the law, which guarantees all licensed political associations the right to exercise legitimate political activity,” the bureau had said.

Salman Nasser, the head of an Independent Rights Group, said in a statement issued on Friday that many citizens were contacted by members of the dissolved societies including Al Wefaq and members belonging to ‘Ahrar al Bahrain’ and ‘Haq’. Both are considered terror groups that have been targeting the security, civil peace and the political achievements of the Kingdom. “The members of these societies held secret meetings on behalf of banned associations, whose aim was to create doubt about judicial rulings and seek to undermine political participation in the Kingdom by holding criminal meetings.

“These radical groups have an established network to promote themselves, through lies, fraud, threats, and intimidation,” Mr Nasser said in the statement. For his part, House Speaker Ahmed Al Mulla said there is no place for ‘Welayat al Faqeeh’ or for its sympathizers in the Kingdom. “The recent moves by some political figures, reflect a new movement of the ‘Welayat al Faqeeh’ (Islamic Jurisprudent State) groups and of some of its sympathizers.

“There is no place for the ideology of ‘Welayat al Faqeeh’ in the Kingdom, and no place for its sympathizers with radical ideas.” He said the continued betrayal of the country is a major crime, which is totally unacceptable. “But their efforts are bound to fail as we have a majority of sincere Bahraini people who always stand with the wise leadership and the Kingdom’s government, abiding by its constitution. The people of Bahrain reject extremist sectarian aspirations, which are contrary to the values of the civil state, he added.