Hadi Almusawi, the head of the freedoms and human rights department in Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, said the official position from Al Wefaq and Waad, the National Democratic Action Society, indicates political targeting of the two opposition societies far from any bylaw breaches as claimed by the Justice Ministry. Almusawi spoke at a press conference held by the Bahrain Human Rights Observatory outside the UN offices in Geneva.
“The people of Bahrain are aware they are being marginalized in sham elections that will not make them the source of all powers”, Almusawi said, “By suspending Al Wefaq and Waad, the Authority is encouraging the people to boycott the elections”.
Farida Ghulam, member of Waad’s central board said, “The restrictions against Al Wefaq and Waad are a new form of violation added to Bahrain’s record of mounting violations of human rights and international standards to respect political activism”.
She said Ibrahim Shareef will remain the Secretary-General of the National Democratic Action Society by its members’ will, stressing that he is a prisoner of conscience as confirmed by UN reports.
Lawyer Mohammed Altajer said the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Enforced Disappearance has confirmed jailed Bahraini political and human rights figures, including Secretary-Generals of Waad and The Islamic Action Society (Amal), as prisoners of conscience. He challenged the legal status of the lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry against Amal society four years ago.
The press conference was followed by a demonstration to protest ongoing human rights violations in Bahrain and the government’s negative response to the visit request of the Special Rapporteur on Torture. The protesters called for protection to human rights defenders in Bahrain and the release of human rights activist Maryam Alkhawaja who is facing charges in Bahrain.
/129