The Bahrain High Civil Court on July 17 ordered al-Wefaq [7], the main Shi'ite opposition group in the country, to be dissolved. The Bahraini court previously issued a three-month suspension of the group [8]. The court found that the group has engaged [9] in "terrorism, extremism, and violence." The dissolution order requires al-Wefaq's assets to be liquidated and transferred to the state treasury. The order has sparked criticism from many sources, such as UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson [10], as being repressive and preventing political freedom [11].
The kingdom of Bahrain is considered an ally of the US but faces growing international concern about its rights practices. A UN human rights adviser called [12] on Bahrain in June to ensure that rights are respected following protests triggered by the decision to strip Sheikh Issa Qassem, a prominent Shi'ite religious leader, of his nationality. In February, Bahraini authorities arrested [13] four US journalists covering the five-year anniversary of the nation's 2011 uprising and formally charged them. Amnesty International [14] that month reported [15] that nearly five years after Bahrain's Day of Rage [16] protests, hope for reform has dwindled.
From Jurist [17], July 17. Used with permission.
