Manama: Security authorities in Bahrain say religious figures and businessmen are funding a number of terrorist groups in the country.
"Investigations, targeting national security and the country's stability, have revealed that suspects and other people, both in Bahrain and abroad, head up and fund sabotage groups," a public security source said.
"The funds are used to perpetrate acts of terror and violence in various parts of the country, with the aim of spreading chaos, undermining security, sowing divisions, tarnishing the country's reputation through the dissemination of false and malicious news and putting people's lives, freedom and property at risk," the source told Bahrain News Agency, on Saturday.
The source told how a number of suspects confessed that they received funds and donations from religious men and businessmen, under several guises, adding that they passed them on to groups who carry out acts of violence. No names were given.
The suspects have since been arrested and are due to appear before the public prosecutor.
Bahrain has witnessed a wave of violent clashes, after authorities arrested supporters of the Haq Movement, a political group that broke off from Al Wefaq, the country’s largest political and religious society, in November 2005, over attitudes towards parliamentary elections.
However, Bahraini leaders are now adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards "illegal groups and calls to undermine Bahrain's security."
The justice minister had stated that all "illegal groups" were to be given a grace period until the end of Ramadan, which is expected on September 10.
But several political groups have refused to register under the 2005 Society Law, claiming that they do not recognise it.
Now, Bahrain has rethought its position and has warned that the open tolerance period is over. It says no group should encourage acts of violence or sabotage, either directly or indirectly.
In separate statements, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say Bahrain should release the detainees or charge them. On Saturday, Ali Salman, the head of Al Wefaq harshly criticised the arrests, saying that open dialogue was the best option to promote social peace.
A security source says authorities have so far rejected calls to release the detainees.
