Gulf | Bahrain

Justice ministry accused of 'tyranny'

The Justice and Islamic ministry was on Tuesday accused of "tyranny" for refusing to acknowledge the general assembly and elections of a political society with strong religious inclinations.

  • By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
  • Published: 00:15 May 21, 2008
  • Gulf News

Manama: The Justice and Islamic ministry was on Tuesday accused of "tyranny" for refusing to acknowledge the general assembly and elections of a political society with strong religious inclinations.

The ministry on Saturday said that it could not accept the elections organised by the Islamic Action Society [Amal] because the general assembly was held in a religious community centre in violation of the rules.

Under Bahrain's laws, political societies cannot hold meetings or assemblies in a mosque, community centre or any other place of worship.

Funds

The non-recognition by the ministry of the elections means that it will halt the monthly funds it provides to the society, a decision that has sparked uproar within Amal.

"We are shocked by the ministry's strange reaction which hinders the progress of the political process and democracy in Bahrain. If we are serious about reforms and positive changes, then we should open up more space for people to energise political and cultural activities," Shaikh Mohammad Ali Al Mahfoodh, the head of Amal, said in a press statement.

"Tyrannical attitudes are not the right way to deal with people. Whenever people have a happy or sad occasion, they mark it in a mosque or in a community centre, especially that clubs, schools and official establishments are off limits for political societies," he said.

More from Bahrain

  1. Expats die in Bahrain fire

  2. Bahrain sentences terrorists to 15 years in jail

  3. Bahrain’s First Lady addresses Freedom Pal in Paris

  4. Bahrain minister supports dialogue call

All articles in Bahrain

More from Gulf

Gulf News
Popular in Bahrain
News Editor's choice
Gulf weather