Appeal Court uphold Bahrain’s leftist society’s dissolution
Waad supported terrorism, incited violence, court says
Manama: Bahrain’s Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling by a lower court to dissolve the National Democratic Action Association “Waad” for serious irregularities.
In May, the High Civil Court dissolved Waad and ordered the liquidation of its assets in a case filed in March by the justice ministry to dissolve the leftist political society, “in light of its serious violations and lack of respect for the rule of law”.
“The society supported terrorism and incited towards violence through the glorification of individuals convicted in cases of acts of terror that resulted in the death and injury of security officers,” the ministry said in its lawsuit.
In its verdict, the Court of Appeals on Thursday said that the violations were of great gravity in view of the circumstances in which they were committed and which threatened the security and stability of the society, leading to the decision to dissolve the society, liquidate its funds and transfer them to the state treasury.
According to the ruling relayed by the Ministry of Justice, upheld by the Court of Appeals, Waad referred on its official account to defendants who had been sentenced to death for killing three policemen, as “martyrs of the homeland”.
The reference constituted a violation of the provisions of Article 6 of the Political Associations Law, which requires societies to preserve the independence and security of the Kingdom, to safeguard its national unity and to renounce violence in all its forms, the court said.
Waad was also found guilty of confirming its supportive stance and solidarity with the Al Wefaq Islamic Society, a society dissolved by a court ruling for challenging the legitimacy of the constitution and for deviating from its political activity to the point of inciting violence and encouraging rallies and sit-ins, which could lead to sectarian strife in the country, the court added.
“Waad also deviated from the practice of its political activity with declarations and statements that it has not denied or refuted, which could harm the general interests of the state and undermine the security and stability of society. In addition, Waad did not recognise the constitution and rejected it in terms that implied insult and defamation,” the court said.
