Bahrain’s justice ministry ends action against Waad opposition

In July, the ministry asked a court to suspend the National Democratic Action Society – known as Waad– and two other groups, for three months.

Bahrain has dropped a case filed four months ago to suspend the activities of an opposition political group, the state news agency BNA said on Sunday, in a move that could ease tensions ahead of general elections.

The justice ministry in July asked a court to suspend the National Democratic Action Society, known as Waad, and two other groups, including the main opposition group Al Wefaq, for three months.

The ministry told the court it had based its decision to drop the case against Waad after the group had held its annual general conference and elected a new secretary general according to the law.

Bahrain quelled mass protests in 2011 when majority Shiites led demonstrations to demand political reforms, but low-level unrest has persisted.

Talks between the government and mostly-Shiite opposition have failed to end a political standoff.

Bahrain is to hold parliamentary elections on November 22. Al Wefaq and other political associations, including Waad, have said they intend to boycott the poll to protest what they described as a vote where the results would be “fully controlled by the ruling authority”.

A Bahraini court last month ordered Al Wefaq’s activities suspended for three months, but the justice minister deferred implementation of the decision to give the group time to hold its annual general conference.

Al Wefaq has said it would hold its annual meeting in December.

* Reuters