Bahrain's main opposition group renews call for release of jailed political opponents
Bahrain's main opposition group has renewed its call for the immediate release of political inmates being kept behind bars at detention centers across the tiny Persian Gulf island State, stressing that the right to free expression and freedom of peaceful assembly form the backbone of public demands.
According to Press TV, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, in a statement issued on Thursday, blamed the ruling Aal-e Khalifah regime’s extremism, repressive measures and use of violence against the pro-democracy campaign in the country for the worsening political crisis.
“Despite the ban on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Bahrain, thousands of citizens have taken to streets in recent years to express their political demands, underline their direct role in running the country’s affairs and oppose authoritarian rule,” the movement noted.
Al-Wefaq added, “The rift between the Manama regime and the Bahraini nation is fairly deep. The regime does not have any connection with people other than through security institutions, which employ excessive force, violence, threats and arbitrary measures.”
“Not only does the regime refuse dialogue or reconciliation with the nation, but also takes its revenge on the advocates of dialogue and demonizes them by all means in order to forcibly silence them,” the statement also read.
The Bahraini opposition movement went on to emphasize that Bahraini people are demanding a just democratic system and a constitutional monarchy.
Al-Wefaq also demanded the immediate release of former Bahraini lawmaker Osama al-Tamimi, and stressed the need to provide all medical requirements and humanitarian needs for the political prisoner.
The group also called for the formation of a committee to investigate allegations brought up against Tamimi.
Bahrain has come under pressure from human rights organizations over prison conditions, including overcrowding, poor sanitation and lack of medical care.
Since the March outbreak of the coronavirus at the Jau prison, families of the Bahraini prisoners have been holding protests demanding the release of their loved ones and better conditions. There was a violent confrontation between guards and prisoners in April after prisoners protested against their conditions.
On April 19, Bahrain’s most prominent religious scholar Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim said drawing up a new constitution was the only way out of the political crisis in the protest-hit tiny Persian Gulf island State, urging the regime in Manama to pursue an agreement with the Bahraini opposition instead of increasingly suppressing the dissidents.
Peaceful demonstrations in Bahrain have been held on a regular basis ever since a popular uprising began in mid-February 2011.
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