Gulf Daily News – 6 September 2005
By ABDULRAHMAN FAKHRI
POLITICAL societies were criticised yesterday by a human rights group for failing to push for changes to a controversial law that governs their activities.
The now dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) accused them of steering away from the real issue – which is that many of them do not accept it.
Under the new law passed last month, all existing political societies must re-apply for permission to form by early December.
But the BCHR is urging them to continue to function without applying for permission in defiance of the law.
Gulf Daily News – 6 September 2005
By ABDULRAHMAN FAKHRIPOLITICAL societies were criticised yesterday by a human rights group for failing to push for changes to a controversial law that governs their activities.
The now dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) accused them of steering away from the real issue – which is that many of them do not accept it.
Under the new law passed last month, all existing political societies must re-apply for permission to form by early December.
But the BCHR is urging them to continue to function without applying for permission in defiance of the law.
“They are instead busy disputing whether they should register or not under the new law, which has also been the focus of the Press,” said the BCHR in a statement.
A coalition of 15 political societies was set up last month to push for amendments to the law. But only one of them – Al Asala Islamic Society – has organised any activities along those lines so far.
Others have held, or are planning to hold, general assembly meetings to vote on whether they should comply with the new law – including Al Wefaq National Islamic Society and the National Democratic Action Society (NDAS), which both boycotted parliamentary elections in 2002.
The societies have said other options include dissolving and continuing their activities unofficially, without recognition as a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Other alternatives being considered include declaring themselves political parties, which is currently against the law.
They could also agree to re-apply for permission to form.
The BCHR said it had supplied a detailed report about the law’s provisions to various international organisations, which it hopes will pressure the government into making amendments.
It called on Bahrain’s political societies to carry on in defiance of the law and pressure the government into making amendments with the help of local and international organisations.
“The law should be amended to be acceptable and in line with international standards,” said the BCHR.
A spokesman for the 15-society coalition, meanwhile, said each society’s general assembly should be allowed to decide a course of action without any outside interference.
“The coalition previously agreed to work peacefully and within the legal framework to amend the law,” said Ibrahim Juma’an, a senior member of Al Wasat Islamic Arab Democratic Society.
“We believe in taking measures that will ensure the law has more positive than negative aspects.”
A document proposing amendments has now been circulated among coalition societies. It will be presented to parliament and the Shura Council once it is approved.
The societies in the coalition are opposed to provisions in the new law, which prevent them from forming if they adopt a religious or sectarian identity. It also says that any such political society can be dissolved.