Opposition groups condemn arrest of three activists
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10101872.html
02/04/2007 09:12 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: Bahrain’s simmering political feuds yesterday came out in the open, as the detention of three activists on Friday has widened the fissures between deputies and prompted charges that there were attempts to import Iraqi and Lebanese examples of unrest.
Six societies that constitute the spine of the opposition issued a joint statement condemning the arrest of Hassan Meshema, leader of Haq Movement of Liberties and Democracy, Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, chairman of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Centre and Shaker Abdul Ali.
Opposition groups condemn arrest of three activists
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10101872.html
02/04/2007 09:12 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: Bahrain’s simmering political feuds yesterday came out in the open, as the detention of three activists on Friday has widened the fissures between deputies and prompted charges that there were attempts to import Iraqi and Lebanese examples of unrest.
Six societies that constitute the spine of the opposition issued a joint statement condemning the arrest of Hassan Meshema, leader of Haq Movement of Liberties and Democracy, Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, chairman of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Centre and Shaker Abdul Ali.
“The detention of political activists will escalate tensions and will lead to serious security issues. This is a huge and unprecedented setback to reforms that will have ominous implications domestically and internationally,” Al Wefaq, the National Democratic Action (Waad), the Islamic Action, the Nationalist Rally, the Democratic Tribune and the National Accord said.
Waad leader Ebrahim Shareef said that “the government is back to square one by dealing with political issues through a security mindset.”
For Shaikh Ali Salman, the leader of Al Wefaq, the largest bloc in the lower house with 17 of its 40 members, the authorities were wrong in the move against activists and advised against targeting them.
But Ganem Al Buainain, the head of Al Asala, the second largest bloc, blasted Al Wefaq, saying that it should offer advice instead to those who wanted to change the regime, in reference to the activists who allegedly harshly criticised Bahrain’s leaders.
Salah Ali, the head of Al Menbar, said that incitement to hatred against the regime and calls to change the political system were against the spirit of patriotism and allegiance to the kingdom.
“We are shocked by the deputies who condemned the detention of the saboteurs, but said nothing about the nature of the charges,” Salafi MP Jassem Al Saeedi. “We have a small group of people with malicious intentions who want to apply the Iraqi or Lebanese examples here,” he said.