Bahrain dissolves largest leftist political party

The logo of Bahrain’s largest leftist political party, the National Democratic Action Society (Wa’ad)

Bahrain has dissolved the country’s largest leftist political party, the National Democratic Action Society (Wa’ad) as part of a heavy-handed crackdown led by the ruling Al Khalifah regime on political dissent.

Bahrain’s administrative court ruled on Wednesday to dissolve Wa’ad and hand over all its properties to the treasury, al-Wasat newspaper reported.

Back in March, Bahrain’s Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments accused Wa’ad of “incitement of acts of terrorism and promoting violent and forceful overthrow” of the Manama regime.

It also claimed that the political group “glorified convicted terrorists and saboteurs who used weapons and detonated bombs in killing and wounding several security [personnel], threatened citizens and residents' safety and damaged private and public properties.”

Last year, Bahraini authorities dissolved the country’s main Shia opposition group, Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, as well as Islamic Enlightenment Society (Tawiya) and al-Risala Society.

Sheikh Isa Qassim, Wefaq’s spiritual leader, was stripped of his nationality last June over accusations that he had used his position to serve foreign interests and promote sectarianism and violence. Despite denying the charges, the cleric was handed a suspended one-year prison term and ordered to pay a fine earlier this month.

The ruling against the prominent Shia cleric sparked widespread protests and condemnations.

Since 2011, Bahrain has been the scene of peaceful anti-regime protests against the systematic abuse of the Shia population and discrimination against them.

The Bahraini regime has responded to the protests with excessive and lethal force, which has drawn international criticism.