The main opposition bloc, in Bahrain, Al-Wefaq National Islamic Association, has proposed a democracy-based proposal, on Saturday, entitled “Bahrain Declaration,” calling for dialogue, national consensus and reconciliation.
The initiative, unveiled by al-Wefaq, emerges amid the current political, economic and social crisis. It comprises of 13 “universal human principles serve as a model for moderation and participation in the management of the state.”
Al-Wefaq’s democracy-based proposal stipulates establishing a democratic atmosphere in Bahrain in order to give all the factions the freedom to have equal opportunities, which can be seized amid tolerance and respect.
It adds that it is also based on the need for a reassuring sense of citizenship, national unity, fair representation in the society, community protection, development and pluralism. Al-Wefaq maintains that the principles included respect for religious and cultural identity, sectarian and societal attributes. It further calls for the protection of civil peace through equality before the law, and the right to form civil society organizations, including political ones.
After more than seven years of the unrest, the Bahraini government have been sharpening its clampdown on all forms of dissent. It harshly restrict the right to freedom of expression and association, dissolve opposition groups, ban independent newspapers and imprison thousands after trying them in military courts on fabricated charges.
Since the eruption of the national opposition, in February 2011, the government has attempted at prompting its fake scenario; claiming that the revolution stimulates an alleged Sunnis and Shiites conflict. However, the first and foremost goals of the uprising have been inaugurating social and political changes.
Al-Wefaq’s Secretary General Sheikh Ali Salman, a senior Bahraini Shiite cleric, has been in prison on a nine-year jail sentence since late 2014, convicted of inciting unrest. On June 14, 2016, Bahrain suspended the activities of Al-Wefaq group, and dissolved and confiscated its funds on July 17, 2016, accusing it of fostering “violence and terrorism.”
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon then described the dissolution as “the latest in a series of restrictions of the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association, and freedom of expression in Bahrain.”
The opposition groups seek a peaceful resolution despite the severe repression they have been subjected to by the regime. Further, they have long expressed their willingness for dialogue without preconditions to resolve the crisis but the government have not shown any sincere intentions, having got a full support from foreign powers; particularly U.K., U.S. and the Saudi royals. Obviously, the Bahraini government is a key ally of the United States and they have many common interests.
Moreover, Bahrain faces a drastic problem regarding the systematic demographic change through the extensive naturalisation policy and the revocation of the indigenous people citizenships. Unequivocally, the demographic conspiracy, adopted by the government in Bahrain, seems more like the Zionist project against the Palestinians in the occupied lands.
On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown. The Bahraini people remain resolute and determined to demand their fundamental rights, despite the ongoing clampdown, the ban on religious rites and prayer, the imposed house arrest on their spiritual Leader Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim and the arbitrary arrest of thousands of clerics, opposition leaders and youths.
Ayatollah Qassim has been stripped of his citizenship in June 2016 over accusations that he had used his position “to serve foreign interests and promote sectarianism and violence.”
Various demonstrations are held in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.These demonstrations call to relinquish the regime’s power and to elect a just system that represents all Bahrainis. Indeed, the public uprising and peaceful demonstrations would not stop, as the oppressed and persecuted Bahraini people are adamant to achieve their legitimate demands.
