Bahrain Mirror: The National Islamic Al-Wefaq Society, the main opposition group in Bahrain, said that between August 14, 1971 and August 14, 2017 Bahrain has witnessed several decades of persecution, monopoly of political decision-making and looting of the country's riches.

On the occasion of Independence Day, Al-Wefaq highlighted that the people of Bahrain have been for 46 years looking forward to the entitlements of independence in a radical shift towards democracy, amid international complicity (including the United Kingdom), supporting Bahrain's internal security policies.

The Society pointed out that this anniversary has come while "one of the fathers of the Constitution of Independence Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Ahmad Qassim is subject to house arrest" with an ongoing security siege imposed on the Diraz area, causing the disruption of Friday prayers. "Also while Bahraini prisons are crowded with thousands of detainees including national political leaders, not to mention the violations, security policies of repression, the regime's crackdown on political activism, and using the judiciary to retaliate against the opposition."

Al-Wefaq further stated that political stability in the country will not be achieved without justice and political participation.

Arabic Version