Manama: Bahrain's High Civil Court on Wednesday dissolved the National Democratic Action Society "Waad" and ordered the liquidation of its assets.
The Ministry of Justice in March filed for the dissolution of the leftist political society, saying that its decision was taken “in light of the society’s serious violations and lack of respect for the rule of law".
The ministry added that the society "supported terrorism and incited towards violence through the glorification of individuals convicted in cases of acts of terror that resulted in the death and injury of security officers”.
Waad also supported parties that had been convicted for inciting violence and for advocating for the forceful change of the political regime, the ministry said in a statement.
Commenting on the ruling, the ministry said court said that Waad used on its official online account the term "Martyrs of the Nations" to refer to criminals sentenced to death after they targeted police officers with explosive devices, resulting in three officers losing their lives.
The term is a violation of Article Six of the Political Society Law that stipulates that societies must protect the independence and security of the Kingdom and its national unity and reject all forms of violence.
Waad also expressed its solidarity with Al Wefaq National Islamic Society which was dissolved per a court ruling after it was found guilty of questioning the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain and adopting deviant political activities, inciting violence and illegal rallies and sit-ins likely to cause sectarian sedition in the country.
This alignment is in breach of Clause Four of Article Seven of the Political Society Law that bans association or cooperation with any political society that does not respect the principles and articles of the constitution or the premises of the political regime in the Kingdom, the ministry said, quoted by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
Waad also announced in a solidarity statement with other societies that it rejected the 2002 Constitution as illegitimate. This attitude is in breach of Article Six of the Political Society Law that calls for complying with the principles of the National Action Charter and the Constitution and respect for the rule of law.
The ministry said that the arguments presented by Waad in its defence could not constitute a valid explanation for its attitudes and breach of the law, particularly in light of the terror incidents that hit Bahrain.
"The society, as a popular national organisation, was supposed to help protect the security of the Kingdom within a spirit of national unity and social peace as stipulated in the Constitution and the law, and not to praise criminals who had carried out terror attacks or to support political societies that harmed the state's public interests as confirmed by a court of law," the ministry said.
"Waad has deviated off the normal course of political activities by issuing statements and declarations that were likely to harm public interests, undermine security and stability. The society also failed to recognize the Constitution and thus violated the articles of the Political Society law."
