Bahrain opposition loses appeal against dissolution

Bahrain's top court on Monday rejected an appeal by the country's main opposition group Al-Wefaq against its dissolution over terrorism-related charges, a judicial source said.

The court of cassation "denied the appeal against the dissolution of Al-Wefaq and the seizure of its assets," the source said.

The decision comes three months after the Gulf kingdom's largest Shia party appealed a court order to dissolve it over charges of inciting violence, encouraging demonstrations and "harboring terrorism".

The court ruling drew strong criticism from the United Nations as well as international human rights groups.

Al-Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman has been behind bars since 2014 after being convicted of “inciting hatred”.

The 51-year-old is considered a moderate who has pushed for a constitutional monarchy in Bahrain, unlike hardline groups who have demanded the toppling of the Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty.

His arrest in December 2014, in connection with speeches he had given, sparked protests in the Shia-majority country.

Human Rights Watch said he was arrested and charged "despite the fact Salman renounced violence and called for peaceful protest in his speeches".

Al-Wefaq was the largest group in parliament before its lawmakers resigned en masse in protest at the crushing of Arab Spring-inspired demonstrations in 2011 calling for an elected government.

The Shia Muslim group has called for Sunni-ruled Bahrain to become a constitutional monarchy.

The country’s Shia population, which has been ruled by the Al-Khalifa dynasty for more than two centuries, has long complained of marginalization and the country has been rocked by sporadic unrest since 2011.