Manama: The measures taken by the government against societies accused of breaking the law aim to ensure that political activism remains free of all forms of abuses that harm the democratic openness of Bahrain, the prime minister has said.
They also seek to secure that the democracy process does not break the law or depend on foreign political or religious references and is not tainted with sectarianism, Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa said.
His comments came after a Bahrain court supsended Al Wefaq, Bahrain’s main opposition group, and closed down its offices on Tuesday.
The premier added that all the measures were within the confines of the constitution and the laws in Bahrain and were taken through a fair and independent court ruling, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported late on Tuesday.
Prince Khalifa said that the measures taken by the government against those in breach of the laws and regulations were part of a bundle of initiatives that ensure the security and stability of Bahrainis and address all possible loopholes that could be exploited to allow foreign interference in the nation’s domestic affairs.
He said that political activism was open and regulated by laws and texts that ensure a balance between freedom, democracy and national interests.
However, some people abused the system to target the nation’s security and stability and to attempt to tear at the fabric of the national unity, he said.
“Such actions cannot be tolerated or accepted as the security and stability of the nation are above and beyond all considerations and there can be no compromise on them,” he said.
All ministries and concerned government agencies have been given the prerogatives to apply the law on all violators, regardless of their status, he said.
“The application of the law should prevail, particularly that the regional developments require firmness and severity in dealing with those who want to ignite the fire of sedition, propagate acts of evil on the land and feed the terrorists in a bid to undermine achievements and target the safety of citizens and residents. We will never allow them to turn Bahrain, the oasis of security and stability, into a space for terrorism and destructive ideas and ideologies.”
Prince Khalifa said that he was grateful to all the religious, political, cultural and media figures who supported the government on the measures it had taken against those who broke the law, adding that such stances were motivated by deep patriotism and genuine keenness on security and stability.
