Bahrain bans major opposition group

Bahrain's court on Tuesday suspended all the activities of the main Shiite opposition group, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, for three months, just less than one month before the coming parliamentary elections.
The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry filed a lawsuit against the opposition society in July this year, accusing it of adopting a peculiar endorsement concept by giving a " committee set up within it and headed by a religious man, the right to accept or reject candidates for the post of secretary- general and deputy secretary-general."
The ministry maintains that all decisions taken by Al Wefaq following these meetings were invalid.
On Tuesday, the High Administrative Court ordered that the society's all activities be halted for three months.
"These are attempts to target groups that want to resolve the political stalemate peacefully for the rights of citizens," Al Wefaq said in a statement after the court verdict.
Earlier in October, five main opposition groups, led by Al Wefaq, announced to boycott the parliamentary elections slated for Nov. 22. They said the government was not in genuine reconciliation efforts after the 2011 protests against the Sunni monarchy, which was largely participated by the kingdom's Shiite majority.