High Administrative Court heard cases against Wa'ad and Al-Wefaq

MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the High Administrative Court of the Kingdom of Bahrain heard two cases filed against the National Democratic Action Society (Wa'ad) and Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister announced.

The Minister of Justice clarified that the primary court ruling is not yet enforced pending the society convening a general conference, in which the outstanding violations can be fully addressed in accordance with the law.

The High Administrative Court ruled that Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society was found to be in contravention of the law aimed at ensuring the transparency of political associations by failing to hold a legal general assembly and failing to make the necessary legal filings of the general assembly's outcomes. The verdict recognizes that the evidence submitted in the case warrants a three month suspension of the society in which it should regulate its situation in compliance with the law's provisions. The Minister of Justice clarified that the primary court ruling would not be enforced ahead of the society convening a general conference, in which the outstanding violations can be fully addressed in accordance with the law.

The court also decided to adjourn the case against (Wa'ad) to study and reply to documents submitted by the defence lawyer as proof that the association had convened its general conference in accordance with the law and chosen Radhi Al-Mousaoui as its secretary-general.

"The Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments gave the two associations a grace-period on September 17, 2014 to correct the violations," Political Associations Bureau Chief Abdulla Majid Al-Sheikh said.

The National Democratic Action Society (Wa'ad) has since convened its general conference and chosen a new secretary-general.

Meanwhile, Al-Wefaq failed to correct the violations which marred its general conferences in the period between the filing of the case in July 2014 and the court verdict which was handed out on October 28, 2014.

SOURCE Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain