Bahrain opposition party reelects chief

Bahrain’s main opposition bloc, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, has reelected Sheikh Ali Salman as its leader.

Al-Wefaq handed Sheikh Salman, 49, a new four-year stint at al-Wefaq’s general congress on Friday night. The meeting was held in compliance with a law on associations that led to a three-month ban on the opposition party.

The decision came one day after Bahrain’s Interior Ministry ordered Salman to appear before police investigators on Sunday. The ministry provided no explanation as to why the summons was issued.

On July 20, the kingdom’s Justice Ministry asked a court to suspend the activities of al-Wefaq “so that it can correct its legal status.”

The ministry claimed that the group has lost its legal status after the annulment of four of its general conferences and a failure to follow approved procedures.

On October 28, the Manama administrative court banned the activities of the opposition group and gave it three months to hold an assembly to elect its leaders.

The ruling came after al-Wefaq announced it was boycotting the parliamentary elections, which were held in the kingdom in November.

On November 29, the Manama regime held a runoff parliamentary vote amid a widespread boycott by main opposition groups, including al-Wefaq.

Bahrain has been the scene of almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011 when a pro-democracy uprising began in the kingdom.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have held numerous rallies in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

Bahrain has been severely criticized by human rights groups for its harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters, which has claimed the lives of scores of people so far.