Saudi-backed Bahraini regime arrests leader of al-Wefaq opposition bloc

Bahrain’s main opposition bloc, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, says the Al Khalifa regime forces have arrested its secretary general following hours of interrogation.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, al-Wefaq announced that Sheikh Ali Salman, 49, was detained following 10 hours of questioning by Bahrain’s criminal police.

The statement further described any move against Salman as serious and uncalculated adventurism, which would complicate the political and security landscape in Bahrain.

Sheikh Salman was summoned to the criminal investigation department on Sunday morning and questioned about “violating certain aspects of the law,” Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The development came as Sheikh Salman, 49, secured a new four-year stint at al-Wefaq’s general congress on Friday night.

On July 20, Bahraini 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.

Al-Wefaq announced it was boycotting parliamentary elections, which were held in the kingdom in November.

Bahrain has been the scene of almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, when an uprising began in the kingdom. Since mid-February 2011, thousands of protesters have held numerous rallies in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.