Opposition Condemns Israeli Delegation’s Trip to Bahrain
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Bahrain’s main opposition group, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, decried a trip by an Israeli delegation to the Persian Gulf country, saying the Bahraini people are against normalization of ties with the Zionist regime.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, al-Wefaq said Bahrainis are absolutely opposed to any move aimed at normalizing relations between the Manama and Tel Aviv regimes.
“The Bahraini government has welcomed an official delegation from the Zionist regime, showing no respect for the demands of the people, who are opposed to (receiving) such delegations,” the statement read.
This is because the Bahraini nation has been marginalized and has no role in decisions about domestic and foreign issues of the country, the opposition group said.
The Al Khalifa regime planned to host the Israeli delegation as part of a cooperation bid during FIFA’s 67th Congress, due to be held in the capital, Manama, on May 11.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, 12 Bahraini-based human rights institutions also had deplored the planned visit.
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
Amnesty International and many other international rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition groups and anti-regime protesters.
