Bahrain has imposed new tough restrictions on the opposition, banning political groups from meeting with foreign diplomats without government permission.
According to a decree by Bahrain Justice Minister Sheik Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa on Tuesday, all contacts between Bahraini political groups and diplomatic missions and consulates in Bahrain, foreign organizations, and representatives of foreign governments must be done in coordination with the Foreign Ministry.

It also says that a government representative must attend any meeting between Bahraini political groups and foreign diplomats.

The order also requires political groups to obtain government permission to meet international organizations outside Bahrain.

The new set of rules apparently aims to limit the activities of Shia opposition groups that have played a leading role in a more than 30-month uprising in the Persian Gulf nation.

Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, demanding political reforms and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more detained since the popular uprising in Bahrain began.

Protesters say they will continue holding anti-regime demonstrations until their demands for the establishment of a democratically-elected government and an end to rights violations are met.

By Press TV

 

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