Amnesty ‘concerned’ over Bahrain opposition crackdown

DUBAI: Amnesty International said on Friday it was "gravely concerned" by Bahrain’s suppression of political opposition, a day ahead of the parliamentary election.

"Over the past two years, the crackdown in Bahrain has seen the political opposition detained, intimidated and silenced," said Devin Kenney, the rights group’s Bahrain researcher, in a statement.

"We call on the authorities to stop this ongoing and escalating repression and to allow free expression of dissenting voices, including those who oppose the monarchy. "Bahrain’s international partners and allies cannot remain silent, and must use their influence to pressure the Bahraini authorities to adhere to the international standards they have committed to," Kenney said.

The Gulf kingdom has been hit by waves of unrest since 2011, when security forces crushed protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister. Opposition movements have been outlawed and hundreds of dissidents have been imprisoned -- with many stripped of their nationality.

Bahrain’s two main opposition groups -- the Al-Wefaq and secular Waad -- are prohibited from submitting parliamentary candidates. Sheikh Ali Salman, who headed the Al-Wefaq group, was sentenced to life in prison on November 4 for spying for rival Gulf state Qatar, in a ruling rights groups have called a travesty.

Bahraini authorities accuse Iran of provoking unrest in the kingdom. Tehran denies the allegation. Human rights groups have frequently said cases against activists in Bahrain -- men and women, religious and secular -- fail to meet the basic standards of fair trials.