Bahrain Mirror: The German Foreign Ministry has expressed great concern over a Bahraini court verdict (issued on July 17, 2016), dissolving the largest opposition political group in Bahrain, Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, and charges raised against the Shia spiritual leader in the country, Sheikh Isa Qassim.

On these most recent developments in the Gulf kingdom, a German Federal Foreign Office spokesperson issued a statement. "We have noted with unease the dissolution of the Bahraini opposition party Al Wefaq with yesterday's ruling by the High Civil Court in Bahrain. The charge brought by the public prosecution office against Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim also gives us great cause for concern," read the statement.

"These measures targeting the opposition threaten to further polarise Bahraini society," the spokesperson further stressed in the statement. "They also raise serious questions with regard to freedom of opinion and association as well as the rule of law in Bahrain," added the spokesperson.

"We appeal to the Bahraini Government to involve the country's opposition in a national dialogue," concluded the statement.

Arabic Version