Bahrain Mirror (AFP): Bahrain's king on Monday banned members of dissolved opposition parties from running for election, months ahead of parliamentary polls, the official BNA news agency said.

The amended law on "The Exercise of Political Rights" ratified by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa prohibits "leaders and members of political associations dissolved for violating the kingdom's constitution or its laws" from standing in parliamentary elections.

The new law on exercising political rights stipulates that any individual convicted of committing a felony is forbidden from running for parliament even if a special amnesty is granted or they have been rehabilitated.

An individual sentenced to imprisonment for intentional offenses for more than six months, even if a special amnesty has been granted, is also barred from running in elections.

Actual leaders and members of political societies, which have been dissolved by a final judgment for committing serious violations of the provisions of the constitution of the Kingdom or any of its laws, were also listed in the ratified law.

Finally, any individual who intentionally harms or disrupts the constitutional or parliamentary process by terminating or leaving parliamentary work in the Council of Representatives or their membership will lose their right to participate in elections.

King Hamad's decision on Monday effectively blocks Bahrain's opposition from taking part in parliamentary elections likely to take place in November.

The revision comes as Bahrain prepares to renew its 40-seat parliament this fall.

Arabic Version