Bahrain Mirror: The General Secretariat of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society demanded on (January 12, 2015) to "respect the religious peculiarities of the Shiite sect, which is a significant part of respecting religious rituals," adding that "it is the government's duty to guarantee that the freedom of religious rituals is not violated." It further stressed that "compromising these clear limits leads the country to another crisis adding it to the list of accumulated crises on various levels."

The secretariat highlighted in its meeting the danger that lies behind the decision taken by the "government in a unilateral manner marginalizing all parties to lift the subsidies on gasoline by 60% in a step that all Bahraini factions said targets the citizens and their livelihood."

It also criticized what it described as "an official inclination towards throwing the burdens on the citizens' shoulders that resulted from the massive faults in the government's management, distribution of fortune and absence of an economic plan. Also, the government's disregard of the priorities to counter corruption and corruptors, regain stolen resources, put an end to the wastage of public money and rearrange the priorities of expenses.

The secretariat pointed out the "warnings made by the opposition, over a decade ago, regarding the necessity to diversify the income sources and allow the people to take part in decision-making process in matters affecting their fate," stressing that Bahrain has reached this period due to the monopoly, exclusiveness, lack of transparency and depriving citizens from taking fateful decisions.

The secretariat further stated that the crisis can be solved through launching a real and serious dialogue that leads to an inclusive political solution that achieves the demands of Bahrainis, reiterating its call for a genuine and meaningful dialogue.

As for obliging the owners of institutions and establishments to install surveillance cameras and security surveillance equipment linked to the Ministry of Interior, the secretariat saw that this step comes within the framework of  a security policy that exhausts the country, increases the economic costs burdening the citizens and proves that Bahrain has changed into a country where citizens fear security concerns in all their movements.

Al-Wefaq added that this decision regarding the kingdom's security only imposes restrictions on the citizens' freedoms and violates their privacy and proves the absence of trust between the people and authorities.

Arabic Issue