Bahrain on Monday dismissed as “unacceptable interference” U.S. and British criticism of its decision to dissolve the main Shi’ite Muslim opposition party, as senior clerics warned the Shi’ite majority was under threat.
Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet, said a court’s decision on Sunday to dissolve the al-Wefaq opposition group, accused of helping foster violence and terrorism, was “just” and “transparent”, state news agency BNA reported.
The move against al-Wefaq was one of several steps taken by the Sunni-led government against its opponents that have drawn international criticism, including revoking the citizenship of the country’s Shi’ite spiritual leader Ayatollah Isa Qassim.
“Bahrain expresses its deep regret at the statements from the British foreign secretary and U.S. State Department and considers them as unacceptable interference in its internal affairs,” said BNA.
Close ally Britain expressed deep concern at Sunday’s ruling and a statement by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson urged Bahrain to guarantee political freedoms for all its citizens.
The U.S. State Department said the government’s recent steps to “suppress nonviolent opposition” undermined Bahrain’s and the region’s stability, and strained America’s partnership with its Gulf ally.
Bahrain said it wanted to take into account the interests of its allies and partners to preserve “distinctive and historical relations” with them.
The Gulf country has a Shi’ite majority but a Sunni Muslim-led government, mainly drawn from the ruling al-Khalifa family.
