Bahrain Mirror: Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society issued a statement on Wednesday (September 14, 2022) announcing that boycotting the formal coming elections has become a "national mission" and affirmed to citizens that "the regime thoroughly controls the details of elections which results in a meager parliament whose sole mission is to polish the image of corruption and crimes against human rights and consolidate the absence of a state of citizenship, institutions and law."

Below is the full statement:

The constitutional and political crisis between the regime and the people in Bahrain is widening, and the depth of the existing conflict and division is increasing as a result of the breakdown of the social contract between the two parties.

The ruling regime also continues to ignore state institutions and rely on authoritarian rule by force in order to impose a political, economic, security and societal reality, contrary to the desire and interest of the general people of Bahrain.

Besides, the regime has deliberately kept the security grip under which the majority of the people of Bahrain live in a state of security absence and threats at all levels.

Hence, Bahrain's elections are the worst experience in history, and the regime thoroughly controls its details, which results in a meager parliament whose sole mission is to polish the image of corruption and crimes against human rights and consolidate the absence of a state of citizenship, institutions and law.

Therefore, boycotting the meager elections enjoys a national consensus - unparalleled - and the national political factions of various orientations deem it as one of the chapters of persecution, discrimination, corruption, the appropriation of wealth and the obliteration of national identity.

Al-Wefaq affirms that boycotting the elections has become a national task that reflects love and belonging to the land of Bahrain and its national identity. It is the least that can be done in the face of injustice, corruption and tyranny.

The society reiterates that settlement in Bahrain is based on a comprehensive solution that grants citizens the full right to freely choose the form of the political system, which is recognised by international conventions - primarily the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the Bahrain government has signed.

Moreover, Al-Wefaq stresses the need to shift from an authoritarian regime to a democratic one - in which the people elect their government through sound democratic mechanisms - instead of appointed governments, which have proven their failure, inefficiency, and the lack of confidence of the general population after their failure to resolve various crises, but rather increase, inflate and exhaust the citizens.

Al-Wefaq holds the states that support the regime responsible, especially those who promote slogans of democracy and freedom, while in reality work to perpetuate tyranny and human rights crimes for narrow interests.

The people of Bahrain are confidently determined to continue to demand justice and democratic transformation and the upcoming electoral station increases their confidence and belief that the injustice they endure requires further work and determination to continue the struggle.

Arabic Version