Bahraini forces nab member of opposition group
Security forces in Bahrain have arrested a member of the nation’s main opposition group, al-Wefaq
Hussein Sehwan, who has been a representative of the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, was arrested ahead of a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
The meeting between the UN envoy and Bahrain’s civil society groups was scheduled for Thursday evening.
Al-Wefaq has condemned the arrest, blaming the regime for targeting what it calls the freedom of opinion and expression. The group says Sehwan has been arrested for participating in the February 15th anti-government rallies.
Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have staged numerous demonstrations in the streets of the country, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.
On February 15, a mass anti-government demonstration, organized by al-Wefaq, was held in the capital Manama, one day after protestors marked the third anniversary of the uprising against the Al Khalifa regime.
On February 14, several demonstrators were wounded and over two dozen others arrested by security forces. On the same day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the Bahraini regime to respect its “international human rights obligations” in dealing with peaceful protests in the kingdom.