GCC condemns Iran’s interference in Bahrain's affairs

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al-Zayani said yesterday that on behalf of the GCC countries, he rejects “all foreign interference in the council’s countries internal affairs”, especially “statements issued by the Iranian foreign ministry”.

Al-Zayani stressed that the Iranian remarks were “unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain”.

Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Al-Zayani as saying that “the ongoing investigation in Bahrain is based on laws and regulations enacted in Bahrain for a long time without exception, confirming the fairness and efficiency of the judicial authorities in Bahrain”.

Iran’s foreign ministry commented on investigations conducted by Bahraini authorities with an official in Al-Wefaq National Islamic Association. On Tuesday, Al-Wefaq announced that Bahrain’s public prosecution ordered the imprisonment of its Secretary-General Ali Salman for a week pending investigations.

Nayef Youssef Mahmoud, the Attorney General said the secretary-general of a political association had been questioned on charges of “promoting to change the political system by force, threats and incitement, non-compliance with the law and incitement to hate a sect and humiliating a public statutory body,” the Anadolu Agency reported. He did not name the person being question.

Mahmoud pointed out four of the defendant’s lawyers attended the investigation.

Bahrain witnessed protests in February 14, 2011, which the Bahraini authorities say were fuelled by Al-Wefaq.

The Association said it demands the application of real constitutional monarchy in the country and to have an elected government, arguing that the King’s absolute authority make the current constitutional monarchy a sham.

The government accuses the opposition of following an Iranian agenda, a charge they denied.