Bahrain: Al-Wefaq pulls out of National Dialogue for two weeks

Bahrain’s main opposition party Al-Wefaq said on 22 May that it was pulling out of the National Dialogue for two weeks, in protest at the lack of constructive negotiations and ongoing government repression. “After its long forbearance to the deliberate delay and absence of positive response by the official party on the dialogue table, and after the escalated repression which has reached its peak by attacking Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim’s house... Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, in co-ordination with the national democratic opposition parties, declares it will temporarily stop attending the dialogue’s preparation sessions for two weeks,” an emailed statement said.