Bahrain votes for new parliament but opposition is absent
Associated PressDUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Polls opened in Bahrain on Saturday to elect a new parliament, but absent from the ballot is the country’s Shiite-dominated opposition, whose most prominent figures are serving lengthy prison sentences. It’s the second election in Bahrain since mass protests led by the country’s Shiite majority erupted in early 2011. Human Rights Watch noted that in June, King Hamad signed legislation that disqualifies opposition candidates from these elections by banning anyone who belonged to a dissolved political organization or who was previously convicted and sentenced to more than six months in prison from running for political office. “By jailing or silencing people who challenge the ruling family and banning all opposition parties and independent news outlets, Bahrain is failing to create the conditions necessary for a free election,” said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
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