Bahrain opposition group told to disband

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A court in Bahrain ordered the country’s last main opposition group dissolved and its property confiscated on Wednesday in the latest blow to reformers and dissenting voices in the Middle Eastern island-nation.

The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said the political society known as Waad plans to appeal the ruling. Waad confirmed the court order for its dissolution on its official Twitter account.

The Justice Ministry had opened proceedings to dissolve the 15-year-old group, alleging that Waad incited acts of terrorism, promoted the violent overthrow of the Sunni-led government and “glorified convicted terrorists and saboteurs.” The government used similarly broad wording to dissolve the country’s largest Shiite opposition group, al-Wefaq.

Bahrain is a majority Shiite nation ruled by a Sunni monarchy with close ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which sent forces to help quell an Arab Springstyle uprising in 2011.

Bahrain accuses Shiite-ruled Iran, which lies across the Persian Gulf waters, of arming and training some protesters to destabilize the country. Shiite militant groups have claimed responsibility for some deadly attacks on police, however Iran denies it has trained or assisted groups in Bahrain.