A image obtained by L'Orient-Le Jour shows an invitation to a Bahraini opposition event organized in Beirut on Monday.
BEIRUT — An event critical of the Bahraini government and hosted by a Bahraini opposition group went ahead Monday night in the Beirut suburb of Ghobeiry. The event was held despite an order from Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi last week directing security forces to cancel this event and another similar one.
Here’s what we know:
• The event titled “United for Justice” was hosted by Bahraini Shiite opposition group al-Wifaq took place at 7 p.m. in the Rihab neighborhood of Ghobeiry in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. The group says the event was aimed at marking 11 years since Bahrain witnessed a “peaceful and popular movement demanding justice, freedom and democratic transition.”
• On Thursday, Mawlawi asked the police to prevent this event and another similar pro-Bahraini opposition event from taking place. He justified the move by saying that the events “would offend the authorities of Bahrain and the Gulf countries” and added that his decision was in line with the “Kuwaiti initiative,” under which Lebanon pledged to prevent any offense against the Gulf states.
• Late last year, Mawlawi ordered the deportation of non-Lebanese members of al-Wifaq after a press conference held by Bahrain’s main opposition group angered the Gulf monarchy.
• Lebanon has been trying to mend its relations with several Gulf monarchies following their breakdown in October after the broadcast of comments made by then-Information Minister George Kurdahi that were critical of Saudi involvement in the war in Yemen.