Manama – Bahraini High Criminal Court announced it will deliver its verdict in the case against al-Wefaq Society next week.

Wefaq’s defense team didn’t attend the session and had walked out last month on June 28 in protest at the government’s push to accelerate the process originally scheduled to begin in October.

According to law of political associations, the court must issue a verdict within no longer than 30 days.

Wefaq is currently under judicial arrest issued by court in June 14.

Wefaq faces charges of harboring “terrorism”, inciting hatred, promoting disobedience and insulting public institutions.

Ministry of Justice has accused the association of providing a haven for “terrorism, radicalization and violence” and opening the way for “foreign interference” in the kingdom’s affairs.

In June 2015, High Criminal Court issued the initial verdict on the charges of publicly inciting hatred against a segment of the society, calling for non-compliance with the law and denigrating the interior ministry by describing its affiliates as mercenaries and claiming some of them were members of terrorist groups.

The association also backed the banned al-Wafa’ Islamic Movement for its terrorist and violent behavior. Wefaq also supported Islamic Action Society (Amal) that has been dissolved.

Of the charges facing Wefaq is challenging the legitimacy of the parliament. The association had repeatedly described the parliament as illegitimate and a “non-democratic institution” and “current cabinet and parliament lack public consent.”

Wefaq is also accused of contempt of court where it had said, “Judicial system proves once again it is not independent.”

In addition, Wefaq is accused of inciting hatred towards security forces which led to the death of 18 security officers and injury of over three thousand.

Furthermore, Wefaq had transformed houses of worships into political platforms to express its opinions and continued having relations with the dissolved scholars’ society.