Today’s rally, dubbed “freedom for the prisoners of conscience”, comes shortly after a court upheld jail sentences for 13 opposition activists, convicted of attempting to overthrow the regime in the Gulf kingdom.
“The right to rally is guaranteed under international and local laws and no one has the right to confiscate this right,” Majeed Milad, a member of the main opposition group, Al Wefaq, told a press conference.
He added that the authorities had verbally notified the opposition of the ban, but failed to provide written notice as required by law.
Hassan Marzooq, another opposition activist, said that leaders of five opposition groups would take part in the rally.
Human rights groups and Bahrain’s Western allies have repeatedly called for the release of the imprisoned activists, whose sentences range from five years to life in prison.
Bahrain last year witnessed mass protests led by the country’s Shia Muslim majority to demand more rights from the ruling Sunni royal family.
Opposition and human rights groups say at least 90 people have been killed and 2,000 arrested in the government crackdown on the demonstrators.
