ABU DHABI // Bahrain’s opposition suspended participation in reconciliation talks with the government and other political groups yesterday after the second-highest ranking member of the Shiite political group Al Wefaq was arrested.
Khalil Al Marzouq will remain in prison for 30 days while he is being investigated for inciting anti-government violence, the public prosecutor’s office said yesterday.
The arrest comes just days after several new regulations were imposed on political groups, including restrictions on contact with foreign diplomats and organisations.
“In the light of all these violations … [the opposition] has decided to suspend its participation in the national dialogue,” five opposition groups said in a statement yesterday, referring talks between all the major political forces in Bahrain aimed at calming tensions on the island.
Police allege that Mr Marzouq, who was arrested on Tuesday, supported the 14 February Coalition, a youth opposition movement that the government considers a terror organisation.
Mr Marzouq is accused of “inciting and promoting terrorist acts, advocating principles which incite such acts, supporting violence committed by the terrorist coalition, and legally justifying criminal activities”, the prosecutor’s statement said.
The investigation will focus on a speech Mr Marzouq gave on September 6, during which he allegedly raised the flag of the 14 February Coalition, the statement said.
Mr Marzouq was “charged under the Law for Protecting the Community from Terrorist Acts, with inciting and advocating terrorism, and using his leadership position in a legally organised political society to incite crimes,” public prosecutor Nayef Yousif said.
The 14 February Coalition emerged after anti-government protests flared on the island in 2011. Thousands of mostly Shiite opposition demonstrators took to the streets calling for greater political and economic inclusion.
Small-scale protests still take place almost daily in Shiite villages outside the capital. And the coalition routinely encourages members to resist the security forces by blocking roads with burning tyres.
But the official political opposition, led by Mr Marzouq’s political society Al Wefaq, has denounced the use of violence and repeatedly called for peaceful civil disobedience.
Al Wefaq called Mr Marzouq’s arrest a “serious and dangerous escalation taken by the regime in Bahrain”. At a news conference yesterday, the group of six opposition groups said it would organise demonstrations tomorrow.
A UK-educated IT manager, Mr Marzouq has often been a public face of the opposition as its international spokesman.
In 2011, he led the opposition’s delegation to a national dialogue aimed at finding a political solution to the crisis.
The negotiations were reopened in February this year, but they stumbled amid growing street violence and the arrest of opposition activists.
With the withdrawal of the opposition, the dialogue’s future is now uncertain.
Also yesterday, Bahrain’s head of public security, Maj Gen Tariq Hassan Al Hassan, said a policeman injured in an August 17 bombing had died.
Amer Abdulkhalid “succumbed to his wounds” while in hospital, Mr Al Hassan said.
Bahrain’s government yesterday denied media reports that Mr Marzooq had been detained for political activities.
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Tonight's Chat on The National
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Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
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Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
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Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
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