Bahrain bans 2 Tunisian Nobel laureates over Hezbollah row

Bahrain has denied entry to two members of Tunisia’s General Labour Union (UGTT), joint winners of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.

Noureddine Taboubi and Abdelkrim Jrad were prevented from entering the country because of a row over the Lebanese group, Hezbollah.

Spokesperson for the UGTT, Sami Tahri said the were going to the Bahraini trade union congress on March 5.

Bahrain denies entry to Tunisian Nobel Prize winners over Hezbollah row – Al-Bawaba https://t.co/wrt90yj74U #Bahrain

— Bahrain RSS (@RSS_Bahrain) March 7, 2016

Tahri told Mosaic FM, the two were banned because of the UGTT ‘s rejection of the classification of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.

He described the ban as “undemocratic” and “contrary to international law’ adding that “there are always countries which are against any free and independent positions.”

The UGTT’s comment followed an earlier statement by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) which labeled Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The Arab bloc comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The UGTT said the Saudi-led move by the [P]GCC against Hezbollah was part of “an offensive by foreign and other regional forces to divide the Arab world and destroy its forces.”

PressTV Israel makes the bloody rules

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Hezbollah has denounced the designation and described the [P]GCC member states as “reckless and hostile.”

Head of the Tunisian Order of Lawyers has called on all forces in Tunisia and in the Arab world to exert pressure on governments to reconsider their decision.