Al-Khalifa Regime Extends Detention of Sheikh Salman to March 25
Local Editor
The Bahraini opposition leader, whose detention has sparked massive demonstrations in the Arab country, went on trial on Wednesday for a second time on alleged charges of plotting against the al-Khalifa regime.
Sheikh Ali Salman, the secretary general of Bahrain's main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, was taken to court under tight security with helicopters flying overhead.
According to Bahraini sources, security forces prevented journalists and opposition figures from entering the court.
However, some delegates from the US, British and French embassies were allowed in the courtroom.
The 3rd hearing of Salman is to be held on 25th March 2015.
The al-Khalifa regime has been pressing ahead with its crackdown on opposition, after it arrested Sheikh Salman on December 28.
The 49-year-old cleric is charged with "promoting regime change by force, threats, and illegal means, and of insulting the Interior Ministry publicly," said Bahraini prosecutor Nayef Mahmud.
In response to extending Sheikh Salman's jail, al-Wefaq opposition part said the court's decision to keep its Secretary General in arbitrary detention is unacceptable, highlighting that the Authority is moving towards widening the political crisis in Bahrain.
"Based on deterministic evidence, the case can only end with the innocence of Sheikh Ali Salman," al-Wefaq said, the continued detention puts thousands of explanation marks on the case.
"The trial has not been consistent with the principles of a fair trial from the start. Recently, Salman's defense panel made a request to show a film of Salman's speeches, in order to refute the charges that were based on selections cut out of context from these speeches to be used against him. The court refused the panel's request. This proves that al-Wefaq's Secretary General is a prisoner of conscience who is put to a trial that lacks the principles of a fair trial," al-Wefaq stated.
It further stressed that the trial is a serious matter and puts the world before a moral responsibility to act for the release of its Secretary General to prevent the dangerous consequences of further official suppression.
The uprising in Bahrain began on February 14, 2011. Protesters initially called for political reforms and a constitutional monarchy. However, the demand later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the al-Khalifa family following its deadly crackdown on popular protests.
Scores of people have been martyred in the crackdown and security forces have arrested hundreds including doctors and nurses. Dozens of demonstrators have also been sentenced to jail terms for attending street protests.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
Comments
- Related News
