Bahrain Questions Sheikh Salman, Jails 57 Men

Local Editor

Bahrain's prosecutor general summoned Sheikh Ali Salman, the jailed leader of the main opposition bloc, in connection with messages posted on Twitter.

The prosecutor general summoned Salman from prison, where he is serving a sentence for inciting disobedience, for questioning about "violations" posted on his Twitter account, the official BNA news agency reported on Sunday.

It later said that Sheikh Salman denied any wrongdoing and that the prosecutor decided not to press charges and ordered him returned to prison to serve the rest of his sentence.

The prosecution also ordered an investigation into who was behind the tweets which, according to BNA, "incited" against the government and called for demonstrations, AFP reported.

Sheikh Salman's Al-Wefaq bloc earlier denounced the summoning of its chief by the prosecution, saying it "violates the Bahraini constitution and national law, as well as international covenants related to freedom of opinion and expression".

The opposition chief was sentenced on June 16 to four years in jail after being convicted of inciting disobedience and hatred.

An appeals court is reviewing that conviction, but the prosecution is demanding the annulment of his acquittal on the more serious charge of plotting to overthrow the regime and seeking a tougher sentence.

A ruling on the appeal is expected on March 30.

Al-Wefaq renewed earlier calls for its leader to be released "immediately".

Separately, a court in Bahrain on Monday added 15-year jail terms to the sentences of 57 Shiite inmates involved in a prison mutiny, a judicial source said.

The inmates were convicted of rioting and mutiny following unrest last March at Jaw prison south of the capital Manama, the source said.

The charges included "disobeying orders and forcing guards out of the prisoners' buildings" and then "destroying furniture, air conditioners and security cameras", the source said.

Security forces finally stormed the buildings and clashed with the rioting prisoners, resulting in casualties among police and inmates, the source added.

Al-Wasat newspaper said the defendants were also fined a total of 508,187 dinars [$1.35 million].

It was not clear what caused the riot in Bahrain's largest prison that is used for Shiites convicted over anti-government protests.

Human Rights Watch called last May for an independent investigation into allegations that security forces used "excessive force" to quell the unrest at the jail and later mistreated prisoners.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team