Bahrain sentenced opposition
leader Sheikh Ali Salman to four years in jail on Tuesday on
charges of inciting unrest, his supporters and government
officials said.
Salman is the most senior figure in the Sunni Muslim-ruled
kingdom's Shi'ite opposition to be jailed since anti-government
protests erupted in 2011, at the height of the region's "Arab
Spring" uprisings.
"The high criminal court today issued a ruling of
imprisonment for 4 years against the secretary general of a
political society," the public prosecutor said on its official
Twitter account.
Salman, who was not named in the statement, was convicted on
charges of "explicit incitement against a group of the people,
including disturbing the public peace and explicit incitement
toward disobeying the law," according to the prosecutor.
The al Wefaq Islamic Society headed by Salman, a 49-year old
Shi'ite cleric, confirmed he had been sentenced and condemned
the ruling.
"The regime is pushing toward aggravation and issued a
sentence of four years for the Bahraini opposition leader Sheikh
Ali Salman," the party wrote on its Twitter account.
Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet, has experienced
sporadic turmoil since the mass protests in 2011 led by majority
Shi'ites demanding reforms and a bigger role in government. That
uprising was put down with military help from Saudi Arabia.
The island kingdom says it has made significant political
reforms and increased oversight of security forces. Opponents
say abuses continue.
With a political accord between the government and
opposition remaining elusive, there has been an increase in
deadly bomb attacks on Bahraini security forces.
Amnesty International called on Bahrain on Monday to free
Salman, calling him a "prisoner of conscience" and saying he had
not received a fair trial.
The prosecution accused Salman of promoting the overthrow of
the political system by force, inciting violence and supporting
attacks that caused the deaths of 14 policemen. He denies the
charges and has dismissed the trial as bid to muzzle dissent.
In a statement on Monday, the government said the "serious
charges" against Salman were rightly regarded as a criminal
offense, and that he had received a fair trial.
"Ali Salman's case relates to criminal charges, specifically
incitement of hatred, as well as inciting violence. The charges
and subsequent trial are wholly unrelated to any political views
he may hold," the government statement said.
REUTERS