Manama: Bahrain’s Court of Appeals has postponed to November 12 its consideration of two appeals submitted separately by the public prosecutor and Ali Salman, the secretary general of Al Wefaq National Islamic Society.
The appeals were lodged following the verdict that convicted the defendant of “promoting the change of the political system by force and threats, inciting publicly to hating a sect which would disrupt public peace, instigating noncompliance with the law, committing acts that constitute crimes and defaming a statutory body,” Advocate General Haroon Al Zayani said.
“The Public Prosecution made the charges against the defendant after investigations confirmed that he promoted regime change by force and threats and through illegal means, in his sermons and the speeches he delivered in various events and gatherings and which included extremist statements that justify the acts of violence and sabotage and consider disobedience to the regime as a form of jihad and a religious duty,” Al Zayani said.
“The investigation has shown that the defendant escalated his criminal acts to the point that he repeatedly threatened to resort to military force and stated publicly that the military alternative is still considered, stressing the possibility of resorting to this option, like some factions and sects did in the region,” he said.
The inquiry also revealed that the defendant called upon major powers to interfere in Bahrain’s internal affairs to support the change of the regime, which was established by virtue of the constitution, claiming that such a change would serve the interests of these countries, Al Zayani added.
Recorded sermons
“The Public Prosecution examined the recorded sermons and speeches attributed to the defendant, questioned him in the presence of four lawyers and confronted him. In his sermons and speeches, he also called explicitly for non-compliance with the law regulating the locations of rallies, and urged the so-called, and now dissolved Council of Ulema, to continue exercising its activities and disregard the court verdict stating its dissolution,” he said.
“He also incited openly against naturalised Bahrainis, denied their loyalty to the country, described them as mercenaries and claimed that they usurped the shares of original citizens in the country’s resources and services, even suggesting that the naturalised Bahrainis may be deported from the country in coffins.”
Al Zayani in his statement said Ali Salman advised the opposition to follow in the steps of the Syrian opposition and turn the country into a military battlefield.
The Public Prosecution referred the defendant to the court of first instance, which convicted him and sentenced him to four years in jail, based on the above-mentioned counts of charges and acquitted him of one charge, he added.
Ali Salman was in June sentenced to four years in jail after he was found guilty of charges “relating to publicly inciting hatred, an act which disturbed public peace, inciting non-compliance with the law and insulting public institutions”.
However, the charge of inciting political change by force was dropped by the court, prompting the public prosecution to lodge an appeal and seek “a tougher sentence that is commensurate with the gravity of the crimes”.
Ali Salman’s lawyers also appealed the ruling and called for the release of their client. At the trial on Wednesday, Advocate General Osama Al Oufi, from the Public Prosecution, demanded the rejection of the appeal lodged by the defendant and called on the court to accept the appeal filed by the Public Prosecution.
Al Oufi also opposed calls for the release of the defendant.
