Dubai: The spokesperson for a group of young activists who was detained over an “offensive” tweet he posted has been released on guarantee of his place of residence.
Yacoub Slaiss, who was the public voice of Al Fateh Youth Coalition (FYC), a group that often supported the government, will have to appear in court on October 19 for the first hearing.
The activist was investigated for claiming on Twitter that “military personnel received orders” to vote in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, and called for the alleged meddling in elections to be criminalised.
Bahrain’s Shiite-dominated opposition has been a vocal opponents of the right of military personnel to vote, which is guaranteed under electoral laws. The opposition claims that such practices guarantee votes in favour of pro-government candidates.
Slaiss was allowed to go home on Monday evening. He was previously the spokesperson for the National Unity Gathering, set up in 2011 as Bahrain’s most dramatic events in recent years were unfolding. However, he and other young activists formed their own movement that has been more vocal in its remarks.
Bahrain will hold parliamentary elections later this year, the fourth since the adoption of a new constitution that turned the country into a constitutional monarchy.
Elections were held in 2002, 2006 and 2010, with massive by-elections in 2011 after Al Wefaq Islamist Society, an opposition society represented by 18 members in the 40-seat Council of Representatives, walked out.
Under Bahrain’s election laws, men and women in uniform are allowed to cast ballots.
