Al Wefaq's Shaikh Ali Salman verdict on May 30

Manama : The Supreme Appeals Court has set May 30 to announce its verdict on the appeal of Al Wefaq Islamic Society General Secretary, who is convicted of publically inciting hatred among a segment of society, insulting the Interior Ministry and encouraging non-compliance with the law. 

This came after almost a four-hour hearing, which saw the Public Prosecution projecting a picture of Shaikh Ali Salman with Hassan Nasrallah, the General Secretary of the terrorist Lebanese organisation Hezbollah.

Chief Prosecutor Osama Al-Oufi affirmed yesterday that the defendant had incited the use of force to topple the regime and invited foreign powers to intervene in Bahrain. The Chief Prosecutor played several clips of the defendant addressing the gatherings and inciting them against the regime. Shaikh Ali Salman was earlier sentenced to four years behind bars. 

His lawyers as well as the Public Prosecution have appealed the initial verdict, as they were not content with the outcome. The defendant, 49, was earlier referred to trial over public statements he made on several occasions. Among the evidences presented against him were recordings of public speeches between 2013-2014 that promoted political change, confronting State authorities, calls to stage unlawful protests, in addition to incitement to non-compliance with the law. 

 The High Criminal Court had earlier highlighted in its ruling several remarks he made publicly, including degrading the naturalised Bahraini citizens as well as terming them mercenaries. The court has also underlined that his remarks have nothing to do with freedom of speech. 

Prosecutors, however, weren’t content with him being acquitted of more serious charges.