Court denies request to release Ali Salman

Manama : Bahrain’s top court, the Cassation court, rejected yesterday a request to release Ali Salman, who was the General Secretary of the dissolved Al Wefaq Islamic Society. 

The defendant is serving a nine-year jail term for inciting hatred and regime change. He was earlier sentenced to four years in prison, but the High Criminal Appeals Court added another five years to his jail term after overturning an earlier acquittal for calling to change the regime by force. 

The Cassation Court has set October 17 to announce its verdict on the appeal of the defendant. The 49-year-old was earlier referred to trial over public statements he made on several occasions. 

Among the evidences presented were recordings of public speeches between 2013-2014 that promoted political change, confronting state authorities and calls to stage unlawful protests. 

The High Criminal Court earlier highlighted in its ruling several remarks he made publicly, including degrading the naturalised Bahraini citizens. 

The court has also underlined that his remarks have nothing to do with freedom of speech. Court documents stated that Ali Salman also helped implement the strategy of terror group February 14 Coalition.