Inciting hatred: Activist pleads not guilty

Manama

Former secretary general of the National Democratic Action Society (Wa'ad) has pleaded not guilty to inciting the overthrow of the government as he appeared for the first time before the High Criminal Court following his arrest on July 12. Ibrahim Sharif is facing also charges of inciting violence, hatred and sectarianism.  Mr. Sharif was nabbed in connection with a speech he gave in July during an event. 

Represented by the same group of lawyers who defended Ali Salman, Al Wefaq Islamic Society secretary general, Mr. Sharif denied before the court that he had incited to topple the regime with the use of force, stating that he is against violence. "I believe that violence stain the political life as well as the social fabric. 

My speech didn't touch the regime, but I admit to criticising the government in a part of it as well as urging for a political resolution for the unrest and to a national reconciliation," he said while reading from a piece of paper.  

Mr. Sharif claimed that he has a bad blood with the prosecutor who questioned him after he refused to meet his order to sign an obligation after being released under a royal pardon. 

"I told him that royal pardon was unconditional," he added.  The High Criminal Court, however, has declined the defence's request to release him on bail. His trial was adjourned to October 12 for review.    

Mr Sharif was only released from jail in June after serving just over four years of a five-year prison sentence. He was one of 21 men convicted in 2011 in connection with a plot to overthrow the government with help from abroad.

Some were jailed for life, but he was found not guilty of the more serious charges and was sentenced to five years for espionage in connection with the topple attempt.