Appeals Court Upholds 2-Year Prison Sentence Handed down to Sheikh Abdul Zahraa Al-Mubasher over "Inciting Hatred against the Regime"

2016-03-30 - 3:37 ص

Bahrain Mirror: The Third High Criminal Appeals Court, presided over by judge Rashid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa with the memberships of judges Saber Jomaa and Bader Al-Abdullah and Mubarak Al-Anbar as secretariat, upheld the verdict issued against a Shiite cleric, Sheikh Abdul Zahraa Al-Mubasher, sentencing him to two years in prison over charges of inciting hatred against the regime and insulting  a figure (Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan) venerated by a certain sect.

After his arrest, Al-Mubasher (37 years old) said that he received a phone call from a person who represents the residents of Al-Nuwaidrat, asking him to attend a gathering during Ashura and deliver a religious sermon. He further stated that he prepared a purely religious speech and on the specified date, he delivered the exact speech, but when he saw how enthusiastic the audience was, he began to improvise, addressing a number of political issues.

Sheikh Al-Mubasher stressed that he urged the people attending the gathering to stage demonstrations and rallies, and said that he mentioned Muawiya to refer to a historical event, being aware that he is a figure revered by the followers of the Sunni sect. He also said that he supports the demand for establishing a republic with peaceful means.

The Public Prosecution accused Al-Sheikh Al-Mubasher of publicly inciting hatred and contempt against the system of governance on October 17, 2015, also promoting disobedience of the law, insulting a figure revered by a certain sect and called for unlicensed demonstrations and rallies. A court of first instance had sentenced him to two years in prison on December 10, 2015, which was later appealed against.

Arabic Version


التعليقات
التعليقات المنشورة لا تعبر بالضرورة عن رأي الموقع

comments powered by Disqus