Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini High Appeal Court adjourned today (December 4, 2016) the sentencing hearing of the opposition leader and Secretary General of the dissolved Al-Wefaq Society, Sheikh Ali Salman, until December 12 for further deliberation.

This is the second time the appeal court looks into the case. The cassation court had overturned on October 17, 2016 the prison sentence issued against Sheikh Salman, referring the case once again to the appeal court.

Sheikh Ali Salman was arrested on December 28, 2014 after hearing his statement at the General Directorate of the Criminal Investigations Department. On June 16, 2015, the High Criminal Court acquitted the opposition leader of charges of attempt to overthrow the regime by force, yet sentenced him to two years in prison over charges of inciting hatred against a sect and insulting the Interior Ministry. The court also issued a two-year prison sentence against him over disobedience of the law.

The High Appeal Court, presided over by one of the ruling family members, Mohammad bin Ali Al Khalifa, toughened the sentence against Sheikh Salman on May 30, 2016 from 4 to 9 years of imprisonment.

Arabic Version