Bahrain Mirror: Bahrain's high criminal court adjourned on Thursday (December 28, 2017) the trial of opposition leader and Al-Wefaq Secretary-General Sheikh Ali Salman over charge of "communicating with Qatar" until January 4, 2018, to listen to witnesses.

The Public Prosecution said that the court held its session in which Sheikh Ali Salman and two other Al-Wefaq leaders (Ali Al-Aswad and Sheikh Hassan Sultan) are accused of "communicating with Qatar". Sheikh Salman (currently detained) attended the session along with his lawyers who requested more time to study and hear witnesses' testimonies.

The Public Prosecution requested to extend the legal protection for the witnesses. The court decided to adjourn the case until January 4, 2018 to hear the testimonies of the first and fourth witnesses, and assign one of the jury members to hear testimonies of the second and third witnesses who are also included under the legal protection. The court handed the defendant a complete copy of the case papers.

Sheikh Ali Salman and the two Al-Wefaq leaders Sheikh Hasssan Sultan and Ali Al-Aswad are prosecuted over charge of "colluding with Qatar" on the background of calls with Qatari leaders in February and March 2011, after a US-Qatari initiative to contain the protests in the country.

Arabic Version