Bahrain Mirror: Amnesty international called on the Bahraini authorities to release the Secretary-General of the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Sheikh Ali Salman, immediately and unconditionally and to quash his conviction, stressing that "he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression."

The organization reiterated in its recent statements its calls to "uphold the right to freedom of expression and repeal laws that criminalize the peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly."

Amnesty pointed out that the ongoing appeal against Salman's four-year sentence is an "unfair trial".

Sheikh Ali Salman's second appeal hearing took place on October 14, 2015 in the Bahraini capital, Manama.

"The judge denied the lawyers' request to play video recordings of Sheikh Ali Salman's speeches to demonstrate that excerpts used as evidence to sentence him were taken out of context, without giving any basis for this denial," Amnesty further stated.

It also added that the Public Prosecution "interrupted Sheikh Salman's defence pleadings. Sheikh Ali Salman was allowed to make a statement to the court in which he denied all the allegations against him and said that he was seeking political and constitutional change through peaceful means and was being prosecuted for his beliefs."

Amnesty also mentioned that "Sheikh Salman's right to confidential communication with the defence panel was violated. They were not allowed adequate facilities to prepare a defence which makes the trial lacks important element to a fair one."

Arabic Issue