Amnesty urges Bahrain to release imprisoned opposition leader

Amnesty International on Wednesday called on the Bahraini government to release without delay detained Shia opposition leader, saying that If he is convicted, the organization would consider him a prisoner of conscience.

MENA

2 min read

Al-Araby al-Jadeed/AFP

07 January, 2015

Widespread protests greeted the arrested of Bahrain's opposition leader [AFP]

Amnesty International urged Bahraini authorities to release the leader of the main Shia opposition bloc, whose detention earlier sparked protests and widespread condemnation.

The London-based watchdog called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Ali Salman, the head of the influential Al-Wefaq movement who was arrested on December 28 on charges including seeking regime change.

In a statement, the group said it considers Salman's detention "a flagrant violation of his right to freedom of expression, association and assembly" and urged the Bahraini authorities "to release him immediately and unconditionally".

If convicted, the organisation would consider him a prisoner of conscience.
- Amnesty International.

Upon his arrest, young men and women from Sheikh Salman's district in the capital Manama, took to the streets in protest. The demonstrations turned violent with police firing bird-shorts and tear gas, injuring several people.

Western-allied Bahrain has been engulfed by political tension since security forces repressed Arab Spring protests in 2011. Bahrain's majority Shia Muslim community demand an end to decades of discrimination, calling for reforms and a bigger share in the government of the Sunni-ruled kingdom, where the US Fifth Fleet is based.

"If convicted, the organisation would consider him a prisoner of conscience," the rights group said.

Salman was remanded in custody on Monday for two more weeks pending investigation.

Prosecutors allege that Salman confessed to contacting foreign regimes and political groups abroad, some of whom had "expressed readiness" to interfere in Bahrain's affairs.

Al-Wefaq opposition group is accused by the kingdom and its allies of having links with and being directed by the Iranian regime.

At least 89 people have been killed in clashes with security forces since the protests were crushed in 2011.

Hundreds have also been arrested and put on trial, human rights groups say.