Bahrain

Bahrain summons jailed Salman for tweets, calling them ‘violations’

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Bahraini authorities have summoned the jailed leader of the main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, over his recent tweets, calling them “violations.”

On Sunday, Bahraini prosecutor general questioned senior Shia cleric Sheikh Ali Salman over alleged violations in what he has recently posted on his twitter account, the official Bahrain news agency reported.

No new charges were brought against Salman and the prosecutor ordered him to be returned to prison.

Earlier in the day, a Bahraini official referred Salman to the public prosecution over the tweets.

Meanwhile, the al-Wefaq bloc slammed the summoning, saying it violates Bahrain’s constitution and is “against all international conventions related to freedom of opinion and expression, which Manama has pledged to abide by.”

It also called for the cessation of such investigations and the immediate release of Salman.

Sheikh Salman was arrested on December 28, 2014 on charges of attempting to overthrow the ruling Al Khalifah regime and collaborating with foreign powers. He has strongly denied the charges, emphasizing that he has been seeking reforms in the kingdom through peaceful means.

In June 2015, a Bahraini court sentenced him to four years in prison on charges such as insulting the Bahraini Interior Ministry and inciting others to break the law. He was acquitted of seeking regime change.

Anti-regime protesters have been holding demonstrations on the streets of Bahrain since mid-February 2011, calling on the Al Khalifah family to relinquish power.

The ongoing heavy-handed crackdown on peaceful demonstrations has left scores of people dead, hundreds injured, and many more incarcerated.

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