28th January 2015

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

allowed to briefly meet his
wife and appeared in court
wearing his clerical robe
and turban.

Bahrain opposition
leader denies
charges as trial
opens
A lawyer for the head of
Bahrain's leading Shiite
opposition group says the
cleric has denied all
charges against him at the
start of a closely watched
trial in the strategic Gulf
island nation.
Defense attorney Jalila alSayed said Ali Salman was

Trial of Bahrain's
opposition leader to
start
The trial of Bahrain's top
opposition leader is set to
begin on Wednesday, in a
case that has seen tensions
flare after the government
charged him with multiple
offences, including inciting a
"change of government by

Bahrain's top
opposition leader
rejects coup plotting
charges
Bahraini opposition leader
SheikhAliSalman, arrested
for allegedly trying to
overthrow the kingdom's
government, rejected the
charge as his trial opened
on Wednesday, a judicial
source said.
The judge decided to keep
Salman behind bars and set

She says Salman will

continue to be held behind
bars at least until his next
court hearing on Feb. 25.
Salman is secretary-general
of the al-Wefaq opposition
group and has been
detained since late
December. His charges
include incitement to
forcibly topple the Sunnidominated government.
Read More

force, spreading hatred

among a segment of
society and insulting the
interior ministry".
The arrest of al-Wefaq
National Islamic Society's
Secretary-General Sheikh
Ali Salman late last year
has sparked near-daily
demonstrations from his
supporters, who are
demanding his release.
Read More
the next hearing in Manama
for 25 February, his AlWefaq bloc said.
Salman, 49, was arrested
28 December, sparking
near-daily protests across
Bahrain.
The Wefaq leader has been
accused of "promoting the
overthrow and change of
the political regime by
force" and of inciting
disobedience and hatred in
public statements.
Read More

Bahrains main
opposition leader on
trial for plotting coup

rally in December sparked

violent demonstrations in
Bahrain, with protesters
throwing iron bars and
stones at security forces
who fired teargas, rubber
bullets and bird shot.

Bahrains top opposition

leader went on trial on
Wednesday on charges of
promoting the violent
overthrow of the political
system, a case that has
riled his followers and
inflamed unrest in the
Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab state.

Washington, a close ally of

Manama, has expressed its
concern over Salmans
arrest. Al-Wefaq Islamic
Society, of which 49-yearold Salman is secretarygeneral, has called for civil
disobedience in response to
the trial.

Sheikh Ali Salmans

detention after a protest

Read More

Bahrain opposition
head rejects charges
as trial opens
Bahraini Shiite opposition
chief Sheikh Ali Salman
rejected charges that he
tried to overthrow the
country's Sunni regime, as
his trial opened
Wednesday, a judicial
source said.

Bahrain postpones
trial of opposition
leader
Bahrain's upper criminal
court decided Wednesday
to postpone the trial of Ali
Salman, opposition leader
and general secretary of Al
Wefaq Society, until Feb 25,
said the public prosecution.
The public prosecution
confirmed that the trial
would be held in public and

Hours later, hundreds of

supporters gathered outside
Salman's home in a
Manama suburb and
clashed with riot police, who
used tear gas to disperse
them, witnesses said.
The judge decided to keep
Salman behind bars and set
the next hearing for
February 25, his influential
Al-Wefaq bloc said.
Read More

media representatives
would be allowed to attend
the hearing, Xinhua news
agency reported. Ali
Salman was arrested last
month and remains in
custody charged with
inciting violence.
Al Wefaq has been calling
for Salman's release as his
arrest sparked riots and
vandalism in several areas
of Bahrain.
Read More

Prominent Bahrain
opposition leader
goes on trial
The Bahrain Ministry of
Justice [official website, in
Arabic] on Wednesday
commenced the trial of
prominent Shiite leader
Sheikh Ali Salman for his
role in promoting an
overthrow of the current
Bahrain political system.
The currentAl-Wefaq
Islamic Society [GU Berkley
Center backgrounder]
secretary general faces

Sheikh Salman
denies all charges
Defense attorney Jalila alSayed, a lawyer for the
head of Bahrain's leading
Shiite opposition group,
saidSheikh Salman denied
all charges against him,
reports the Associated
Press.

charges[JURIST report] of
inciting a change of
government by force,
inciting hatred of a segment
of society, inciting others to
break the law and insulting
the Interior Ministry. The
charges against Salman are
related to numerous
speeches he has made in
opposition to the
government since 2012.
Upon appearing for trial,
Salman denied all charges
[Reuters report]. If
convicted, Salman could
face up to 10 years in
prison.
Read More

Sheikh Salman stands

accused of promoting
regime change by force,
threats, and illegal means,
and of insulting the Interior
Ministry publicly, said
Bahraini prosecutor Nayef
Mahmud.

Bahraini authorities have

arrested nine people for
"misusing social media,"
although activists say they
were arrested for criticizing
Saudi Arabia's late King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
online.

A court in Bahrain on
Wednesday postponed the
trial of Ali Salman, the
secretary general of Al
Wefaq Islamic Society to
February 25.

Bahrain's Interior Ministry

said that that those arrested
were aged between 19 and
29, adding that they would
soon be referred to
prosecutors, Bahrain's
official news agency
reported on Wednesday.
The detained youths have
yet to be formally charged.
Read More

The case remains under

review and next session of
the trial was scheduled for
February 25, Al Zayani
said.

Bahrains Advocate General

Haroon Al Zayani said that

Read More

Sheik Salman trial to

begin today

Salman was arrested in late

December 2014 over
alleged anti-regime
incitements.

The trial of Bahrain's

prominent opposition
leader, Sheikh Ali Salm,
starts in the capital
Manama. Representatives
from the US, UK and
France are attending the
session.

The 49-year-old cleric is

charged with promoting
regime change by force,
threats, and illegal means,
and of insulting the Interior
Ministry publicly, said
Bahraini prosecutor Nayef
Mahmud.

AP reports Sheikh Salman

will remain behind bars until
his next court hearing on
February 25th.
Read More

Bahrain arrests 9 for

'misusing social
media'

Al Wefaq leaders
trial postponed to
February 25

the trial began at the Higher

Criminal Court and that
during proceedings, Ali
Salman stated his defence
against all charges,
following which a legal team
requested his immediate
release.

Read More
will remain in custody as
the trial was postponed to
February 25.

Al Wefaq leader to
remain in custody
The trial of opposition
leader and general
secretary of Al Wefaq
National Islamic Society Ali
Salman began at the high
criminal court on
Wednesday.

Bahrain Advocate General

Haroon Al Zayani said that
during court proceedings,
the individual stated his
defence against all charges,
following which a legal team
requested his immediate
release.
Read More

Ali Salman, who was

arrested on December 28,