A Bahraini court June 16 sentenced prominent Shi'ite leader Sheikh Ali Salman [6] (official profile [7]) to four years in prison for insulting the Interior Ministry [8], inciting others to break the law, and inciting hatred against Sunnis. Salman, secretary-general of al-Wefaq [9] political opposition group, was arrested in late December [10] for speeches made between 2012 and 2014. Salman was found not guilty [11] of inciting violence and calling for the overthrow of the monarch. Had he been convicted for those offenses [12], Salman could have faced a life sentence in prison.
Bahrain has been the center of tension between police and protestors since protests began in the country in 2011. Reforms in Bahrain have failed to end [13] serious human rights violations, Amnesty International reported in April. The report claimed that activists were still being unjustly imprisoned and that detainees are mistreated and tortured.
From Jurist [14], June 17. Used with permission.
