Al Wefaq leader remanded in custody

Manama: Ali Salman, secretary-general of Al Wefaq, Bahrain’s largest opposition society, has been remanded in custody pending further investigation by the public prosecution, Attorney-General Nayef Yousuf Mahmoud said.

Al Wefaq leader faces charges “relating to promoting political change using illegal forceful means — under Article 160 of Bahrain’s Penal Code, explicitly inciting hatred against specific segments of the society — under Article 172 of the Penal Code, incitement to non-compliance with the law – under Article 173 of the Penal Code, and deliberate defamation of a statutory body — under article 216 of the Penal Code,” the attorney said, quoted by Bahrain News Agency (BNA) on Monday evening.

He said the case was launched after the public prosecution was alerted by the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Forensic Evidence about “potential offences which concerned a series of recent statements and pronouncements by Ali Salman.”

“The content and nature of his statements had significantly escalated from incitement and hate speech, ultimately to threats of military force against the state, including the imminent option to deploy methods currently used by armed groups operating elsewhere in the region,” he said.

“The public prosecution promptly launched an investigation, examining recordings of Ali Salman’s speeches and statements. His questioning resulted in his detention pending further investigation and formal charging by the Public Prosecutor.”

The attorney-general said that Al Wefaq leader was questioned in the presence of four lawyers.

“He had been provided with the opportunity to meet his legal team in private and he will be afforded every legal right as the process continues,” he said.

Ali Salman was last week re-elected leader of Al Wefaq as the society held its general assembly.

The justice ministry in July had asked Al Wefaq to rectify its “illegal status following the annulment of four general assemblies for lack of a quorum and the non-commitment to the public and transparency requirements for holding them”.

In October, the society was given three months by the Administrative Court to hold a general assembly and elect its leaders.

On Saturday, the ministry said that it was expecting Al Wefaq to submit a report on its general assembly’s resolutions and procedures within ten days, as required by the law.