Rallies to Continue in Bahrain until Freedom of Sheikh Salman: Top Cleric
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Ahmad Qassim emphasized that people of Bahrain will not stop their peaceful rallies until the freedom of Sheikh Ali Salman, the head of Bahrain's main opposition party.
People in Bahrain have decided not to give up their peaceful rallies until Sheikh Ali Salman’s case is closed and he is cleared of all charges, Sheikh Isa Qassim reiterated.
“Bahraini people are committed to their rights to stage peaceful protests until the freedom of all jailed figures and individuals,” Al Manar TV Network quoted the Shiite cleric as saying on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, Bahrain’s Public Prosecution Office rejected the appeal to free the secretary general of al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Sheikh Ali Salman, despite massive protests and international calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
The prosecution has ordered his continued detention for 15 days pending investigations, Bahrain’s Prosecutor Nayef Mahmud said in a statement on Monday.
Al Khalifa authorities detained Sheikh Salman on December 28, 2014, after long hours of investigation.
Following the massive anti-regime protests held on December 26, Bahrain's Interior Ministry had ordered Salman to appear before police investigators without providing any explanation as to why the summons was issued.
On Monday, December 29, charges of "inciting violent change of regime through threats and illegal practices," as well as "public insult of the Interior Ministry" were leveled against Salman. The move aroused concern of the United Nations, the European Union as well as Bahrain’s main ally, the US.
