Bahraini Prosecutor Extends Detention of Opposition Leader
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Bahrain’s Public Prosecution Office rejected the appeal to free the secretary general of al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Sheikh Ali Salman, in spite of 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.
Salman's lawyer Abdulla Shamlawi had said earlier that AL Khalifa regime resumed the investigation process.
"We demanded the release of Sheikh Ali Salman on bail, which prosecutors would deem acceptable, but they decided to extend his detention," Russian Sputnik news agency quoted Shamlawi as saying on Sunday.
The extension came two days after Sheikh Salman was re-elected as party leader.
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.
