A Bahraini court on Tuesday acquitted the secretary general of Bahrain's main opposition bloc al-Wefaq National Islamic Society of the charge of trying to overthrow the government, but gave him a four-year sentence for other charges.
Insulting Bahrain’s interior ministry and calling for defiance of the Arab country’s laws, are among the charges, for which the court sentenced Sheikh Salman to 4 years in prison, according to Bahrain Mirror news website.
Sheikh Salman was arrested in late December 2014 over alleged anti-regime incitements. Manama accuses him of seeking regime change and collaborating with foreign powers.
His arrest has triggered condemnation inside and outside Bahrain, with leaders, governments and international organizations across the world calling for his immediate release.
The Western-allied kingdom, which is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.