Bahrain court increases Sheikh Salman’s jail term by five years

A court in Bahrain has extended the jail term of prominent religious leader Sheikh Ali Salman, who is the secretary general of the country’s main opposition bloc, by five years.

According to the reports, the Supreme Court of Appeal increased Sheikh Salman’s prison sentence on charges of inciting violence and calling for anti-regime demonstrations to nine years from the original four.

The al-Wefaq opposition group, headed by Sheikh Salman, denounced the court ruling as “unacceptable and provocative,” saying it “entrenches the exacerbating political crisis” in Bahrain.

Al-Wefaq was Bahrain's largest parliamentary bloc until its 18 MPs walked out in February 2011 to protest violence used against demonstrators.

On Friday, an international human rights organization called on the US administration to demand the immediate release of the 50-year-old dissident.

“If the US government is serious about helping Bahrain escape its political crisis, it should publicly call for his immediate release so he can be part of a much-needed dialogue with the government,” Brian Dooley, with the US-based Human Rights First, said.

Sheikh Salman was arrested in December 2014 on charges of attempting to overthrow the Manama regime and collaborating with foreign powers.

SS