Bahrain calls for more jail time for prominent opp. leader

The Bahraini attorney general has called for a tougher sentence against Sheikh Ali Salman, the prominent leader of the main opposition block al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.

The country’s judiciary in the capital Manama said Sunday that Sheikh Salman must be retried for “attempts to change regime by force.”

The country’s attorney general claimed that Salman has been acquitted of crimes because the court has not looked into documents carefully.

In June, a Bahraini court sentenced 49-year-old Salman to four years in prison on charges including insulting the Interior Ministry and inciting others to break the law. He was, however, acquitted of charges of seeking regime change.

However, Salman, who was detained on December 28, 2014, has strongly denied the charges, emphasizing that he has been seeking reforms in his country through peaceful means.

Meanwhile, anti-regime protesters took to the streets of the neighborhood Diraz, situated in the west of the capital, to show anger at the regime’s policies.

The demonstrators chanted slogans, calling on the Al Khalifah dynasty to relinquish power.

Anti-regime protesters have been staging demonstrations on the streets of Bahrain since mid-February 2011, calling for the Al Khalifa family to relinquish power.

The ongoing violent crackdown on peaceful rallies has left scores of Bahrainis killed and hundreds of others wounded.

The tiny Persian Gulf state has been severely criticized by human rights groups for its harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters which has claimed the lives of scores of people so far.

HDS/NT/AS

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk