Appeal Court postpones trial to November 12

Manama, Oct.14 (BNA): Advocate General Haroon Al-Zayani stated that the High Court of Appeal today held its second session to consider the appeal submitted by the Public Prosecutor and the secretary-general of a political association following the verdict which convicted the defendant of promoting the change of the political system by force and threat, inciting publicly to hating a sect which would disrupt public peace, instigating non-compliance with the law, committing acts which constitute crimes and defaming a statutory body. The Public Prosecution leveled the counts of charges against the defendant after investigation confirmed that he promoted regime change by force and threats and through illegal means, in his sermons and the speeches he delivered in various events and gatherings and which included extremist statements that justify the acts of violence and sabotage, considering disobedience of the regime as being a form of Jihad and a religious duty. The investigation has shown that the defendant escalated his criminal acts to the point that he repeatedly threatened to resort to military force and stated publicly that the military alternative is still considered, stressing the possibility of resorting to this option, the way certain factions and sects did in the region. The inquiry also revealed that the defendant called upon major powers to interfere in Bahrain’s internal affairs to support the change of the regime which was established by virtue of the constitution, claiming that such a change would serve the interests of these countries. Advocate General Al-Zayani said that the Public Prosecution examined the recorded sermons and speeches attributed to the defendant. It questioned the defendant in the presence of four lawyers and confronted him with the recorded sermons and speeches in which he, in addition to the above-mentioned charges, called explicitly for non-compliance with the law regulating the locations of rallies, urged the so-called, and now dissolved Council of Ulema, to continue exercising its activities and disregard the court verdict stating its dissolution. In the recorded sermons and speeches, the defendant also incited openly against naturalised Bahrainis, denied their loyalty to the country, described them as mercenaries and claimed that they usurped the shares of original citizens in the country’s resources and services, even suggesting that the naturalized Bahrainis may be deported from the country in coffins. He stated in the recorded sermons and speeches that the opposition was advised to follow in the steps of the Syrian opposition and turn the country into a military battlefield. He said that whilst abroad he met certain parties which stressed the readiness to back the so-called “harak” (unrest) in Bahrain and supply weapons. Confronted with the evidence, the defendant admitted to delivering all the sermons and public statements cited in the inquiries. The Public Prosecution referred the defendant to the court of first instance, which convicted him and sentenced him to four years in jail, based on the above-mentioned counts of charges and acquitted him of one charge. The defendant appealed against the court ruling, and so did the Public Prosecution which lodged an appeal challenging the verdict which acquitted the defendant of one count of charge seeking a tougher sentence that is commensurate with the gravity of the crimes. The defendant appeared before the Court of Appeal along with his lawyers who presented their pleadings. The Representative of the Public Prosecution Advocate General Osama Al-Oufi demanded the rejection of the appeal lodged by the defendant and called on the court to accept the appeal filed by the Public Prosecution. He also opposed the defendant’s release. The court adjourned the case to November 12 for the Public Prosecution to present its pleadings.