Investigation with society secretary general continuing

Embassy Newsletter January 6 2015

Manama, Jan. 1. (BNA) — Bahrain’s Attorney General announced on 1 January 2015 that the Public Prosecution has over the past few days continued questioning the secretary general of one of Bahrain’s political societies, over charges relating to promoting political change using illegal forceful means and threats, in addition to other related charges.

The Public Prosecution also presented the defendant with evidence underpinning the charges, including recordings of public speeches that promoted political change, confronting state authorities, calls to stage unlawful protests, in addition to incitement to non-compliance with the law.

The evidence also included public statements delivered by the defendant that called for the reinstatement and continued work of the disbanded Islamic Council of Scholars, as well as incitement against naturalized Bahraini citizens by accusing them of committing terrorist acts.

The attorney general noted that the evidence included recordings of the defendant’s speech at Al-Wefaq’s General Assembly and on a television channel, in which he urged the opposition to deploy military methods currently used by the Syrian opposition.

The attorney general confirmed that the defendant held meetings when abroad with groups that offered him access to arms and supported the call for violent unrest in Bahrain. The defendant has acknowledged the content of these statements.

The attorney general also confirmed that the defendant was questioned in the presence of his lawyers and had been provided with the opportunity to meet his legal team and his family.

The Public Prosecution will continue questioning the defendant in order to complete the investigation as soon as possible.