Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive):  During Wednesday's trial (May 20, 2015) which was presided over by Judge Ali Khalifa Al-Dhahrani with the membership of Judges Mohammad Jamal Awad and Hamad Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Fourth High Criminal Court refused to hear the plea of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society Secretary General, detainee Sheikh Ali Salman, and adjourned its verdict to June 16.

Sheikh Salman's defense lawyer Abdullah Al-Shamlawi posted on his Twitter account that hearing ended without "allowing us to present our defense."

According to reports, the fifth hearing held so far on charges against the prominent Shiite cleric, during which the Sheikh Salman's team of lawyers was supposed to present a defence, didn't last for more than half an hour. At the beginning of the hearing, the prosecution demanded sentencing the opposition leader to the "maximum punishment".

Directly after that, Sheikh Ali Salman started delivering his plea. Judge Ali Khalifa Al-Dhahrani (former parliament speaker's son); however, began to raise his voice to interrupt Sheikh Salman's statement and said: "Spare us this historical narration and introduction and cut to the chase". So, Sheikh Salman replied by saying: "I am accused of this," stressing: "The court refuses to hear me." This upset Al-Dhahrani, thus,  decided to adjourn the court's verdict until June 16, 2015, without allowing the defense team to present its pleading.

Sheikh Salman has been detained since December 28, 2014. The court refused requests for his release on bail and also refused the defense panel's request to show videos containing recordings of Salman's speeches. The court also rejected a request for Bahrain's interior minister and the country's head of general security to be called to testify.

:Arabic Issue