Bahrain Mirror: The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expressed its deep concerns over the ongoing trial of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society Secretary-General, Sheikh Ali Salman, and the authorities' verdict to fine the activist Nader Abdulemam BD 1500 over establishing "Insaf" (Equity) organization that aims at tackling cases of discrimination.

In a statement on Monday, May 25, 2015, BCHR stated that "last week, two important incidents took place. These incidents had a large impact on the human rights situation in Bahrain (Fining the activist Nader Abdulemem and trying Sheikh Ali Salman). On Wednesday, May 20, 2015, the fourth high criminal court decided to adjourn Sheikh Salman's verdict to June 16, 2015 after the judge, Ali Khalifa Al-Dhahrani, interrupted him while delivering his plea."

"This is not the first time the lawyers of the detainees are prevented from speaking and even detainees are deprived of their right to talk about their situation, especially in the fourth criminal court. This raises questions about the integrity and neutrality of the verdict amid a lack of valid procedures followed in the litigation and trial process," BCHR added.

BCHR further stated that "Al-Dhahrani previously expelled one of the detainees "Sayed Mounir Habib" from the courtroom after he told the judge that he was threatened by the prosecution's attorney to make false confessions about a crime he did not commit. Al-Dhahrani also committed a number of law violations in one of the major issues that greatly concerned the Bahraini public at that time; arresting 50 Bahraini activists with a female among them in the "February 14 Coalition" case. It is noteworthy that Al-Dhahrani is one of the National Safety Court judges who issued false and unjust verdicts against activists, citizens, and political figures and leaders, according to a Human Rights Watch report."

BCHR also called on the "US, UK, UN, EU and all the regime's close allies and competent international organizations to pressure Bahrain into releasing Sheikh Ali Salman as well as all the prisoners of conscience in Bahraini prisons, immediately and unconditionally, putting an end to targeting activists and fabricating cases against them as retaliatory actions for their activism, reforming the jurisdiction that is used as a means of retaliation against activists, guaranteeing and maintaining human rights, mainly the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression."

The Arabic Issue