Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini Public Prosecution claimed that the highest Shiite religious authority in Bahrain, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, did not refuse to attend the questioning and trial hearings, adding that "it is true he did not attend the interrogation because he was ill, as one of his lawyers reported at the time."

It further said in a statement that the defendant was announced in the court hearings in a manner that made the trial held as he was "present", since he was legally announced with one of the other defendants appearing before the court. Thus, the sentence to be issued in the case will be deemed an "in presence" verdict, whether he attended the session or not. The law does not stipulate that the investigating authority or competent court suspend their measures until the defendant responds with acceptance or rejection to attending the trial or actually attends.

Arabic Version