37 HROs demand release of Al-Wefaq secretary general

Rasa - 37 human rights organizations demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Ali Salman, the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society Secretary-General.

News ID: 1922

Date: 29 December 2014 - 23:03

RNA - 37 human rights organizations demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Ali Salman, the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society Secretary-General, after he had been summoned Saturday afternoon to the criminal investigation office where he will be interrogated over vexatious charges, while his attorneys were prevented from seeing him.

The rights organizations announced that his detention is due to his practicing of right to freedom of expression in politics, which is extremely condemned.

According the al-Wefaq official website, the security body has filed 9 charges against the al-Wefaq secretary general.

The right groups have announced that most of the rulings that are based on these charges are considered to be “political oppression” by the High Commissioner, while Amnesty International considered it to be “false justice.”

They also stated that Sheikh Salman “is known to be a political and national figure that has always called for dialogue and peaceful procedures as clearly stated in The Non-Violence Principles Declaration.”

“The Society which he heads also enjoys massive support among the population based on the results of the 2006 and 2010 polls, so it is a priority to improve the human rights situation and put an end to violations,” the announcements adds.

The organizations then concluded: “It is very clear that the purpose behind these actions is to continue confiscating the right to freedom of expression and violating the right to freedom of association by enforcing intimidating security procedures and prosecuting opposition leaders, instead of heeding international calls to allow public freedoms, release all political prisoners, allow UN rapporteurs to visit Manama and implement the BICI and Geneva recommendations.”

Bahrain Human Rights Observatory, Arab Commission for Human Rights, Institute of Diplomatic Studies and Consular Affairs and Association of Protecting Human Rights Defenders in the Arab World are among signatories.

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