(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Secretary General of al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Sheikh Ali Salman stated, in response to the Bahraini High Court's upholding of imprisoned opposition figures' jail sentences, that, "The revolution continues and the leaderships' sentences fuel the revolution with perpetuation."
He added on his Twitter account, "The High Commissioner on Human Rights Navi Pillay was right when she described these verdicts as political oppression," highlighting, "The verdicts accentuate the need for drastic reforms since the government that sentences an opposing opinion to life in prison must be overthrown."
On Monday, Bahrain’s highest court rejected the jailed activists' appeal and upheld their sentences for their roles in anti-regime protests in 2011.
Later in the day, al-Wefaq said in a statement that it considers "the verdict political and [it] reflects the absolute absence of an independent judiciary."
"The judiciary is being controlled and used by the regime in the political conflict to punish dissidents, and… the revolution must continue," the statement added.
In addition, Brian Dooley, director of the Human Rights Defenders Program at the US-based group Human Rights First, stated, "It confirms that the Bahrain regime is refusing to take its chances to reform and seems to be deepening its own human rights crisis.”
After the court ruling, anti-government protests broke out in Bahrain.
The demonstrators set tires on fire and blocked main roads in Manama and several towns and villages near the capital
The protesters called for the release of all jailed activists and demanded that King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa step down.
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He added on his Twitter account, "The High Commissioner on Human Rights Navi Pillay was right when she described these verdicts as political oppression," highlighting, "The verdicts accentuate the need for drastic reforms since the government that sentences an opposing opinion to life in prison must be overthrown."
On Monday, Bahrain’s highest court rejected the jailed activists' appeal and upheld their sentences for their roles in anti-regime protests in 2011.
Later in the day, al-Wefaq said in a statement that it considers "the verdict political and [it] reflects the absolute absence of an independent judiciary."
"The judiciary is being controlled and used by the regime in the political conflict to punish dissidents, and… the revolution must continue," the statement added.
In addition, Brian Dooley, director of the Human Rights Defenders Program at the US-based group Human Rights First, stated, "It confirms that the Bahrain regime is refusing to take its chances to reform and seems to be deepening its own human rights crisis.”
After the court ruling, anti-government protests broke out in Bahrain.
The demonstrators set tires on fire and blocked main roads in Manama and several towns and villages near the capital
The protesters called for the release of all jailed activists and demanded that King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa step down.
/129