Bahraini Cleric’s Wife Slams Int’l Silence on Unfair Verdict against Him
Speaking to al-Mayadeen on the anniversary of the day when Bahrain’s highest court upheld a life sentence against the secretary-general of the country’s main opposition group, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, his wife Aliya Radhi described the verdict as shocking.
She said what surprised her was the international community’s silence about it.
Radhi said despite the injustices against him, Sheikh Salman is in high spirit.
“I have seen nothing but persistence and steadfastness from him. He always gives us strength and hope and insists on (pursuing) the demands of the Bahraini nation, especially the children of martyrs and those held in jails.”
She expressed hope that he would be unconditionally released from prison soon.
Bahrain’s highest court in 2019 upheld life sentences against three opposition leaders, including Sheikh Ali Salman, on charges of “spying for Qatar”.
The 53-year-old Salman was convicted in November 2019 of “communicating with Qatari officials... to overthrow constitutional order,” a ruling rights groups denounced as a travesty of justice.
The London-based human rights group Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said the verdict marked the end of a "long, flawed trial."
Back then, al-Wefaq stated that the Bahraini judiciary was a tool in the hands of the ruling Manama regime, and the ruling reflected the magnitude of turmoil in the kingdom.
Qatar has categorically denied accusations of conspiring with Salman against Bahrain.
Human rights groups have frequently said cases against activists in Bahrain fail to meet the fundamental requirements of fair trials.
