Police: What did not mean by \u2018revolution\u2019?<\/p>\n
Bahrain questions Shiite leader over statements made in Egypt<\/strong> DUBAI – Bahrain police on Sunday questioned cleric Sheikh Ali Salman, who heads the largest Shiite opposition formation Al-Wefaq, over remarks related to “sectarian and security” matters, the authorities said.<\/p>\n Criminal investigation police questioned him in the presence of two lawyers over statements he made during a visit to Egypt earlier this month, according to a statement carried by the BNA state news agency.<\/p>\n Salman admitted referring to a “revolution in Bahrain” but said he “did not mean toppling the regime, while he meant demanding freedom, democracy, equality and respect for human rights,” BNA said.<\/p>\n The influential cleric also said that Wefaq “rejects violence from all sides, whether from the public or from the government,” and denied harming relations between Bahrain and Egypt.<\/p>\n BNA said Salman’s statement will be referred to the public prosecution service which will decide whether to press charges.<\/p>\n Al-Wefaq slammed the summoning of its leader for questioning, calling it a “trial for political practice and opinion, which falls under the regime’s security approach of confiscating rights and freedoms.”<\/p>\n “This measure aims to tighten already limited freedom of expression,” it said in a statement.<\/p>\n Al-Wefaq dominated elections twice in 2006 and 2010 in Shiite areas of the Sunni-ruled kingdom, and formed the largest single bloc in both parliaments.<\/p>\n But its MPs resigned in protest over violence used by security forces against Shiite-dominated protests that broke out in mid-February 2011 and came under a deadly crackdown a month later. …source<\/a><\/p>\n
\n14 October, 2012 – Middle East Online <\/p>\n