Bahraini cleric final trial on July 20

Manama : Closing arguments will be heard on July 20 in the appeal of a Bahraini cleric, who was sentenced to one year behind bars for delivering two sermons illegally.

Mohammed Al Mansi was banned from delivering sermons when he addressed a gathering in a mosque in Hamad Town on April 15 this year. The sermon included what was branded by the Public Prosecution as “inflammatory remarks” that could have incited the public against the authorities. Al Mansi is said to have told the crowd that police authorities had detained a woman and they sexually assaulted her.

In several parts of his sermon, he talked about alleged violations made by the authorities. According to court files, the Ministry of Justice had banned the defendant from giving sermons as he was spreading the extremist ideology.

He was inciting the public against the leadership of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as this can negatively impact the civil peace. The defendant is said to have been convicted in several cases, including degrading the Sunni sect and spreading hatred against the regime as well as encouraging public to participate in illegal protests.