Hate speech: Opposition activist detained again

Manama

Bahraini authorities yesterday re-arrested a prominent opposition leader for violating the law, just three weeks after his release from jail, the Interior Ministry said on Twitter.

Ebrahim Sharif, who used to head the Waed secular group, had been freed on June 19 after spending four years in jail over his involvement in 2011 protests. His sentence was supposed to end in March 2016, but he was released early and accorded a chance for reintegration in society and working on reinforcing national unity.

He had played a prominent role in the month-long protests and was later among a group of 20 activists tried for plotting to overthrow the government. The Director General of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science said that Ebrahim Sharif was detained for statements he made during a speech that encouraged the overthrow of the government and incited hatred.

Sharif delivered the speech at Al Hija maatam (community centre) in Muharraq on Friday. The Director General said Sharif’s statements called for violence and came at a time when efforts were being made to promote unity and fight sectarianism. The Director General said that Sharif intentionally violated the law during his speech by inciting violence, hatred and sectarianism.