Bahrain Mirror: Bahrain's High Criminal Court set February 24, 2016 as the date for the verdict in the case raised against the Bahraini opposition leader and Secretary-General of the National Democratic Action Society (Wa'ad), Ebrahim Sharif, after listening to his and the defense panel's pleadings as well as the Public Prosecution pleading.

Wa'ad Society stated that the defense panel refuted the charges of the prosecution; it considered what was mentioned in the memorandum of the prosecution to be selective, and that it extracted from Sharif's speech what it needed to form a non-existing case.

Sharif insisted on his innocence of all the charges raised against him. He further stressed that he demanded reform when criticizing the government, pointing out that he didn't mention the political regime and mentioned the government around 37 times in his speech at Al-Hojja Obsequies on July 10, 2015, which is the speech he is being prosecuted for.

Sharif explained that he demanded reform, "which does not conform with the charges of inciting contempt and promoting the change of the regime by force", stressing on his rejection of violence which contradicts with the principles he believes in.

The opposition activist concluded his pleading, a copy of which was handed to the court, by quoting Imam Al-Shafi'i: "My opinion is right with the possibility of being wrong and that of others is wrong with the possibility of being right," and declaring that difference in opinions should not lead to imprisonment.

Arabic Issue