Bahrain Mirror: The United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki Moon regretted that the sentence against Sheikh Ali Salman, the Bahraini opposition leader and Secretary-General of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, has been more than doubled,  demanding his release.

"The UN Secretary-General regrets that the sentence against Sheikh Ali Salman, Secretary-General of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, has been more than doubled despite the international appeals, including the Secretary-General's for his release," said Ban ki Moon's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric

"The UN Secretary-General believes that Sheikh Ali Salman should be pardoned, as he has been peacefully and legitimately exercising his rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association," he added.

In another context Dujarric said "the secretary-general welcomes the release of Zainab Al-Khawaja, the leading human rights activist in Bahrain."

In response to another question about the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry's recommendations and whether the UN will follow up implementation of the Bassiouni report, the spokesperson only noted that "the Secretary-General and his staff continue to follow the situation closely."

Arabic Version