Bahrain Mirror: Bahrain's Appeals Court upheld (Wednesday October 19, 2016) a verdict ruling a 1-year imprisonment against arts director, Yasser Nasser, for taking part in the Diraz protest, in solidarity with Shiite majority spiritual leader, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim.

The First Instance Court had ruled (on August 31, 2016) a 1-year imprisonment sentence against Nasser, in a violent campaign launched against protesters in the open sit-in outside the house of Ayatollah Qassim in Diraz.

Four months ago, the authorities have launched the most severe and violent campaign against opposition and Shiite majority. They adopted several measured on top of which was dissolving and liquidating al-Wefaq Society, increasing the sentence against opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman, arrested activist Nabeel Rajab, and revoking the citizenship of spiritual leader Sheikh Isa Qassim.

Thousands of Bahrainis have been protesting outside the house of the Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim since June 20, 2016, demanding the authorities returns his citizenship. Meanwhile, authorities imposed a severe siege on the town of Diraz and arrested dozens of prominent clerics and citizens for taking part in the protest.

Arabic Version