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| Bahrain opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman jailed | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The main Shia opposition leader in Bahrain, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been jailed for four years for inciting violence, state media say. | The main Shia opposition leader in Bahrain, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been jailed for four years for inciting violence, state media say. |
| Sheikh Salman was convicted of inciting hatred, promoting disobedience and "insulting" public institutions. | Sheikh Salman was convicted of inciting hatred, promoting disobedience and "insulting" public institutions. |
| His al-Wefaq movement has accused the Sunni-led government of aggravating the country's crisis with his sentencing. | His al-Wefaq movement has accused the Sunni-led government of aggravating the country's crisis with his sentencing. |
| The Gulf state has grappled with sporadic unrest since putting down mass Shia-led protests in 2011. | The Gulf state has grappled with sporadic unrest since putting down mass Shia-led protests in 2011. |
| Sheikh Salman's arrest in December triggered protests across the country. | Sheikh Salman's arrest in December triggered protests across the country. |
| "The regime is pushing toward aggravation and issued a sentence of four years for the Bahraini opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman," al-Wefaq tweeted. | "The regime is pushing toward aggravation and issued a sentence of four years for the Bahraini opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman," al-Wefaq tweeted. |
| Bahrain's state news agency BNA said Sheikh Salman had been found guilty of charges "relating to publicly inciting hatred, an act which disturbed public peace, inciting non-compliance with the law and insulting public institutions". | |
| But he was acquitted of inciting political change by force, for which he could have been jailed for life. | But he was acquitted of inciting political change by force, for which he could have been jailed for life. |
| The charges relate to a series of statements by Sheikh Salman made in a public speech last year. | The charges relate to a series of statements by Sheikh Salman made in a public speech last year. |
| His defence lawyer, Abdullah al-Shamlawi, has said that Sheikh Salman can appeal Tuesday's verdict. | His defence lawyer, Abdullah al-Shamlawi, has said that Sheikh Salman can appeal Tuesday's verdict. |
| Shia-dominated demonstrations against the Sunni monarchy have been continuing sporadically for the past four years. | Shia-dominated demonstrations against the Sunni monarchy have been continuing sporadically for the past four years. |
| In 2011, dozens died when the government moved to quash protests. The demonstrators were demanding more rights and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia community by the Sunni royal family. | In 2011, dozens died when the government moved to quash protests. The demonstrators were demanding more rights and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia community by the Sunni royal family. |