Information Affairs Authority, 19 July, 2012: Serious allegations were made in court on
Wednesday when it was confirmed an organized group received orders from an Iraqi cleric in
Iran, Ayatollah Sayed Hadi Ahmed Al Moderessi, who actively encouraged the provocation
of violence by anti-government protestors. Al Moderessi is the founder of the Islamic Front
for the Liberation of Bahrain and has made several attempts to overthrow the Government
since 1981 backed by Iran.
These allegations came from a National Security Agency officer’s testimony at the Supreme
Criminal Appeals Court, in the appeal of the 14 Bahrainis charged during the last year's
unrest. He explained that the group had assigned various roles, where "some of them
participated and gave speeches at illegal rallies, some contacted foreign TV channels" and
others "incited violence at the GCC Roundabout, Bahrain Financial Harbour, Bahrain
University and Safriya."
Six of the defendants have been sentenced to 10 years, while eight were given 5 years by the
courts. The charges include incitement of violence, attempting to overthrow the Government,
dissemination of fabricated information, calling for and participating in illegal rallies, and
possession of weapons. The Court convicted five of the defendants in absentia and nine others
were cleared of charges. The trial was adjourned until July 30th at which time defence
witnesses are summoned to testify.
The organized group following the instructions of Al-Moderessi are affiliates of the Islamic
Action Society (Amal) that was recently dissolved for violating the constitution, malpractice,
and breach of the legal code.


Ends