Hasan Isa, a prominent Bahraini cleric, was detained on Aug 18 at Bahrain International Airport. An Interior Ministry statement yesterday did not identify Isa by name, but said the suspect it holds is also accused of distributing money he'd raised during rallies to wanted fugitives and a "terrorist group," without elaborating.
Shiite opposition group al-Wefaq identified Isa as the suspect. It said he was innocent and was being targeted under laws that criminalize peaceful political activism. Al-Wefaq earlier said that Isa's lawyers have not been allowed to see him.
Meanwhile, secular opposition figure Ibrahim Sharif today pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to topple Bahrain's government, promoting political change through force and inciting hatred in a speech last month. Defense lawyer Mohammed Ahmed said Sharif, who once headed the secular Waad party, maintains he only called for political reforms.
Sharif was arrested a day after his July 11 speech, just weeks after spending more than four years in prison for his role in Arab Spring-inspired protests in Bahrain.