The jailed secretary general of Bahrain’s main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq, has urged Bahrainis to press ahead with their protests for reforms.

In a message released following a court ruling against him, Sheikh Ali Salman said he will press ahead with his peaceful drive to restore the rights of people, calling on the Bahrainis to continue staging demonstrations in a bid to realize their demands in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.

On Tuesday, a Bahraini court sentenced 49-year-old Salman to four years in prison on charges such as insulting the Interior Ministry and inciting others to break the law. He was acquitted of seeking regime change.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has censured the latest verdict against the prominent Bahraini opposition leader, stating that it demonstrates the Al Khalifa regime’s consistent disregard for the right to freedom of expression.

“The verdict is shocking. It is yet another clear example of Bahrain’s flagrant disregard for its international obligations. Sheikh Ali Salman has been sentenced solely for peacefully expressing his opinion,” Boumedouha, the deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Amnesty International, said on Tuesday.

By Press TV