Ali Salman

Ali Salman is the president of the Al-Wefaq political society in Bahrain. He is a Shia cleric educated in Qom. In January 1995 the Bahraini government forcibly exiled him to Dubai for leading a popular campaign demanding the reinstatement of the constitution and the restoration of parliament during the 1990s Uprising. From there he made he went to London and sought asylum. He continued opposition activities from London, where he was associated with the Bahrain Freedom Movement. Salman returned to Bahrain in March 2001 in a general amnesty as part of a set of political reforms announced by King Hamad.

Within Al Wefaq he is considered the 'moderate' public face of the organization, and has opposed the more confrontational approach with the authorities of other leaders. However, over the summer of 2004 he vied with Salafist MP, Jassim Al Saeedi, to claim credit for proposing the introduction of self-styled morality police on to the Kingdom's streets.

Sheikh Salman is likely to become Bahrain's speaker of parliament after the 2006 general election which is likely to see Al Wefaq become the largest party according to the Gulf News.

See also

*Al-Wefaq
* 1990s Uprising in Bahrain
*Politics of Bahrain

External links

*Office of Ali Salman
*Gulf News: Exiled Bahrain opposition leader returns