Hawzah News Agency-In an interview, Ebrahim Sharif of the Waad party voiced fears that Charles’ visit may "whitewash” Bahrain’s ongoing crackdown against dissent. He also suggested that the regime should agree on a power-sharing system with political parties to counter the worsening financial pressure resulting from low oil prices.

On Sunday, Bahrain's public prosecution released at statement announcing that it had questioned an unnamed person over recent remarks made to the foreign press.

"The public prosecution ordered his release after charging him with openly inciting hatred of the political system in Bahrain and with contempt," noted the statement.

Following the statement, the Waad party and Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy confirmed that the unnamed person had been Sharif.

Manama has spared no effort to clamp down on the dissent and rights activists. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to Bahrain to assist the Manama government in its crackdown.

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