Bakr, 70, had been charged with communicating a statement having seditious intention, two counts of inciting to demand with menaces with intent to steal and endeavouring to provoke a breach of the peace. 
The charges arose out of comments he made during an Eid-ul-Fitr sermon delivered at the compound of the Jamaat-Al-Muslimeen group on November 4, 2005.

His lawyers had argued that the charges were politically motivated but the State countered indicating that no evidence had been brought before the court to support the allegation.

In 1990, Bakr led a group of more than 100 followers in an unsuccessfully attempted at overthrowing the  ANR Robinson government.