News / Persian Gulf

Bahrain court upholds life terms for five Shia activists

Sunday, 29 May 2016 4:44 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 29 May 2016 4:44 PM ]

A Bahraini protester shouts slogans during clashes with riot police in the village of Sitra, south of the capital, Manama, February 12, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

An appeals court in Bahrain has upheld the life sentences as well as the citizenship revocation of five Shia activists over allegations that they had been “spying for Iran” and planning attacks in the country.

A statement by the prosecution said on Sunday that the court rejected the appeal by the five defendants and stripped them of their citizenship.

In November last year, a Bahraini court handed down life imprisonment sentence to the men after convicting them of “spying for Iran” and seeking to carry out hostile acts against Bahrain.

The Bahraini monarchy, which is facing a massive popular uprising, has heavily relied on courts to level accusations of spying for Iran against protesters as part of a crackdown on political dissent. Hundreds of people, including notable opposition leaders, are behind bars for their involvement in popular protests against the ruling al-Khalifah regime.

The Manama regime has accused the Islamic Republic of interfering in its affairs. Iran has strongly rejected the allegation.

Bahraini police leave after dispersing protesters during clashes in the village of Shahrakkan, south of the capital, Manama, April 5, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Several International rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition activists and anti-regime protesters, saying lengthy jail terms and verdicts stripping residents of their citizenship show the regime’s lack of tolerance for political activism.

The uprising in Bahrain began in February 2011. Since then, anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations on an almost daily basis in the country, calling for the Al Khalifah family to relinquish power.

In March that year, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to Bahrain to assist the regime with its crackdown on the peaceful protests.

Scores of people have been killed in the crackdown.

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