News / Persian Gulf

Bahrain court gives life sentence to eight anti-regime activists

Wednesday, 11 December 2019 5:26 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 11 December 2019 5:32 PM ]

This file picture shows the entrance to the building of Bahrain’s Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs in the capital Manama.

A court in Bahrain has sentenced eight anti-regime protesters to life imprisonment and handed down prison sentences to several others as the ruling Al Khalifah regime presses ahead with its heavy-handed clampdown on political dissidents and pro-democracy campaigners in the Persian Gulf kingdom.

On Wednesday, the First High Criminal Court sentenced five defendants to life in prison after finding them guilty of “possessing weapons, explosives as well as mock bombs, and helping some criminals to flee from justice …,” Arabic-language Bahrain Mirror news website reported.

The report added that they were also ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 dinars (over $265,000) each.

Separately, seven other anti-regime protesters received 10-year prison sentence, and were ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 dinars by the same court.

Sheikh Salman’s life term shows Bahrain judiciary is corrupt & politicized, Wefaq says

Bahraini opposition group al-Wefaq says last year’s life term against top dissident Sheikh Salman shows judiciary is “corrupt and politicized.”

It also sentenced a dissident to 15 years in prison, and handed down five-year jail terms to four others. Five defendants received four-year prison sentences as well.

Moreover, the court slapped a three-year prison sentence against a defendant, and sentenced another nine to one year in jail.

Bahrain Mirror noted that all the defendants were accused of affiliation to the February 14 Youth Coalition — an opposition protest movement named after the date of the beginning of a popular uprising against the Manama regime – and the opposition al-Wafa Islamic Movement.

Hunger striking Bahraini anti-regime activist thrown into solitary

Bahraini prison officials have reportedly thrown a hunger striking imprisoned dissident into solitary confinement.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.

They are demanding that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established. Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.

Hunger-striking Bahraini prisoners denied medical treatment: Activists

Social media activists say hunger-striking Bahraini prisoners are being denied medical treatment, expressing concern over their deteriorating health condition.

On March 5, 2017, Bahrain’s parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3, 2017.

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