Bahrain court confirms sentences for Shiite activists News
Bahrain court confirms sentences for Shiite activists

[JURIST] A Bahrain [BBC backgrounder] appellate court on Sunday confirmed five-year prison sentences for nine Shiites convicted of violating protest laws. The nine Shiites were accused [AFP report] of violating protest laws after they orchestrated an effort calling for the overthrow of the Sunni Monarchy. The activists allegedly used primarily social media to gain support for their protest efforts. On Sunday the court upheld an April ruling which sentenced the Shiite individuals to a five-year jail term. International activist group Reporters Without Borders [advocacy website] highly criticized the current Bahrain court’s fight against Shiite protesters as “sham trials” that hindered the freedom of information.

Anti-government protests in early 2011 spurred numerous legal proceedings in Bahrain. In July a Bahrain criminal court acquitted [JURIST report] two police officers on trial for the torture of six Shiite doctors during the uprising against the Sunni regime in 2011. In May a Bahrain court sentenced [JURIST report] 31 people to 15 years for their participation in firebomb attacks as part of anti-government protests. In March a Bahrain court reversed the convictions [JURIST report] for 21 medics who were arrested at a hospital during the 2011 protests. The group of medics were originally charged with taking part in unauthorized demonstrations after treating protesters who were injured by police and have alleged that they were tortured and coerced into making confessions following their arrest. At least 28 medics were charged, but most of the sentences have been overturned. However, in October of last year, the Bahrain Court of Cassation upheld jail sentences [JURIST report] issued to nine medics for allegedly participating in anti-government protests.