Bahrain Military Courts: Protester to Death, Medics to Long Jail
Bahrain's special security court on Thursday sentenced a protester to death for killing a policeman, and gave doctors and nurses who had treated injured protesters during the country's uprising earlier this year lengthy prison sentences, a lawyer said.
"Ali Yusof al-Taweel was sentenced to death and Ali Mahdi to life in prison," Bahrain News Agency said quoting military general prosecutor Yusof Flaifel.
Attorney Mohsen al-Alawi said the tribunal, set up during Bahrain's emergency rule, convicted and sentenced 13 medical professionals each to 15 years in prison.
In addition, two doctors were sentenced to 10 years each while seven other medics convicted on Thursday got shorter prison terms of 5 years each.
The harsh sentences suggest the al-Khalifa's regime in the Gulf kingdom will not relent in their criminal act against civilian protesters.
Earlier this year, the same special court sentenced two other protesters to death for killing a police officer in a separate incident.
Al-Alawi, the lawyer, said the 22 medical professionals, who were charged with various anti-state crimes, and the protester who got the death sentence on Thursday can appeal their verdicts.
Hundreds of activists have been imprisoned since March when Bahrain's rulers imposed martial law to deal with protests by the country's opposition demanding greater rights and freedoms.
Thursday's sentences came a day after the tribunal upheld sentences for 21 activists convicted for their roles in the protests, including eight prominent political figures who were given life terms.
The doctors' trial has been closely watched by rights groups, which have criticized Bahrain's use of the security court, which has military prosecutors and military judges, in prosecuting civilians.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org
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