Bahrain Sentences 3 Protesters from 5 to 15 Years in Jail

Local Editor

Three protesters in Bahrain have been jailed from five to 15 years on charges of taking part in anti-government demonstrations in June 2012 and attempting to murder a policeman.

A Bahrain court has sentenced the main defendant for 15 years behind bars for joining the protests outside the capital city, Manama, in June 2012, a lawyer who asked not be named said. The defendant had also been charged with attempts to kill an officer.

The second man also accused of participating in protests and violence and attempted murder was sentenced to 10 years. The third was jailed for five years.
Bahrain has been witnessing mass protests since February 2011, when thousands of protesters swarmed the streets of Manama demanding democratic reforms and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa. Home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, Bahrain is ruled by al-Kahlifa monarchy.

Local police have repeatedly been accused of a brutal police crackdown on public dissent.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry also accused Manama of torturing protesters, politicians and political rights activists. The kingdom has repeatedly canceled the visit of the UN's special rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez, who intended to probe police abuses of power.

Source: rt, Edited by website team