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| Bahrain unrest: Eight Shia activists sentenced to life | Bahrain unrest: Eight Shia activists sentenced to life |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Bahrain has sentenced eight Shia opposition activists to life in jail for plotting to overthrow the government, says the state news agency. | |
| They were among 21 opposition figures tried by a special security court. Others got sentences of up to 15 years. | They were among 21 opposition figures tried by a special security court. Others got sentences of up to 15 years. |
| Ahead of the verdict, Shia protesters blocked roads and staged rallies. | Ahead of the verdict, Shia protesters blocked roads and staged rallies. |
| Bahrain's mainly Shia protesters have been calling for democratic reforms and more rights for the country's Shia majority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. | Bahrain's mainly Shia protesters have been calling for democratic reforms and more rights for the country's Shia majority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. |
| A wave of protests swept the country in February and March. Emergency law was only lifted on 1 June. | |
| Correspondents say the sentencing threatens to reignite simmering tensions in the tiny Gulf state. | |
| Among those who received life sentences are: | |
| • Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, one of the country's leading human rights activists | |
| • Abd al-Jalil Singace, head of the Shia-dominated Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy | |
| • Hassan Mushaima, who returned from self-imposed exile in the UK in February after the Bahraini government dropped charges against him in a bid to appease protesters | |
| In addition to the life sentences, 10 activists were given 15 years in jail, two others were given five years and one man received a one-year jail term. | In addition to the life sentences, 10 activists were given 15 years in jail, two others were given five years and one man received a one-year jail term. |
| 'Foreign influence' | |
| Fourteen of the activists appeared in court, while the rest were sentenced in absentia, the state news agency BNA said. | |
| The authorities claim that they plotted to overthrow Bahrain's Sunni rulers "by force and intelligence with a terror group colluding with a foreign country" - in an apparent reference to Iran. | The authorities claim that they plotted to overthrow Bahrain's Sunni rulers "by force and intelligence with a terror group colluding with a foreign country" - in an apparent reference to Iran. |
| The government and its supporters have accused Iran and the militant Lebanese group Hezbollah of helping to stir up the unrest, in which nearly 30 people - mostly unarmed protesters - have been killed. | |
| Ahead of the trial, witnesses told AP news agency that Shia demonstrators made roadblocks with sand and debris, and called for marches to oppose the trial. No violence was reported. | |
| The trial was one of several taking place in Bahrain following the protests. | |
| Human rights groups say they have documented cases of torture and arbitrary detention by the authorities against members of the protest movement. | |
| Are you in Bahrain? What is your reaction to this decision? Did you join the demonstration? Send us your comments using the form below: |