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Bahrain appeals court reduces jail terms of protest medics | Bahrain appeals court reduces jail terms of protest medics |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Bahraini appeals court has partially overturned a court ruling sentencing 20 medics to lengthy jail terms for taking part in anti-government protests. | A Bahraini appeals court has partially overturned a court ruling sentencing 20 medics to lengthy jail terms for taking part in anti-government protests. |
Nine of the medics were acquitted but one of the doctors, Ali al-Ekri, was sentenced to five years in jail. | Nine of the medics were acquitted but one of the doctors, Ali al-Ekri, was sentenced to five years in jail. |
Another was given three years, while a further seven medics were handed jail terms of between a month and a year. | Another was given three years, while a further seven medics were handed jail terms of between a month and a year. |
Two of the medics convicted last year did not appeal - they are thought to have left Bahrain or gone into hiding. | Two of the medics convicted last year did not appeal - they are thought to have left Bahrain or gone into hiding. |
Many of the 20 medics facing jail were working at the Salmaniya Medical Complex in the capital Manama last February and March, when security forces violently suppressed pro-democracy protests. | Many of the 20 medics facing jail were working at the Salmaniya Medical Complex in the capital Manama last February and March, when security forces violently suppressed pro-democracy protests. |
'Hatred and contempt' | |
In September, an emergency military court set up to deal with the unrest found them guilty of publicly inciting "hatred and contempt", as well as engaging in illegal assemblies. | In September, an emergency military court set up to deal with the unrest found them guilty of publicly inciting "hatred and contempt", as well as engaging in illegal assemblies. |
A defence lawyer for several of the doctors and nurses said they should never have faced criminal charges and should all now be aquitted. | |
The Bahraini government has faced international condemnation over the original convictions. | The Bahraini government has faced international condemnation over the original convictions. |
Most of the medics have already served jail time, but were released last year after claims they had been tortured in custody. | |
One of the defendants, Dr Nada Dhaif, told the BBC earlier this year that before signing a confession while blindfolded, she was beaten, threatened with rape and given electric shocks by security forces. | |
The government said it had launched investigations into allegations of abuse and several police officers have been convicted. |