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Bahrain unrest: 50 Shia Muslims sentenced to up to 15 years | Bahrain unrest: 50 Shia Muslims sentenced to up to 15 years |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A court in Bahrain has sentenced 50 Shia Muslims to up to 15 years in prison on charges of forming a clandestine movement, reports say. | A court in Bahrain has sentenced 50 Shia Muslims to up to 15 years in prison on charges of forming a clandestine movement, reports say. |
The 14 February Coalition has been a key influence behind the Shia-led campaign for more rights in Bahrain which began in 2011. | |
Bahrain, ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family, accuses the youth movement of terrorism. | |
Sixteen defendants were given 15-year sentences, reports say. | Sixteen defendants were given 15-year sentences, reports say. |
Four were jailed for 10 years and the remaining 30 for five, according to a judicial source quoted by the AFP news agency. | Four were jailed for 10 years and the remaining 30 for five, according to a judicial source quoted by the AFP news agency. |
Thirty of those convicted plan to appeal. Twenty were tried in absentia for their involvement in the 14 February Coalition, a network of secretive groups that organise protests online. | |
Prominent among those sentenced was human rights activist Naji Fateel, who was given 15 years, according to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights. | Prominent among those sentenced was human rights activist Naji Fateel, who was given 15 years, according to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights. |
'Torture' | 'Torture' |
The society alleges he was tortured during interrogation. This, the group says, included electric shocks, simulated drowning and beatings. | The society alleges he was tortured during interrogation. This, the group says, included electric shocks, simulated drowning and beatings. |
Others sentenced include Iraqi cleric Hadi al-Mudaressi and London-based opposition activist Saeed al-Shahabi, AFP reports. Both were tried in absentia. | Others sentenced include Iraqi cleric Hadi al-Mudaressi and London-based opposition activist Saeed al-Shahabi, AFP reports. Both were tried in absentia. |
The charges are also said to have comprised trying to overthrow Bahrain's ruling family. | The charges are also said to have comprised trying to overthrow Bahrain's ruling family. |
The head of the rights group, Mohamed al-Maskati, told the BBC that the sentences were "only likely to fuel anti-government unrest". | The head of the rights group, Mohamed al-Maskati, told the BBC that the sentences were "only likely to fuel anti-government unrest". |
He said more court cases were likely to come up. | He said more court cases were likely to come up. |
Bahrain has been beset by unrest since 2011 as the series of pro-democracy movements known as the Arab Spring took hold in the region. | Bahrain has been beset by unrest since 2011 as the series of pro-democracy movements known as the Arab Spring took hold in the region. |
Two weeks ago, the Bahraini authorities arrested Khalil Marzook, a leader of the main Shia political society Wefaq, on terrorism charges. | |
Wefaq and other groups responded by suspending their participation in a national dialogue designed to heal political divisions. | Wefaq and other groups responded by suspending their participation in a national dialogue designed to heal political divisions. |
Bahrain is seen by Western powers as strategically important, providing a haven for the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in the Gulf. | Bahrain is seen by Western powers as strategically important, providing a haven for the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in the Gulf. |
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