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| Bahrain Dissidents Said to Get Prison Sentences | Bahrain Dissidents Said to Get Prison Sentences |
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| ISTANBUL — A court in Bahrain handed down sentences of between 5 and 15 years in jail for 50 people on Sunday whom the authorities accused of belonging to a protest movement seeking to overthrow the government, human rights activists said. | ISTANBUL — A court in Bahrain handed down sentences of between 5 and 15 years in jail for 50 people on Sunday whom the authorities accused of belonging to a protest movement seeking to overthrow the government, human rights activists said. |
| The Reuters news agency reported that officials were preparing an announcement about the court’s action, but by late Sunday night none had been issued. | The Reuters news agency reported that officials were preparing an announcement about the court’s action, but by late Sunday night none had been issued. |
| The defendants in the case included a prominent human rights worker, political activists and several exiled opponents of the government, the activists said. | The defendants in the case included a prominent human rights worker, political activists and several exiled opponents of the government, the activists said. |
| The court’s action, if it is confirmed, would appear to be part of a widening effort by the authorities to quash protests led by members of Bahrain’s Shiite majority against the Sunni monarchy, which has been accused by its opponents of discriminating against Shiites and monopolizing power. It seemed likely to fuel further criticism of the monarchy, which has imprisoned or detained a growing number of its most vocal opponents over the last two and a half years of protests. | The court’s action, if it is confirmed, would appear to be part of a widening effort by the authorities to quash protests led by members of Bahrain’s Shiite majority against the Sunni monarchy, which has been accused by its opponents of discriminating against Shiites and monopolizing power. It seemed likely to fuel further criticism of the monarchy, which has imprisoned or detained a growing number of its most vocal opponents over the last two and a half years of protests. |
| Earlier this month, in an escalation of the crackdown, the authorities arrested Khalil al-Marzooq, a former member of Parliament and a leader in Bahrain’s mainstream opposition group, al-Wefaq, which had been engaged in dialogue with the government. | Earlier this month, in an escalation of the crackdown, the authorities arrested Khalil al-Marzooq, a former member of Parliament and a leader in Bahrain’s mainstream opposition group, al-Wefaq, which had been engaged in dialogue with the government. |
| In June, the authorities announced the arrest of “key actors” in the February 14th Youth Coalition, named for the day in 2011 when protests erupted in Bahrain, joining a wave of popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the region. | In June, the authorities announced the arrest of “key actors” in the February 14th Youth Coalition, named for the day in 2011 when protests erupted in Bahrain, joining a wave of popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the region. |
| As the protests have persisted, in what Bahrain’s opposition calls the “forgotten revolt,” the February 14th Youth Coalition has emerged as a leading organizer of the demonstrations, many of them staged in Bahrain’s neglected Shiite villages. | As the protests have persisted, in what Bahrain’s opposition calls the “forgotten revolt,” the February 14th Youth Coalition has emerged as a leading organizer of the demonstrations, many of them staged in Bahrain’s neglected Shiite villages. |
| The government has portrayed the group as a clandestine movement of foreign-backed militants, citing as evidence the use of explosives, the blocking of roads and burning of tires during violent confrontations with the police. In announcing the arrests, the government said that defendants had admitted their responsibility for several attacks. | The government has portrayed the group as a clandestine movement of foreign-backed militants, citing as evidence the use of explosives, the blocking of roads and burning of tires during violent confrontations with the police. In announcing the arrests, the government said that defendants had admitted their responsibility for several attacks. |
| Said Yousif al-Muhafda of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights said that some of the defendants told the judge in the case that they had confessed after being tortured. He said the detainees included Naji Fateel, a human rights activist who was sentenced to 15 years. | Said Yousif al-Muhafda of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights said that some of the defendants told the judge in the case that they had confessed after being tortured. He said the detainees included Naji Fateel, a human rights activist who was sentenced to 15 years. |
| Mr. Muhafda said it was implausible that Mr. Fateel and other activists who frequently spoke to the news media were part of a hidden conspiracy, as the government alleged. | |
| “They don’t do anything in secret — they work publicly,” he said. | “They don’t do anything in secret — they work publicly,” he said. |