Amnesty International urges Bahrain to halt execution of protesters

[News_Editor]

Amnesty International urges Bahrain to halt execution of protesters

2011-04-30 08:15:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- Amnesty International on Friday called on Bahraini authorities to stop the execution of four protesters sentenced to death by a military court over the killing of two police officers in anti-government demonstrations last month.

"The Bahraini authorities have a responsibility to bring to justice those who commit violent crimes. But when doing so, they must uphold the right to fair trial and they must not use the death penalty under any circumstances," Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement.

"In this case, the accused were tried before a special military court, although they are civilians. It also appears that the trial was conducted behind closed doors. As well, those sentenced have no right of appeal except to another special military court, raising great fears about the fairness of the entire process."

The court sentenced four people to death on 28 April, while three other defendants tried with them were sentenced to life in prison by the same court. All seven accused are reported to have denied the charges.

The seven men were accused of the premeditated murder of two policemen by running them over with a vehicle on 16 March, a day after Bahrain's King declared a state of emergency. Since the state of emergency was imposed, more than 500 people have been arrested with many of them detained incommunicado and at undisclosed locations, while at least four have died in detention since the end of March.

Bahrain's social unrest began after protesters called for a "Day of Rage" on February 14 to mark the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter, which returned the country to constitutional rule after the 1990s uprisings.

Initially, people took to the streets to demand reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy, but later they began to call for the removal of the royal family. Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, is ruled by the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family, but two-thirds of its population is Shiite.

In March, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait deployed their troops to Bahrain to reinforce a massive armed crackdown on the popular uprising. More than 25 people have been killed, hundreds arrested and thousands injured in the government-authorized violence.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-30

[bangkokeddy]

Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, is ruled by the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family, but two-thirds of its population is Shiite.

The US should move its Navy away to distance themselves from that ruling family.

[EnSvenskTiger]

Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, is ruled by the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family, but two-thirds of its population is Shiite.

The US should move its Navy away to distance themselves from that ruling family.

How about to the shore of the USA?

Tiger

Edited April 30, 2011 by EnSvenskTiger