Eight Bahraini protesters sentenced to life in prison

Eight Bahraini protesters sentenced to life in prison

2011-06-22 23:18:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANAMA, BAHRAIN (BNO NEWS) -- Eight rights activists from Bahrain were sentenced to life in prison in a military court on Wednesday following several weeks of unrest and protests earlier this year, state-run media reported.

Bahrain's Lower National Safety Court announced the verdict on Wednesday on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. In addition to the eight people sentenced to life, 13 others were sentenced to between 2 and 15 years in prison.

All of the sentenced, however, have 15 days to appeal their sentencing in Bahrain's National Safety Appeal Court. A number of people representing human rights organizations attended the sentencing, as did local and international media, as well as family and friends of those sentenced.

Protests by mostly Shia Muslims were held during the months of February and March to demand political freedom and the end of King Hamad's rule of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has lasted over 12 years.

In mid-March, King Hamad declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency as security forces and troops carried out raids and violently confronted protesters who had been gathering and camping at the Pearl Roundabout in the city of Manama. According to Bahrain's Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa, at least 24 people died during the uprisings, including four security officers, seven civilians and 13 protesters.

Those sentenced to life were Abdul Wahab Hussain Ahmad, Hassan Ali Hassan Mushaima, Mohammed Habib Al Safaf, Ibrahim Shareef Abdulrahim Musa, Abduljalil Radhi Mansoor Maki, Abduljalil Abdulla Al Sankees, Saeed Mirza Ahmad, and Abdulhadi Abdulla Habil Al Khawajah.

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