Bahraini court upholds 15-year jail terms against 7 dissidents

A court in Bahrain has upheld 15-year jail terms handed down to seven citizens as the Manama regime presses ahead with its crackdown on human rights activists and pro-democracy campaigners in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.

According to Press TV quoting the Arabic-language and independent Manama Post online newspaper, on Thursday, Bahrain’s Court of Appeal found the defendants guilty of killing a member of security forces and setting his patrol car ablaze with a Molotov cocktail during clashes in the village of Karzakan, located 20 kilometers southwest of the capital Manama, on December 17, 2015.

The court also pressed charges of illegal gathering and rioting in addition to possession of flammable materials against the convicts, and ordered them to pay 10,200 dinars ($27,835) altogether over damage inflicted on regime forces during the protest.

Manama piles up pressure on Shias ahead of Ashura

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s ruling Ale Khalifah regime has intensified its repressive measures ahead of Ashura, which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH) – the third Shia Imam.

Manama regime’s mercenaries, escorted by security forces, raided the northern village of al-Musalla on the western outskirts of Manama and took down Ashura banners and flags using crane baskets.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.

They are demanding that the Ale Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

ME