Bahrainis rap upholding of death verdicts for 7 activists

People in Bahrain have rallied to condemn the upholding of death sentences handed down to seven pro-democracy activists.

According to reports, on Wednesday evening, scores of Bahrainis marched through the streets and shouted slogans against the Aal-e Khalifah regime in Bilad al-Qadim Town, near the capital, Manama, and elsewhere throughout the country.

Rallies were also held, among other places, in the villages of al-Akar, al-Ma’ameer, al-Sehla, al-Diah, al-Malikiyah, Abu Sabih, Shahrakan, and al-Mahmale.

The rallies came hours after the Bahrain’s Military Court of Cassation approved capital punishment for seven nationals, who it claimed had been found guilty of attempting to assassinate Bahraini Military Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Khalifa bin Ahmed Aal-e Khalifah.

Since April last year, the Bahraini regime has been trying political dissidents in military courts, effectively blocking any view of the proceedings.

During the Wednesday rallies, the demonstrators, carrying placards, called Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Aal-e Khalifah a “criminal.” Protesters in Bilad al-Qadim, al-Akar, and al- Ma’ameer also set fire to tires during the rallies.

Reports said that Bahraini riot police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties and arrests.

Also on Wednesday, the Bahrain Opposition Bloc in London (BOBL) strongly condemned the rulings, stating that the verdicts against a group of civilians exposed the absence of an independent judiciary in the tiny Persian Gulf island State.

SS