Bahraini Regime Sentences Four to Death for Killing Two Policemen During the Protests Last Month

Bahraini Protests (ibtimes.com)

A Bahraini military court sentenced on Thursday four Shiite Muslims to death for their involvement in killing two policemen last months during the protests in the capital of the state against the Sunni ruling royal family.

According to Bahrain’s news agency, three other activists who were in the same trial received sentences of life in prison.

Human rights activists fear that this sentences may trigger a new wave of protests in the Persian Gulf kingdom.

They say trials were biased by different irregularities including the arrest of a lawyer who was representing the defendants. Furthermore, the suspects were not allowed to meet with their families.

Bahraini Protests (upi.com)

Activists are concerned that the decision will spark a new wave of violent outburst against the regime, and fear that the days to come could be very difficult for the little Gulf kingdom, whose riots were toned down only after the intervention of the armies of a coalition of Gulf countries.

Since the protests started in March, 30 people were reported killed.

Four of them are reported killed after being brutally tortured in prison.

The authorities recognized the deaths without explaining the cause of death.

The Shiite population of Bahrain has protested against the corruption, and poor life conditions in the small kingdom that is being ruled by a Sunni royal family.

They also demanded a wider political representation and a saying in the decision-making process, exercised now mainly by the members of the royal family.

The king declared martial law and, under a regional treatise’s provision, invited a coalition led by Saudi army to install order in the country.