Bahrainis Stage Rallies to Condemn Military Court Death Sentences (+Photo)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Bahraini people from all walks of life took to the streets in various cities of the Persian Gulf country to condemn the Al Khalifa regime’s move to sentence six citizens to death in a military court on political grounds.
The demonstrations were held in different cities and villages across the Arab country on Monday night after the Manama regime issued death sentences against six citizens on trumped-up charges, according to local media reports.
According to Bahraini sources, the six had been subjected to physical and psychological torture for the duration of their imprisonment before being tried in the military court.
Also, the Bahraini clerics, in a statement, condemned the military court death sentences against civilians and called for the repeal of the sentences.
Earlier in the day, a Bahrain military court handed down the sentences and revoked the six people's citizenship for "forming a terror cell, attempting to assassinate Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifah and committing other acts of terror."
The King of Bahrain on April ratified the constitutional amendment giving the military judiciary vast authorities, including trying civilians.
Bahraini authorities claim that this law is meant to combat terrorism, yet it brings back the same approach of military courts upon which authorities tried people by virtue of the martial law imposed by the king in March 2011.
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
