DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A military court in Bahrain on Thursday
convicted four Shiite protesters and sentenced them to death for the killing of
two policemen during anti-government demonstrations last month in the Gulf
kingdom, state media said.
Three other Shiite activists, who were also on trial, were sentenced to life
in prison for their role in the policemen's deaths.
The verdicts — which can be appealed — were the first related to Bahrain's
uprising, which was inspired by revolts in the Arab world. The kingdom's Shiite
majority has long complained of discrimination and is campaigning for greater
freedoms and equal rights in the tiny Sunni-ruled island nation, which is home
to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
Bahrain's human rights groups blasted the verdict and said the trial,
conducted in secrecy, had no legal credibility and was politically
motivated.
"This verdict is a message from the government, determined to stop the
democracy movement," said Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Center for Human
Rights. "It's a warning, saying this is how we will treat you if you continue to
demand your rights."
Faced with an unprecedented political unrest, Bahrain's king declared martial
law and invited troops from Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-ruled Gulf countries to
help quell Shiite dissent after weeks of street marches and bloody clashes in
the kingdom's capital, Manama.
A report by the Bahrain News Agency said the defendants had "all their legal
rights" during the trial for what it called "one of the most gruesome murders in
Bahrain."
For the Sunni Arabs rulers around the Gulf, Bahrain also is seen as a
critical showdown with Shiite powerhouse Iran. Arab leaders fear that any
serious political gains by Bahrain's Shiites — about 70 percent of the
population — could open the door for greater influence by the Islamic Republic
even though there is no history of close bonds between Iran and Bahraini
Shiites.
Earlier this month, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council issued a strongly
worded warning to Iran to stop "meddling" in their affairs. Bahrain this week
expelled an Iranian diplomat.
Iran, in turn, has called the Saudi-led force an "occupation" and said it
reserves the right to take further diplomatic action against Bahrain.
The seven opposition supporters sentenced Thursday were tried behind closed
doors on charges of premeditated murder of government employees. In an earlier
hearing this week, Bahrain state media said the military prosecutor presented
evidence that showed the defendants killed the policemen "on purpose" by running
them over with a car.
Their lawyers denied the charges.
Foreign media was barred from the courtroom, but selected representatives
from state-aligned media were allowed. Family members of the defendants also
attended the trial.
A relative of one of the defendants sentenced to death, said there were no
emotional outbursts in the courtroom when the verdicts were read.
"He was smiling when they said it, because he did not want us to cry," the
relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment by the
authorities and of jeopardizing the appeal.
In its report on Thursday's verdicts, state-run BNA carried links to
government-produced videos posted on YouTube, including clips of purported
confessions of alleged accomplices describing the policemen's killings. They
also included testimonials from alleged relatives of one of the slain policemen
and a taxi driver killed in the unrest. The footage refers to demonstrators as
"gangs of outlaws" and "beasts without mercy."
Hundreds of protesters, opposition leaders and human rights activists have
been detained since emergency rule was declared March 15. Earlier this month,
the authorities banned media from covering legal proceedings in the country's
military courts.
Among those detained are also dozens of Shiite professionals, such as doctors
and lawyers, including a lawyer who was to defend some of the seven opposition
supporters in the military court.
The attorney, Mohammed al-Tajer, is one of Bahrain's most prominent human
rights lawyers. He has represented hundreds of clients against the state,
including Shiite activists accused of plotting against the Sunni monarchy that
has ruled Bahrain for more than 200 years.
At least 30 people have died since Feb. 15, when anti-government protests
erupted in Bahrain. Four opposition supporters have also died in police custody.
Bahrain rarely uses capital punishment, and when it does it is usually
applied to foreigners.
The country effectively had a decade-long moratorium on the death penalty
until 2006, when three Bangladeshi citizens were put to death, according to
Amnesty International.
Another Bangladeshi man, Jassim Abdulmanan, was executed last July after
being convicted of premeditated murder. AP
