Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini High Court of Appeal upheld a sentence issued in absentia against the appellants of cases linked to a demonstration, possession of Molotov cocktails, and "assault on security forces" in Manama.

The High Criminal Court had sentenced 3 defendants to 10 years of imprisonment, while 4 others were sentenced to 7, on charges of "gathering and demonstrating, possessing Molotov bombs and assaulting security forces in Manama."

According to the case documents, a group of demonstrators, around 90 individuals, took to the street behind al-Naim Police Station on April 29, 2013. There, they clashed with security forces, which were present to disperse the crowd. In response, the protesters threw Molotov bombs, iron wires and stones in the direction of security forces; and thus a member of the forces was hit on his hand by a Molotov cocktail, which did not explode.

A security patrol vehicle was also damaged by a petrol bomb, and on the site of the incident, security forces found 16 Molotov cocktails, a bottle of gasoline, and a pair of shoes. Meanwhile, investigations identifies 6 suspects, and was able to arrest 4, and at a later time the police arrested the 7th suspect.

The Public Prosecution referred the seven defendants, 5 of which are detained, to court, after linking them to charges of assaulting the wounded policeman, who was on duty, injuring him in order to conduct a terrorist act. The defendants were also charged with joining an assembly of more than 5 persons and demonstrating, for the purpose of disturbing public security, and endangering people's lives.

Human rights organizations challenge the charges raised against political detainees, since they doubt the independence of the judiciary, whose members are assigned by royal decrees, and since it issues sentences based on confessions extracted under duress and evidence presented by secret investigations and anonymous witnesses.

Arabic Version