Tribunal sends Bahrain protester to prison<\/p>\n
By Brian Murphy, Sunday, June 12, 4:44 PM<\/p>\n
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates \u2014 A 20-year-old woman who recited poems critical of Bahrain\u2019s rulers \u2014 and later claimed she was beaten in jail \u2014 was sentenced Sunday to a year in prison as part of the kingdom\u2019s crackdown on Shiite protesters calling for greater rights.<\/p>\n
The ruling by a special security tribunal sent a strong message that Bahrain\u2019s Sunni monarchy is not easing off on punishments linked to the unrest despite appeals for talks with Shiite groups in the strategic Persian Gulf island nation, which is home to the U.S. Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet.<\/p>\n
Ayat al-Qurmezi became a minor celebrity among protesters after reciting poems critical of Bahrain\u2019s king and prime minister during gatherings in the capital\u2019s Pearl Square, which was the hub for Shiite-led demonstrations that broke out in February after drawing inspiration from the Arab uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.<\/p>\n
One verse, addressed to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, included the lines: \u201cWe are the people who will kill humiliation and assassinate misery. Don\u2019t you hear their cries? Don\u2019t you hear their screams?\u201d<\/p>\n
She was convicted of anti-state charges, including inciting hatred, the official Bahrain News Agency reported. Her mother, Sada al-Qurmezi, said an appeal is planned. …more<\/a><\/p>\n