Show Trial Verdicts Further Stain Bahrain\u2019s Reputation
\nFor Immediate Release: June 22, 2011
\nHuman Rights Defenders<\/p>\n
Washington, D.C.\u2014Today, verdicts of 21 defendants were pronounced in Bahrain\u2019s large political show trial. The verdicts expose the travesty of Bahrain\u2019s military courts, and make the prospects of reconciliation even more remote, said Human Rights First.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was not a fair or proper legal process by any standard\u2014there was evidence of torture, denial of proper contact with lawyers and failure to provide basic legal safeguards. This was a sham trial, another stain on Bahrain\u2019s already discredited human rights record,\u201d said HRF\u2019s Brian Dooley, who was refused entry to observe the court hearings on May 12.<\/p>\n
Eight of the 21 defendants were sentenced to life in prison, including prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Al Khawaja. The other 13 were given between two and 15 years imprisonment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe verdicts undermine the Bahraini authorities\u2019 attempts to show that normalcy has been restored. They continue to commit serious human rights violations, including pronouncing people guilty after unfair trials,\u201d added Dooley. …more<\/a><\/p>\n