651 Citizens Sentenced in Security Cases during 2013 in Bahrain

Bahrain’s Courts imprisoned 651 citizens for taking part in popular protests in 2013, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights announced on Thursday.
The BYSHR confirmed that the Bahraini Courts had issued verdicts in 95 cases, and the charge “assembling and riot” was the most common in 2013, bahrainrights.org reported.

The BYSHR explained that 10 citizens were sentenced with life imprisonment, and 153 citizens were imprisoned for 15 years.

The BYSHR indicated that 120 citizens were sentenced with 10 years and 219 citizens were sentenced with 3 to 5 years in prison, while 149 citizens were sentenced with 1 month to 2 years in prison.

Mohammed Al-Maskati – president of the BYSHR – stated that the Bahraini Courts used freedom restricting laws to punish the protestors.

Al-Maskati explained that since 14 February 2011 the Bahraini Authorities have been arresting and trying citizens on charges related to freedom of opinion and expression.

Judge Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali Al-Khalif