Puppet Bahraini court sentences 17 anti-regime protesters to 15 years

A Bahraini court has sentenced 17 anti-regime protesters to 15 years in prison over involvement in the uprising in the country.

On Sunday, defense lawyer Jassim Sarhan said eight of the defendants were in custody, while the rest were tried in absentia.

The ruling was among the harshest sentences imposed for anti-regime demonstrations, although some political leaders have received life sentences in Bahrain.

Sarhan also stated that an appeal was planned.

The Bahraini uprising began in mid-February 2011, when the people, inspired by the popular revolutions that toppled the dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, started holding massive demonstrations.

The Manama regime launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states.

Dozens of people have been killed in the crackdown, and the security forces have arrested hundreds, including doctors and nurses accused of treating injured revolutionaries.

Bahrainis say they will continue holding demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically elected government is met.