“The action taken by the Bahrain foreign ministry aims to divert attention and neglect the realities and is in line with the divisive intention of foreigners”
Seven Bahraini protesters may face death sentences at a martial court this week over charges of killing two security men, a leading opposition activist said on Tuesday.
The seven men are allegedly accused of "premeditated murder" of two policemen during clashes when security forces quashed a month-long protest demanding democratic reforms, ex-MP Matar Matar told AFP. The verdict is expected on Thursday, Matar said, adding that the prosecution has demanded death sentences.
The seven are Ali Abdullah Hassan, Qasim Hassan Mattar, Saeed Abdul Jalil Saeed, Issa Abdullah Kazem, Abdul Aziz Abdullah Ibrahim, Sadiq Ali Mahdi, and Hussein Jaafar Abdul Karim.
He added that the trial was being held in camera, and that lawyers were not given enough time to study the case.
The trial of the seven defendants began on April 17, when the official BNA news agency said that they were accused of "committing voluntary homicide of public officials with terrorist intentions."
BAHRAINI FORCES’ BRUTALITY
New footage coming out of Bahrain shows Saudi-backed regime forces destroying mosques as its brutal crackdown on protesters continue.
Bahrain's main opposition party, al-Wefaq, says over 30 holy sites have been destroyed since the anti-regime protests began in mid-February.
Also on Sunday, Saudi-backed Bahraini forces stormed into an all-girls school in the north of the country as part of the government's violent crackdown on the popular revolution.
Rights groups say government forces have even raided hospitals and tortured doctors and patients as part of their efforts to suppress protest rallies and punish those that provide medical treatment to those injured in the brutal crackdown. Over 30 medical workers have so far gone missing since the uprising began.
RETALIATORY MEASURES TO DIPLOMAT EXPULSION
In the meantime, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has ruled out Bahrain's allegations against an Iranian diplomat, warning Manama of retaliatory measures. “The latest move by the Bahraini foreign ministry is against the two countries' good neighborly relations and not based on realities,” IRNA quoted Mehmanparast as saying late Monday.
The Iranian spokesperson's comments came after Bahraini authorities issued an order on Monday, asking an Iranian diplomat to leave the country within 72 hours over alleged links with a spy cell in Kuwait.
Mehmanparast also rejected charges of “undiplomatic behavior” leveled by Bahraini officials against the Iranian envoy. The senior Iranian diplomat also pointed out that the Islamic Republic reserves the right to take retaliatory measures against Bahrain.
The BNA news agency named the official as Hujatullah Rahmani and said Iran's charge d'affaires in Bahrain was summoned on Monday to the foreign ministry where the decision had been conveyed to him.
