Hundreds sentenced in Bahrain’s military courts

In Bahrain, more than 100 demonstrators are behind bars due to lengthy government-run military courts, according to human rights groups in the country. The findings are released to coincide with a report submitted to Bahrain’s King Hamid bin Isa Al Halifa today on the ongoing crackdown on protesters who have been advocating for democratic reforms for more than a year.

The report, conducted by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, says that total sentences handed down through the military tribunals to date are about 500, with more than 100 of those receiving harsh sentences, such as life in prison or the death penalty. More than twenty are either teachers or medical staff.

Also today, the UN’s Human Rights office expressed concern about the government’s excessive use of tear gas to suppress protests, which has led to an estimated 30 deaths.

Speaking today in Geneva, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Rupert Colville, said the disproportionate use of force by Bahrain’s security forces was “worrying” and called on the government to investigate the incidents.

"Reliable sources indicate that the civilians who died from tear gas suffered complications from gas inhalation, and that security forces have been firing metal tear gas canisters from grenade launchers into crowds. We call on the Government of Bahrain to investigate the alleged use of such excessive force."

Colville also called on the government to protect the health of prisoners, such as Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is on a 40 day hunger strike. Khawaja is protesting a life sentence he received last summer.

The U.N. human rights office said it is sending an expert team to Bahrain at the end of the month for talks with the government.

An investigation from the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, a group set by the royal government that officially called itself independent, found that government forces were responsible in some incidents of torture, detention and violating the rights of hospital patients. The commission released its findings last December and today’s report submitted to the King followsup on the recommendations, which include compensating the victims of torture and detention. It also said, quote: ““The State should never again resort to detention without prompt access to lawyers, and without access to the outside world for more than two or three days.”

According to Al Arabiya, the government pointed to reforms, such as the increased inspection of detention centers by the Red Cross. But activists cited continued violations of human rights.

Source: Free Speech Radio News, March 20, 2012