African trade ministers meet in Cairo to push forward with AfCFTA    Scatec's $3.6bn renewables portfolio part of Egypt's NWFE energy pillar    Egypt's stocks end lower on Sept 16    Egypt launches international architecture academy with UNESCO, European partners    Egypt's President, Pakistan's PM condemn Israeli attack on Qatar    Egypt's PM, Russian deputy PM discuss industrial zone, Dabaa nuclear plant    Egypt signs MoUs with 3 European universities to advance architecture, urban studies    Sisi tells global leaders at Macron's video conference: Israel crossed all red lines    Egypt to begin second phase of universal health insurance in Minya    Madrid trade talks focus on TikTok as US and China seek agreement    Power of Proximity: How Egyptian University Students Fall in Love with Their Schools Via Social Media Influencers    Egypt wins Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Esna revival project    Egypt's Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart meet in Doha    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Egypt advances plans to upgrade historic Cairo with Azbakeya, Ataba projects    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Bahrain''s top Shia cleric condemns life sentences for protest leaders
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 24 - 06 - 2011

Manama - Bahrain's top Shia cleric on Friday sharply criticized the life sentences given to eight opposition leaders for their role in anti-government protests in this Gulf kingdom.
Sheik Isa Qassim's sermon is the latest signal that Shia leaders could snub Sunni rulers' appeals for dialogue next month amid the crackdown in Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.
The cleric called the mass trials of Shia opposition figures unfair and appealed to the nation's Sunni rulers to overturn the sentences.
“This is not an environment for a political solution, when people are suffering,” the cleric said during the Friday sermon in Diraz, an opposition stronghold northwest of the capital, Manama. “These sentences and abuses are like a dam preventing people from participating in dialogue.”
A special security court on Wednesday convicted 21 opposition figures of plotting to overthrow the royal family. Eight leaders received life sentences and 13 others got long prison terms.
In a statement Friday, Bahrain's government defended the sentences, saying that the activists were convicted of “plotting to violently topple Bahrain's government” and “passing sensitive information to a terrorist organization in a foreign country.”
Authorities claim that Iran was behind the protests they say were aimed at overthrowing the 200-year-old monarchy. Sunni rulers across the Gulf fear that any Shia gains in the country could open new footholds for influence by Shia power Iran. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states sent troops to help quell the revolt.
Shia leaders in Bahrain repeatedly have denied any ties to Iran and accuse leaders of using the fears of Iranian string-pulling to wage crackdowns. At least 31 people have died in the unrest and hundreds have been detained since February.
Bahrain's ruling dynasty has proposed opening talks with opposition delegates 1 July, but the outreach has met a cool reception from Shia leaders demanding that authorities roll back security measures and halt the trials against activists.
The security court was set up under martial law that was imposed in March to quell protests, and has promoted criticism from Bahrain's Western allies.
The US had expressed concern about the severity of the sentences and the use of the military-linked security courts. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also has urged Bahrain's government to allow political activists to appeal their sentences.
Fourteen of the 21 convicted are in custody while the rest were sentenced in absentia.
The security court has presided over a series of cases linked to the protests, including issuing two death sentences against men accused of killing police officers during the demonstrations.
Earlier this month, it sentenced a 20-year-old woman to a year in prison for reading poetry critical of Bahrain's king.
A trial is scheduled to resume next week for more than 30 doctors and nurses accused of supporting the protests. Some of the medical personnel claim they were abused while in custody.


Clic here to read the story from its source.