Bahrain military court gives death sentence to six dissidents

A court in Bahrain has sentenced six anti-regime protesters to death and revoked their citizenship as the ruling Al Khalifah regime presses ahead with its heavy-handed clampdown on political dissidents and pro-democracy campaigners in the Gulf kingdom.

A court in Bahrain has sentenced six anti-regime protesters to death and revoked their citizenship as the ruling Al Khalifah regime presses ahead with its heavy-handed clampdown on political dissidents and pro-democracy campaigners in the Gulf kingdom.

On Monday, the Military High Court found the defendants guilty of “forming a terror cell, attempting to assassinate Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifah and committing other acts of terror.”

Bahrain’s state-run news agency reported that one of those sentenced to death, identified as Mubarak Adel Mubarak Mahanna, was a serving soldier before his arrest.

The court sentenced seven other defendants to seven-year jail terms and deprived them too of their citizenship. Five men were acquitted.

Only 10 of the defendants are in custody, while the other eight are on the run – either inside Bahrain or in neighboring countries.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.