Bahraini courts issued death sentences for 32 anti-regime activists since 2011

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) has condemned the kingdom’s persistence on passing death sentences against Shia activists, calling the practice an “inhuman punishment” as the ruling Al Khalifah regime presses ahead with its heavy clampdown on political dissidents and pro-democracy activists in the kingdom.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) has condemned the kingdom’s persistence on passing death sentences against Shia activists, calling the practice an “inhuman punishment” as the ruling Al Khalifah regime presses ahead with its heavy clampdown on political dissidents and pro-democracy activists in the kingdom.

The center, in a statement released on Tuesday, announced that law courts have issued death sentences against 32 Shia figures since 2011, of which three have been carried out, seven have been comminuted to life imprisonment and two others been appealed.

“All these verdicts have been pronounced following unfair trials, and therefore do not comply with the guarantees of fair trials. The BCHR has documented many cases in which those sentenced to death have been subjected to torture,” the statement read.

The BCHR then called on the Manama regime to reverse all death sentences and sign the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which is aiming at the abolition of death penalty.