Bahrain court quashes doctors' convictions

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Bahrain court quashes doctors' convictions

Martin Chulov
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 14 June 2012 12.28 BST

Convictions against nine Bahraini doctors accused of playing leading roles in anti-government protests last year have been quashed and sentences against nine others downgraded by an appeals court.

In a contentious ruling that follows widespread international condemnation of the medics' trials, one senior orthopedic surgeon, Ali al-Akri, still faces five years' imprisonment, while another, Ibrahim al-Dimistani, has been sentenced to three years.

Bahraini authorities immediately issued arrest warrants for the nine medics still facing jail time. Two more doctors from an original group of 20 did not appeal against earlier verdicts of 15 years in custody, which were handed down by a military court. They are understood to have fled.

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The charges followed an Arab-spring uprising led by the country's Shia majority against its Sunni rulers. After street clashes in February last year, protesters were ousted from their hub at a roundabout in the centre of the capital. They then reconvened in the grounds of the hospital, which was receiving most of the injuries from the demonstrations.

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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/14/bahrain-appeal-court-convicts-doctors

[Eugene]

1. Bahrain eases medic sentences, U.S. "deeply disappointed"

Source: Reuters

Bahrain eases medic sentences, U.S. "deeply disappointed"

By Samia Nakhoul
MANAMA | Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:32pm EDT

(Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it was "deeply disappointed" by a Bahrain court verdict which failed to strike down sentences against medics over their role in last year's pro-democracy uprising.

The court in the Gulf Arab state, an important U.S. ally that hosts Washington's Fifth Fleet, reduced sentences against nine medical professionals and acquitted nine others, but rights groups also criticized the decision to keep some of them in jail, saying it was politically motivated to placate hardliners within the ruling family.

"While sentences were reduced, we are deeply disappointed by these convictions, and that the Bahraini government did not use alternative means to address these cases," visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner told a press conference.

"These convictions appear to be based, at least in part, on the defendants' criticisms of government actions and policies."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/14/us-bahrain-medics-idUSBRE85D1D920120614