US hits Egyptian jail sentences for Americans

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is condemning Egyptian convictions and jail sentences against 43 nonprofit workers, including 16 Americans, after what the U.S. considered a "politically motivated trial."

Secretary of State John Kerry says the convictions on allegations of using foreign funds to foment unrest in Egypt violate freedom of expression and undercut the country's democratic transition.

White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the U.S. is deeply concerned by the court ruling. She says it undermines universal human rights protections and calls into question whether Egypt's government is committed to supporting a civil society.

The jail sentences handed down Tuesday range up to five years. Most of the Americans, including the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, already had left the country. One American, Robert Becker, stayed in Egypt.

Kerry said civic groups play a key role in democracies and urged Egypt's government to address its people's democratic aspirations as demanded by the constitution.

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Cleric decries Bahrain protest leaders' sentences (AP)

MANAMA, Bahrain – Bahrain's top Shiite 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 Shiite leaders could snub Sunni rulers' appeals for dialogue next month amid the crackdown in Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

The cleric called the mass trials of Shiite 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 Shiite gains in the country could open new footholds for influence by Shiite power Iran. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states sent troops to help quell the revolt.

Shiite 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 July 1, but the outreach has met a cool reception from Shiite 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 U.S. had expressed concern about the severity of the sentences and the use of the military-linked security courts. U.N. 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.

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Bahrain opposition figures given life sentences (Reuters)

MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain sentenced eight prominent Shi'ite Muslim activists and opposition leaders to life in prison on Wednesday on charges of plotting a coup during protests in the Gulf island kingdom earlier this year.

The sentencing stoked tensions in the kingdom, where small groups of demonstrators have held daily protests since emergency law was lifted on June 1, and may undermine a national dialogue planned by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa to start next month.

"No dialogue with al-Khalifa! We demand the release of the prisoners," shouted some 100 protesters in one village near the capital Manama, before riot police broke up the demonstration.

In all 21 defendants, six of them tried in absentia, were charged with plotting to overthrow the government by force in collusion with "a terrorist organization" working for a foreign country. They can appeal the sentences.

Seconds after the verdict was issued, one of the defendants lined up in grey prison suits shouted: "We will continue our peaceful struggle." Other defendants responded by shaking their fists and shouting "peaceful, peaceful."

Policemen hustled them from the courtroom. Some relatives responded by chanting the Muslim rallying cry "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) and one woman was dragged out of the chamber.

Among those who received life sentences was Shi'ite dissident Hassan Mushaimaa, leader of the hardline opposition group Haq, and Abduljalil al-Singace, from the same party. Haq joined two other groups in calling for the overthrow of the monarchy during mass protests in February and March.

Abdel Wahab Hussain, head of Wafa, another group that called for a republic, was also jailed for life. Ibrahim Sharif, Sunni Muslim leader of the secular leftist Waad party, received five years in prison. Waad and Bahrain's largest Shi'ite opposition group Wefaq had called for reform of the monarchy.

Danish-Bahraini citizen Abdulhady al-Khawaja, a rights activist, also received a life sentence, in the presence of several foreign diplomats who said the Danish embassy had not been granted access to Khawaja.

Bahrain's government said in a statement the "sentencing sends a message that law and order will be preserved.

"The defendants convicted today do not represent any significant number of the population, who actually believe that the way forward is through dialogue and peaceful means."

The United States, whose Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, criticized the sentences. "We are concerned about the severity of the sentences handed down," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "We're also concerned about the use of military courts to try these civilians."

Britain, too, expressed concern that civilians were being tried before military judges. Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said Ibrahim Sharif was "a prominent moderate politician who has been a constructive participant in Bahraini politics and represents a registered political party."

The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned as "political score-settling" the charges against the defendants, who included two bloggers.

"It is now incumbent on the international community, and particularly the kingdom's closest allies, to unambiguously convey to Bahrain that such blatant contempt for basic rights will not be tolerated," the group said in a statement.

PROTESTERS OUTRAGED

Bahrain's Sunni rulers, backed by forces from neighboring Sunni Gulf Arab states, crushed weeks of protests, mostly by majority Shi'ites, in March. Manama says the demonstrators had a

had a sectarian agenda backed by Shi'ite power Iran.

The opposition denies this, saying the protests aimed only to bring about democratic reform in the island monarchy.

Helicopters buzzed above Shi'ite villages and police armed with sound grenades and tear gas sought to snuff out protests.

In the island of Sitra, a hotspot for protests, youths blocked police cars by strewing cinder blocks, nails and wooden cupboards along village roads.

"I was furious at the nerve of the ruling family that they would give life sentences and then ask us to go to talks," said one woman protester named Maryam. "They were our symbols and the government chose to crush them. What does that say for us?"

Young men behind her regrouped in a protracted cat-and-mouse game with police. "Down, down (King) Hamad," they shouted.

Some observers have suggested King Hamad may try to cool tensions before the dialogue by granting a general amnesty to many of those jailed in recent trials.

In a statement, Wefaq said "these sentences will create an eternal political crisis without a quick ... solution."

Earlier, Wefaq spokesman Khalil al-Marzouq said Wefaq would not meet the government's Thursday deadline for responding to the invitation to dialogue, and could not say if it would join.

"Those people are a critical portion of the movement. How can there be a dialogue while they are in prison?" he asked.

(Additional reporting by Tabassum Zakaria in Washington; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

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Bahrain sentences 10 Shi'ites to life in prison (Reuters)

MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain sentenced 10 prominent Shi'ite activists and opposition leaders to life in prison on Wednesday on charges of plotting a coup during protests in the Gulf island kingdom earlier this year.

The sentencing could inflame tensions in the Gulf Arab kingdom, where demonstrators have launched small protests every day after emergency law was lifted on June 1. It may also threaten a national dialogue planned to start next month.

Seconds after the verdict was issued, one of 21 defendants lined up in grey prison suits shouted: "We will continue our peaceful struggle." Other defendants responded by shaking their fists and shouting "peaceful, peaceful."

Police officers pulled them out of the courtroom.

Some of the defendant's family members shouted "God is great," and one woman was dragged out of the courtroom. Her relatives say her whereabouts are unknown.

Among those who received life sentences was Shi'ite dissident Hassan Mushaimaa, leader of the hardline opposition group Haq, and Abduljalil al-Singace from the same party. Haq joined two other groups in calling for the overthrow of the monarchy during mass protests in February and March.

Ibrahim Sharif, the Sunni leader of the secular leftist Waad party, was sentenced to five years in prison. Waad and Bahrain's largest Shi'ite opposition group Wefaq had called for reform of the monarchy.

Representatives from several European embassies as well as the United States were in the courtroom, where other defendants received prison terms ranging from two to 15 years.

The charges ranged from incitement to attempting to overthrow the government by force in collusion with "a terrorist organization" working for a foreign country.

Bahrain's Sunni rulers, backed by forces from neighboring Sunni Gulf Arab states, crushed weeks of protests in March mostly by members of the Shi'ite majority. Manama says the protests had a sectarian agenda backed by Shi'ite power Iran.

The opposition argues the charges aim to distract Bahrain's ally the United States, which has its Navy's Fifth Fleet in the country, from activists' calls for democratic reform.

SURPRISE OUTCOME

Some observers have suggested King Hamad bin Isa may try to cool tensions before the dialogue by granting a general amnesty to many of those jailed in recent trials.

But opposition groups said they were surprised by the severity of the sentences before the planned talks.

"It's good no one got the death penalty but still, this will not be the right way to start dialogue. The sentences were much harsher than we expected," said a member of Bahrain's leading opposition group, Wefaq. "This is very bad."

Government officials were not immediately available for comment.

Members of the secular Waad party said they had been expecting Sharif, the party head, to be released.

"This was really surprising," one Waad member said. "It may affect our decision to go to dialogue but it's unclear, we still want to move forward for the country's future and there is always appeal."

The Danish-Bahraini citizen Abdulhady al-Khawaja, a rights activist, also received a life sentence.

"People will go out today now for sure, people will be angry. They will go to the streets because all of these were unfair trials," a relative of Khawaja said.

Bahrain says it has tried only a small number of the demonstrators, targeting those who were involved in criminal activity. The government contests the opposition's estimate that some 400 people are on trial, saying the number is far smaller.

"It seemed everything went according to the rules," one diplomat told Reuters after the trial. "At the same time it feels like the sentence was decided before it even started."

(Editing by Sami Aboudi and Elizabeth Piper)

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