Bahrain protesters return to streets as activists imprisoned

A BAHRAINI court sentenced eight Shiite activists to life in prison yesterday, triggering the first major protests in months by hundreds of anti-government demonstrators demanding political freedom and equal rights from the Sunni monarchy.

Witnesses said police fired tear gas at marchers trying to reach a central square in Bahrain's capital, Manama, that was once the hub of their campaign for greater freedom, which began in February as the political tumult in the Arab world spread to the Gulf.

After the court ruling, Shiite crowds blocked roads and called for the protest marches. It was the first serious unrest after months of a security lockdown by military and police units in Bahrain, a key American military ally and home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

The court handed down life sentences for eight Shiite activists and long jail terms for 13 others. They were convicted of trying to overthrow Bahrain's 200-year-old monarchy and of having links to "a terrorist organisation abroad".

"It's a political verdict," said Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). "All those convicted were targeted because of activities to bring about change and democracy in Bahrain."

Angry crowds took their grievances back to the streets after the verdict, despite the strengthened police presence around the Gulf island.

Shiites account for 70 per cent of Bahrain's population, but claim they face systematic discrimination, such as being barred from top government and political posts.

The protests in Bahrain have claimed at least 31 lives since February and put western officials in the difficult position of denouncing the violence while standing by the allied rulers.

The kingdom's rulers fear that any gains by Bahrain's Shiites could open new footholds for influence by Iran, a predominantly Shiite country that is a main regional rival of the Sunni Arab-led nations just across the Gulf. Bahrain also accuses Iranian-backed Hezbollah of having a role in the protests.

Shiite leaders in Bahrain have repeatedly denied any ties to Iran and accuse leaders of using the fears of Iranian string-pulling to wage crackdowns that have included hundreds of arrests and purges from jobs and universities.

Fourteen of the 21 convicted are in custody, while the rest were sentenced in absentia by the security court, which was set up during martial law-style rule that was imposed in March.

The emergency rule was lifted on 1 June, but the arrests and trials at a military-civilian tribunal with military prosecutors have continued.

The official Bahrain News Agency said those sentenced to life included prominent Shiite political figures Hassan Mushaima and Abdul Jalil al-Singace and rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.Mushaima returned from self-exile in London earlier this year after Bahrain's leaders promised to drop old charges of opposing the state.

Pro-reform activist Ibrahim Sharif - the only Sunni among the suspects - received five years in prison, while other sentences ranged from two to 15 years.

At least two of those sentenced to life hold European passports: al-Khawaja, who is a Danish citizen, and Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, who has Swedish citizenship.