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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bahrain rejects jailed opposition activists' appeal | Bahrain rejects jailed opposition activists' appeal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bahrain's highest appeal court has upheld the sentences of 13 activists for their part in anti-government protests in 2011, lawyers say. | Bahrain's highest appeal court has upheld the sentences of 13 activists for their part in anti-government protests in 2011, lawyers say. |
| This was their last possible chance of getting their convictions overturned, their defence lawyers said. | This was their last possible chance of getting their convictions overturned, their defence lawyers said. |
| Some of the activists received life sentences after being convicted of plotting to overthrow the state. | Some of the activists received life sentences after being convicted of plotting to overthrow the state. |
| Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since pro-democracy demonstrations began in February 2011. | Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since pro-democracy demonstrations began in February 2011. |
| The protesters had occupied a prominent landmark in the capital, Manama, to demand more rights and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni royal family. | The protesters had occupied a prominent landmark in the capital, Manama, to demand more rights and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni royal family. |
| But they were forcibly driven out a month later by security forces after the king declared a state of emergency and brought in troops from neighbouring Sunni Gulf states to restore order and crush dissent. | But they were forcibly driven out a month later by security forces after the king declared a state of emergency and brought in troops from neighbouring Sunni Gulf states to restore order and crush dissent. |
| Since then, at least 60 people - including several police officers - have been killed, hundreds have been injured and thousands jailed. | Since then, at least 60 people - including several police officers - have been killed, hundreds have been injured and thousands jailed. |
| 'Final' verdict | 'Final' verdict |
| The 13 who lost their final appeal were among 20 opposition leaders and activists - seven of whom were tried in absentia - who were originally convicted by a special military tribunal in 2011 of plotting to overthrow the state. | The 13 who lost their final appeal were among 20 opposition leaders and activists - seven of whom were tried in absentia - who were originally convicted by a special military tribunal in 2011 of plotting to overthrow the state. |
| Eight of them received life sentences, including Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who last year staged a 110-day hunger strike in protest at his detention. | |
| Two others who received life sentences are Hassan Mushaima and Abdeljalil al-Singace, both leaders of an unauthorised Shia group, the al-Haq (Truth) Movement for Liberty and Democracy. | |
| All 20 lost an appeal in a civilian court last September. | All 20 lost an appeal in a civilian court last September. |
| Human Rights groups condemned the sentences, saying there was no evidence that the activists had used or advocated violence during their protests and that their subsequent detention and trial contravened international law. | |
| Only 13 filed appeals to Bahrain's highest court. | Only 13 filed appeals to Bahrain's highest court. |
| "This verdict is final, there are no more appeals possible, it is the last stage of litigation," defence lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi told Reuters news agency by telephone from Manama. | "This verdict is final, there are no more appeals possible, it is the last stage of litigation," defence lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi told Reuters news agency by telephone from Manama. |
| The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner says this is a clear victory for hardliners in the government and the ruling family, who consider calls for regime change an unforgivable crime. | |
| They will have resisted calls by moderates for pardons, he says. The ruling is likely to draw criticism from human rights groups and stimulate further protests in the Shia districts and villages, our correspondent adds. | They will have resisted calls by moderates for pardons, he says. The ruling is likely to draw criticism from human rights groups and stimulate further protests in the Shia districts and villages, our correspondent adds. |