Bahrain Mirror: Bahraini high court of appeals upheld a court of first instance's verdict against an appellant. The court had sentenced him to 3 years in prison over arson and assembly in Samaheej.

The high criminal court handed down 3-year jail term to 3 Bahrainis over burning tires and assembling in Samaheej.

The authorities claim that they received notice stating that fire was set into 3 tires behind Samaheej club. Samaheej police station conducted the needed investigations, sought help from confidential sources and discovered that the first suspect took part in the incident. An arrest warrant was issued by the public prosecution and the suspect was arrested.

The prosecution allege that on April 27, 2015, the suspects, along with other unknowns, set fire to movable assets, endangering people's lives and properties and took part in an assembly of more than 5 people, aiming at disturbing public peace.

Human rights organizations challenge the charges raised against political detainees, since they doubt the independence of the judiciary, whose members are assigned by royal decrees, and since it issues sentences based on confessions extracted under duress and evidence presented by secret investigations and anonymous witnesses.

Arabic Version