- MANAMA: A 20-year-old woman who recited poems critical of Bahrain’s government was sentenced Sunday to a year in prison by a special security court set up during the kingdom’s crackdown on opposition protesters calling for greater rights.
The tribunal’s decision sent a message that the government is not easing off on punishments linked to the unrest despite appeals for talks with opposition groups.
Opposition leaders have called on authorities to end security crackdowns and trials before considering talks with the government.
The official Bahrain News Agency said Ayat Al-Qurmezi was convicted of anti-state charges, including inciting hatred. She can appeal.
Two former parliament members, Jawad Fairooz and Mattar Mattar, also went on trial as part of wide-ranging arrests and trials of perceived enemies of the ruling system. Both are members of the main opposition political group, Wefaq, whose 18 lawmakers resigned to protest the harsh measures against protesters.
At least 31 people have been killed in the unrest in Bahrain.