Bahraini appeals court revokes jail terms of medics

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Two other medics did not appeal the November verdict meted out to the 23 defendants of three months in prison or payment of 200 dinars ($ 530), the lawyers said, without elaborating.

Lawyer Abdulla Al Shamlawi says a court issued the acquittals, but left charges against two who did not appear in court.

In October, five doctors lost their appeals on protest-related charges. Others have been freed or tried in absentia.

The medics had been convicted of committing crimes and violations, breaching the law and the medical norms, as well as taking part in unauthorised demonstrations.

They were among a group of 47 medics rounded up in the wake of a crackdown on protests in March 2011. Many medics allege they were tortured in custody.

Nine of them were handed jail terms of between one month and five years, while nine others were acquitted and two remain at large.

Arrests of dozens of doctors and nurses were part of the crackdown by Bahrain against anti-government protests that began in 2011 by those who seek a greater political voice.

International medical groups denounced the arrests. The medics were charged with taking part in illegal protests and other acts linked to the demonstrations.

Sporadic protests still take place in mainly Shiite neighbourhoods of the country.

According to the International Federation for Human Rights, a total of 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since the violence broke out on Feb.14, 2011.


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