Bahrain Sentences Three Relatives of a UK-Based Human Rights Activist to Prison

A Bahraini court on Monday, November 30, sentenced three family members of a prominent human rights activist residing in the UK to prison. According to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, in addition to these three individuals, 19 others were also sentenced to long prison terms for alleged connections with a banned party that is 'supported by Iran' and for participating in military attacks. The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy announced the arrest of the three family members of Seyed Ahmed Al-Wadaei, the head of the organization, accusing Manama officials of torturing the detainees to obtain confessions. Mr. Al-Wadaei stated in a statement that his relatives were convicted based on confessions obtained under torture and that the court pursued his family due to his activities. The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy reported that Hajar Mansour, 49, the mother of Al-Wadaei's wife, and Seyed Nizar Al-Wadaei, 18, his brother-in-law, were sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly planting a 'fake bomb' in January 2017. Another relative, Mahmoud Marzouk, 30, received a month and a half in prison for possessing a knife. Ahmed Al-Wadaei, who resides in the UK, stated that the case against his relatives stemmed from his human rights activities, particularly his participation in a protest against the Bahraini king's presence at a horse show in the UK last year. He added: 'I am upset to see my family tortured, pursued, and interrogated because of my activities... and I will not rest until they are free.' Bahrain, which has a predominantly Shia population ruled by a Sunni monarchy, denies any campaign against dissenters. Manama claims it faces threats from militants supported by Iran who seek to overthrow the ruling regime. According to a statement from the Bahraini prosecutor's office, a court in the country sentenced eight defendants to life imprisonment, nine to fifteen years, and two to ten years. The charges against these individuals include 'conspiracy in collusion with a foreign government and a terrorist organization and receiving money to carry out hostile actions against national interests.' The report indicates that 15 of these defendants have also had their citizenship revoked. The group mentioned by the Bahraini prosecutor's office is the 'Al-Wafa Islamic Movement,' which is banned in the country and accused by officials of receiving funding and support from Iran. Murtaza Al-Sanadi, the leader of this party, is an exiled cleric who was designated a 'global terrorist' by the United States last year and is reportedly residing in Qom. Since 2011, when the unrest known as the 'Arab Spring' swept through parts of the Middle East, Bahrain has consistently witnessed protests from its Shia majority against the Sunni minority government, which they accuse of 'discrimination' and ignoring their demands. This country is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.