| Submit your comments on this article |
| Arabia |
| EU warns Bahrain against executions |
| 2011-05-04 |
| [Iran Press TV] EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has expressed deep concern over the imminent executions of four anti-government protesters in Bahrain. "These death sentences risk further exacerbating recent tensions in Bahrain and as such, present an obstacle to national reconciliation," she said in a statement on Tuesday. On April 28, a military court sentenced four Bahrainis to death for the alleged killing of two coppers during anti-government protests in March. "Reconciliation requires dialogue to be started without delay and without preconditions, enabling real reforms which are the only viable solution to successfully addressing the challenges the country is facing," Ashton was quoted as saying by AFP. She also noted that though the charges were "serious," the fact that civilians were tried before a military court behind closed doors was "a further cause for concern." "In accordance with international human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... conventions that Bahrain has signed up to, every person has the right to a fair trial including the right of effective appeal," the statement read. "Anyone sentenced to death has the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence, which may be granted in all cases," the EU official concluded. People in Bahrain have been protesting since February 14, demanding an end to the rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty. Demonstrators maintain that they will hold their ground until their demands for freedom, constitutional monarchy as well as a proportional voice in the government are met. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Or we send you a very stiff note! |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-05-04 03:09 |