Thousands of Bahrainis demonstrated over imprisonment of 13 opposition leaders.

MANAMA,(ST) _ Thousands of Bahrainis  demonstrated on Saturday in protest of ratifying imprisonment sentences against 13  leaders of the opposition.

The Protesters who gathered amid intensive  spread of Bahraini security forces  chanted slogans condemning the ratified sentences and vowed continued demonstrations  to release all detainees held  in al-Khaleifa prisoners.

In a statement issued by the  end  of the demonstration , the opposition  stressed that the sentences issued against  the  Bahraini political symbols are void and of  no legal value because they are  “a fledge of a revenge  project carried out through  a politicized justice which does not have the  elements of neutrality  and justice.”

The opposition renewed the demand to have  an elected government and a full authority parliament,  transferring  security institutions into national ones  and judiciary  ‘s integrity and independence .

Last Monday, the Bahraini Court of Cassation ratified  earlier warrants  issued  against  13 opposition under  charges of working to overthrow the regime. A  charge directed  by Al- Khaleifa authorities to suppress protests demanding political and economic reforms and calling  to stop policy of marginalization.

The issued  sentences  ranged between five year- to life  imprisonment. The convicted persons  can no longer appeal the  sentences.

T. Fateh