(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A civilian court in Bahrain has resumed the retrial of doctors and nurses who treated injured protesters during the anti-regime demonstrations earlier this year.
During Monday's proceedings against the medical professionals, the prosecutors brought weapons into the courtroom, claiming the arms were recovered in March at the Salmaniya Medical Center in the capital Manama where the wounded protesters were treated, the Associated Press reported.
According to defense lawyer Jalila al-Sayed, the prosecutors presented two machine guns, three boxes of light ammunition, several swords, knives and machetes.
The medical workers' trial by a special tribunal which included military prosecutors and judges has been denounced by human rights groups.
In September, twenty medics were convicted to prison terms of between five and 15 years in sentences that were condemned by international medical bodies and human rights groups.
Physicians for Human Rights said doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or disappeared because they have "evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces and riot police" in the crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
The mounting international pressure forced Bahraini authorities to order a retrial of the medics in a civilian court.
Also on Monday, a civilian court postponed a ruling on the appeal of two protesters sentenced to death by a military court in April.
The two men were convicted on charges of killing two policemen. The court postponed their appeals' hearing until January 9, 2012.
Since mid-February, thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging regular demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.
According to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in the crackdown.
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During Monday's proceedings against the medical professionals, the prosecutors brought weapons into the courtroom, claiming the arms were recovered in March at the Salmaniya Medical Center in the capital Manama where the wounded protesters were treated, the Associated Press reported.
According to defense lawyer Jalila al-Sayed, the prosecutors presented two machine guns, three boxes of light ammunition, several swords, knives and machetes.
The medical workers' trial by a special tribunal which included military prosecutors and judges has been denounced by human rights groups.
In September, twenty medics were convicted to prison terms of between five and 15 years in sentences that were condemned by international medical bodies and human rights groups.
Physicians for Human Rights said doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or disappeared because they have "evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces and riot police" in the crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
The mounting international pressure forced Bahraini authorities to order a retrial of the medics in a civilian court.
Also on Monday, a civilian court postponed a ruling on the appeal of two protesters sentenced to death by a military court in April.
The two men were convicted on charges of killing two policemen. The court postponed their appeals' hearing until January 9, 2012.
Since mid-February, thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging regular demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.
According to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in the crackdown.
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