Bahrain court has upheld jail terms against 13 leading opposition figures, including seven facing life in prison, over charges of plotting to overthrow the Gulf monarchy.The defendants, who played leading roles in the month-long protests last year demanding drastic political changes, did not turn up in the appeals court, which was retrying them after being convicted by a special court, the lawyers said.Among those convicted was Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who went on a 110-day hunger strike in protest at his detention.Mohammed al-Tajir, a human-rights lawyer, told Al Jazeera: “We are shocked at this judgement. The judge dismissed the appeal.”The defendants, seven of whom were tried in absentia, plan to appeal.

Human rights groups have demanded their release and said no evidence was presented by the authorities at the activists’ trial showing they had used or advocated violence during the protests against the monarch, King Hamad.

source:                     http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/09/2012948020958529.html

 

 

 

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