31st March/ 1st April 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahraini given 10year jail term for spying for Iran
A Bahraini accused of spying for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards unit has had his 10-year jail sentence conrmed by a court of appeal, the state news agency BNA reported. The sentence, passed in July 2011 by a lower court, was conrmed on Sunday by the Court of Appeal in Manama, the report said. The convicted man, who has not been identied, was accused of passing "military information and identifying sensitive sites in Bahrain" to two Iranian diplomats posted to Kuwait, according to local media. Read More They were on the streets of the west coast town of Malkiya in support of jailed political prisoners and against the upcoming Formula One race in April. It is the latest in a series of protests on the Gulf island, led mainly by Shiite Muslim groups demanding equality with the Sunnis, as well as political reforms. Read More

Bahrain upholds sentence in Iran spy case

Bahrain's news agency says an appeals court has conrmed a 10-year prison sentence against a man convicted of spying for Iran. The Gulf kingdom has long accused Tehran of aiding an anti-government uprising in the Arab country.

No clear evidence has been made public about alleged Iranian roles in the more than two-year unrest but Tehran ofcials have often denounced crackdowns on Shiite-led protesters by Bahrain's Sunni leaders. The ofcial Bahrain News Agency said Monday that prosecutors alleged the suspect passed tips to Iranian diplomats in Kuwait on Bahrain's military capabilities and "sensitive" sites. Read More saying they had turned the Salmaniya Medical Center in the capital Manama into "a place of illegal gatherings and strikes, in violation of laws" during the protests. On Thursday, the High Civil Court of Appeal acquitted 21 medics. Two others who did not show up to court lost their right to le an appeal, the Bahrain News Agency reported. Read More Here are some political risks facing Bahrain:

Bahrain police disperse womens protest with stun grenades

Tensions are once again high in Bahrain after police dispersed anti-government protesters with stun grenades and tear gas. The police intervention came after a demonstration by women was banned.

Bahrain clears 21 medics of charges in protests

An appeals court in Bahrain has overturned the conviction of 21 medics for their role in anti-government protests two years ago. Prosecutors had convicted about two dozen medics on misdemeanor charges,

Bahrain villagers protest against F1 race as memory of last year's riots casts cloud on approaching Grand Prix
Tensions in Bahrain are beginning to run high again with the controversial Grand Prix circus soon to return to the country. After the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 14, the multi-million pound race will descend upon Bahrain again on April 21.

This picture, taken on Easter Sunday, shows foreign labourers in the village of Barbar, west of the capital Manama, collecting equipment against a wall sprayed with grafti in protest at the upcoming race. The controversial race took place last year in the middle of erce anti-government protests and the race track had to be heavily guarded by police, dogs and armoured vehicles to keep activists away. Read More

FACTBOX-Political risks to watch in Bahrain

Bahrain has been in turmoil since pro-democracy unrest erupted in 2011, inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia. The protests are led mainly by Shi'ite Muslim groups demanding equality with the Sunni Muslim minority, and political reforms.

PROTESTS AND CLASHES Protests that often lead to clashes between demonstrators and police continue despite an Interior Ministry ban on demonstrations imposed in October, 2012. Read More

Preliminary agenda set for Bahrain national dialogue

A preliminary agenda for the national Dialogue in Bahrain has taken shape after participants agreed its major sections and principles. The accord, reached on Sunday evening 40 days after the launch of the talks on February 10, includes nine sections and 12 principles which will have to be endorsed by the 27 participants after it was

drafted by an eight-member working group drawn from the four components two political coalitions, the parliament and the government - participating in the national dialogue. The executive, legislative and judicial authority, diversity and national unity, the civil society, the respect and protection of human rights, the ght against all forms of corruption, the enforcement of social equality, political societies and security and violence and terrorism are the focus of the sections. Read More