Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini High Criminal Court of Appeals reduced the prison sentences of two brothers convicted of burning a farm in Karzakan from 15 to five years, after they had served eight years in prison.

The verdict was issued against the brothers and the rest of the defendants by the National Safety Court (Emergency State) in 2011.

The detainees were accused of destroying the walls of a number of farms in the areas of Karzakan and Damestan using a crane brought by one of them, and then they entered the area and set fire to it.

The National Safety Courts were formed following the declaration of a state of emergency in the country and the crackdown on protests at the Pearl Roundabout with a military intervention backed by Saudi and Emirati forces. The courts ruled in many politically-motivated cases against thousands of citizens, including leaders of the opposition, activists and protesters. In many cases, the courts sentenced them to death, life imprisonment or lengthy prison terms, before these courts were suspended by royal decree, following the establishment of the commission of inquiry.

Arabic Version