Germany calls on Bahrain to rescind death sentences

BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) – Germany urged Bahrain’s ruling
monarchy on Friday to rescind death sentences handed down to a
group of men accused of killing policemen in recent protests.

A Bahraini military court on Thursday ordered the death
penalty for four Shi’ite men over the killing of two policemen.
The turmoil began with Shi’ite-led protests in February
demanding greater political liberties.

BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) – Germany urged Bahrain’s ruling
monarchy on Friday to rescind death sentences handed down to a
group of men accused of killing policemen in recent protests.

A Bahraini military court on Thursday ordered the death
penalty for four Shi’ite men over the killing of two policemen.
The turmoil began with Shi’ite-led protests in February
demanding greater political liberties.

“This draconian punishment impedes the process of
rapprochement und reconciliation in Bahrain,” German foreign
ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke told a news conference.

“The federal government hopes that the death sentences are
not carried out on the four demonstrators and the judgements are
revised. There must be an end to the violence in Bahrain.”

Berlin urged Bahrain’s rulers to introduce reforms that
would allow more political and economic participation of all
parts of its society, Peschke said.

The court’s ruling could increase sectarian tensions in the
close U.S. ally. It came amid heightened antagonism between
Bahrain’s Shi’ite Muslim majority and its Sunni ruling family.

The island kingdom crushed anti-government protests last
month with military help from fellow Sunni-led Gulf Arab
neighbours.

(Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner and Brian Rohan; Editing by
Maria Golovnina)

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