DUBAI/MANAMA: A Bahraini special court Sunday began the trial of two former Shiite MPs accused of calling for regime change and spreading rumors linked to pro-democracy protests crushed in mid-March.
Matar Matar and Jawad Fayrouz, who were arrested at gunpoint in early May, appeared in court in two separate cases but facing the same charges, according to state news agency BNA.

They were both accused of “public incitement for regime change and deliberately spreading biased rumors, in addition to taking part in public gatherings,” BNA said, adding that they pleaded not guilty. The military prosecutor argued that their alleged confessions and “technical evidence” were enough for a conviction.

The hearing in the case of Fayruz was adjourned until June 19, while Matar’s trial will reconvene June 21.
Meanwhile, the court sentenced female poet Ayat al-Qarmazi to one year in prison on charges of “take part in assembly for the purpose of committing crimes, and instigating hatred to the regime,” BNA said.

Qarmazi, 20, became known for reading an anti-regime poem at the sit-in protest at Pearl Square, the focal point of protests which was demolished immediately after the demonstrators were driven out.
“By locking up a female poet merely for expressing her views in public, Bahrain’s authorities are demonstrating how free speech and assembly are brutally denied to ordinary Bahrainis,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa director said in a statement.

Amnesty said Qarmazi was held incommunicado for the first 15 days of her detention in March, and since then has only been permitted to see her family twice. She also alleged that she was beaten in detention and tortured with electric shocks, the London-based rights group said.
The court also sentenced Ali Yusof Yaaqub to seven years in prison after convicting him of trying to murder a policeman, while a group of six were given between six months and six years over attempted murder of “civilians,” BNA said.

Amnesty said that at least 500 people were been detained in the crackdown, while four have died in custody in suspicious circumstances. Some 2,000 people have also been dismissed or suspended from their jobs.
Thousands of Shiites rallied Saturday outside Manama in the first mass rally since the crackdown. The Interior Ministry said it authorized the demonstration, organized by Al-Wefaq, the largest Shiite formation.

Saturday was the first large demonstration since Bahrain brought in troops from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in March and introduced martial law, which ended last week, to stop the protests against the ruling family.
The government said the protests had a sectarian agenda and help from Iran. The opposition denies this.

“Some are trying to manipulate our demands, to make them sound like Shiite demands. This is not true. We are not calling for an Iran, but to build up our political reforms together, Shiite and Sunni, which will benefit all Bahrainis,” said Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Al-Wefaq opposition group.
Opposition figures more than 10,000 people attended the rally. The Interior Ministry said 4,000 people were gathered.

King Hamad bin Isa has offered a national dialogue with opposition groups starting in July. Al-Wefaq said it would organize more rallies until then, and may plan a march for next week.
The government appointed its Parliament speaker Saturday to lead the dialogue, the state news agency said, but the opposition said Crown Prince Salman – seen as leader of a moderate wing of the ruling family – should head the talks.