Two men are at imminent risk of being executed, after the National Safety Court of Appeal in Bahrain upheld their death sentences on 22 May. They were convicted with three other men of killing two policemen during anti-government demonstrations in March. Their trial was unfair. The two men could be executed within days if the sentences are upheld by the Court of Cassation and ratified by the King.

The death sentences imposed on ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Hassan al-Sankis and ‘Adbulaziz ‘Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain were upheld by the National Safety Court of Appeal, a military court, on 22 May. The same court commuted the death sentences of Qassim Hassan Matar and Sa’eed ‘Abduljalil Sa’eed to life in prison, and upheld the life imprisonment sentence of the fifth defendant, ‘Issa ‘Abdullah Kadhem ‘Ali. The five men were sentenced on 28 April. They were accused of killing two policemen during anti-government protests in March.
Bahrain’s Court of Cassation will review the two death sentences. If the sentences are upheld, and then ratified by the king, the two men could be executed within days.

No international observers have been permitted by the Bahraini authorities to attend any trials before military courts established under the state of emergency, termed the State of National Safety, which was declared by the King of Bahrain on 15 March. Amnesty International opposes trials of civilians before military courts.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Arabic or English:

 Expressing grave concern at the confirmation of the death sentences on ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Hassan al-Sankis and ‘Adbulaziz ‘Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain;

 Acknowledging the Bahraini government’s responsibility to protect the public and bring to justice those responsible for committing crimes, but insisting that this should always be done in accordance with international law and Bahrain’s international human rights obligations;

 Urging His Majesty Shaikh Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa to immediately commute the death sentences imposed on the two men and order their re-trial before ordinary criminal courts.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BEFORE 4 JULY 2011 TO:
 
King
Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1766 4587
Salutation: Your Majesty

Prime Minister
Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1753 3033
Salutation: Your Highness

Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Shaikh Khaled bin Ali al-Khalifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P. O. Box 450, Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 17531284
Salutation: Your Excellency 

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 122/11. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/023/2011/en
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Protesters in Bahrain are currently facing trials under the National Safety Court of First Instance and the National Safety Court of Appeal. Both of them were established under the State of National Safety (SNS), a national state of emergency declared by the King of Bahrain on 15 March. The provisions of the SNS are broadly drawn and vague, and contain no explicit human rights guarantees. The SNS stipulates that Bahrain’s ordinary courts may not hear appeals from these special courts, whose verdicts are final.