Bahraini princess on trial for torturing detainees

Bahraini princess on trial for torturing detainees
Thu Jan 31, 2013 17:02:25

A Bahraini princess who works as a police officer is on trial for torturing two doctors while they were in detention during the uprising in the Persian Gulf Arab kingdom.

Sheikha Noura bint Ibrahim al-Khalifa is also facing a separate trial for physically assaulting Aayat al-Qormozi, a young female opposition activist, while she was in detention during the same period, said Nawaf Hamza, the head of the Public Prosecution's Special Investigation Unit, on Wednesday.

"The charge is that she used torture, force and threats against the victims Zahra al-Sammak and Kholoud al-Durazi to make them confess to a crime," Hamza, referring to the two doctors.

According to Sammak's lawyer, the alleged torture took place in March and April 2011, a period when the US-allied kingdom was convulsed by unrest following the start in February of demonstrations led by the opposition demanding democratic change in the Sunni-led monarchy.

In the case concerning the two doctors, Sheikha Noura's lawyer said the princess's trial had started in October 2012 and that the next hearing was set for Feb. 3.

In March and April 2011 many of the medical staff were arrested and detained. It is alleged that the Bahraini princess tortured the doctors at that time.

Hundreds of protesters were detained and dozens more killed as Bahrain struggled to put down a popular uprising that began in February 2011.

The uprising, which began peacefully with calls for democratic reform, was crushed by the ruling al-Khalifa regime.
 

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