On Wednesday, demonstrations were held across the country for the fifth consecutive day of the protest campaign dubbed “Leave Hamad,” in reference to Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The demonstrators also chanted anti-regime slogans and called for the release of political prisoners.

Last month, 37 Shias were sentenced to up to 15 years in prison over anti-regime demonstrations.

In September, another 50 Shias, including a prominent Iraqi cleric, were also sentenced to up to 15 years for forming an opposition group.

The uprising in Bahrain began in early 2011.

Protesters initially called for political reform and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and certain other Arab countries stepped in to assist the Bahraini regime forces in the crackdown on the peaceful protests.

Physicians for Human Rights say doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or disappeared because they have “evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces, and riot police” in the crackdown on anti-regime protesters.

NTJ/SHI