Bahrain to try independent journalists

File photo shows the funeral of a victim of government-sanctioned crackdown in the village of Sa'ar to the west of the capital, Manama.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174330.html

Bahrain intends to try three former editors-in-chief of a leading independent newspaper for their coverage of the popular revolution against the kingdom's royal family.

Bahraini authorities banned the publication of Al Wasat -- Bahrain's most popular opposition newspaper -- earlier in the month. They then forced the daily to fire its chief editor Mansur al-Jamri so it would be allowed to reprint.

The former opposition activist is now forced to attend trial alongside two of his former workmates on charges of "unethical" reporting of the government protests, the Associated Press reported.

The editors are accused of "publishing fabricated news," "harming public safety" and "damaging national interests."

Bahraini people, emboldened by the popular revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, have been demanding an end to the two-century-plus rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty since February 14.

Scores of protesters have been killed and many others gone missing since the beginning of the revolution during government-sanctioned crackdown.

Bahraini forces have reinforced their violent armed attacks on the protesters with the help of troops dispatched from neighboring Arab states in the Persian Gulf.

The much-condemned military intervention has been led by Saudi Arabia.