There can be no legitimate dialogue toward Bahrain’s new government while a state of seige exisits, while systematic repression of Human Rights continues and while much of the opposition leadership has been condemned to life in prison by an illegitmate court

Bahrain’s Al Khalifa rulers calling for reconciliation & Dialogue while at the same time sentencing Opposition leaders for life

JNN 24 June 2011 : A Bahrain court sentenced eight prominent activists to life in prison on Wednesday for “plotting to overthrow” the kingdom’s Al Khalifa rulers, nearly a week ahead of a national dialogue proposed by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The National Safety Court of first instance also jailed 13 others for two to 15 years on similar charges, state news agency BNA added.

A member of Bahrain’s largest opposition formation, the Islamic National Accord Association (Al-Wefaq), slammed the sentence as contradicting King Hamad’s calls for dialogue, set to begin on July 1, AFP reported.

“Is this the atmosphere for dialogue?” asked Khalil Marzooq in excerpts of a speech he gave at a press conference in Manama posted on his Facebook page.

“When the one calling for change and reform is sentenced to life in prison, how will others take part” in dialogue, he asked.

“There are political forces, some of whom have received harsh sentences today, which have not been invited for dialogue,” he added. “How will there be a dialogue without those figures?”

The eight activists sentenced to life include Hassan Mashaima, head of the Shia opposition Haq movement, and Abdulwahab Hussein, who leads the Shiite Wafa Islamic Movement, as well as Shia rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is also a Danish citizen. …more