Airport rioters jailed for 2 years

Defence lawyers were stunned yesterday as 12 protesters were each sentenced to two years for an illegal demonstration at Bahrain International Airport.Lawyers shook their heads in disbelief after Lower Criminal Court judge Ibrahim Al Zayed delivered the verdict and handed out the sentences.

Nine of the men were already in custody and were in court for the verdict and sentencing.

But three were sentenced in their absence, after failing to respond to summons by police following the demonstration, on December 25.

Warrants had earlier been issued for their arrest.

All 12 were cleared of assaulting police and damaging public property, but were each convicted of taking part in an illegal gathering.