Bahrain: Policeman jailed for joining protests

A Bahraini policeman has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for his involvement in protests against the government last year. 25 year-old Ali al-Ghanami left his guard post during protests on 17 February 2011, which left two protesters dead and more than a hundred injured. Speaking to the BBC, al-Ghanami’s brother said after witnessing dead and wounded being moved to a nearby hospital, Ali told crowds he could not work for a “killer institution.” Over the next month, Ali al-Ghanami spoke openly at rallies against the government of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.