MANAMA, Bahrain – A Bahraini defense lawyer says nine opposition activists being tried on various public security charges have been stripped of their citizenship following the guilty verdicts against them.
Lawyer Reem Khalaf said the defendants were convicted and sentenced Wednesday on charges that included participation in an illegal organization and having ties to Iran. They received prison terms ranging from seven to 22 years.
They plan to appeal the verdicts.
Bahrain is an island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia that is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
An opposition movement led by the country's Shiite majority against the Sunni-led government took to the streets in Arab Spring-inspired protests in early 2011. Authorities moved to crush the uprising with the help of neighboring Gulf Arab states, but low-level unrest continues.
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