Bahrain: 15-year prison sentences for protesters who 'attacked police'

Three of the accused were each given a 15-year imprisonment sentence by Bahrain's high criminal court, after they were found guilty of setting a police car on fire.

No casualties were reported in the attack, which took place in August 2015.

All three suspects also received a collective fine of over 17,000 dinars [$45,000] and their cases were classed as "terrorist" cases.

The same court jailed a further two suspects, one for three years and the second for ten years, for rioting and throwing explosives and rocks at police in April 2015.

These "terrorist attacks" wounded two policemen.

A 2011 uprising in Bahrain sparked almost daily protests across the country, demanding political reform and a constitutional monarchy.

Bahrain's ongoing crackdown on demonstrations has often led to clashes and the detention of protesters and opposition figures.

Human Rights Watch described Bahrain's human rights climate as "highly problematic."

"The country's courts convict and imprison peaceful dissenters, while failing to hold officials accountable for torture and other serious rights violations," the rights group said.

At least 89 people have been killed in clashes with security forces since 2011, while hundreds have been arrested and put on trial.