Bahrain activists jailed for anti-elections leaflet

MANAMA, Feb 1 (Reuters) A Bahraini court sentenced two men to jail for distributing leaflets calling for the boycott of parliamentary and municipal elections late last year, their lawyer said today.

Lawyer Mohamed Ahmed said Mohamed Al Sahlawi, a dentist, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and Hussain Al Habshi, an insurance company worker, was given six months in jail yesterday.

The two were convicted on charges of distributing printed material that encourages political change through illegitimate means, Ahmed said.

The leaflets called for constitutional change, and urged an election boycott to press for amendments, Ahmed said.

Both activists have been in detention awaiting trial since November 16.

''Their opposition (to the elections) was peaceful. They both want to safeguard Bahrain's constitution. Anyone can download their leaflets from the Internet,'' Ahmed said, who plans to appeal the verdict.

The office of Bahrain's general prosecutor was not immediately available for comment.

New York-based Human Rights Watch had urged the Bahraini government to drop the charges.

Bahrain's biggest opposition group, the Shi'ite Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, took part in elections for the first time last year after boycotting previous polls.

However, others questioned the transparency and fairness of the elections and called for boycotts.

REUTERS AKJ BST1656