Bahrain discounts torture claims

MANAMA, Bahrain, June 22 (UPI) -- There were no noticeable signs of torture on a former Shiite lawmaker, Matar Matar, held in prison in Bahrain, his lawyer told the country's news agency.

Ammed Jassim Abdullah told the official Bahrain News Agency that he felt comfortable appearing in court after visiting his client in prison.

Authorities Sunday charged Matar and fellow opposition leader Jawad Fairooz with inciting regime change.

The men, who quit Parliament along with fellow opposition members to protest repression, pleaded innocent.

Abdullah said he visiting the former lawmaker and noticed no signs of torture. He said his client didn't mention that anything illegal had occurred during his detention, the official news agency adds.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay complained in early June that her comments in the official news agency of Bahrain about the conflict were "blatantly" misrepresented.

Human rights groups this week accused Bahrain of operating torture chambers in the country's hospitals.

Eight activists and opposition leaders in Bahrain were sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after they were convicted of plotting to overthrow the government.

Bahrain's National Safety court also sentenced 13 others to prison terms -- ranging from two years to 15 years -- in connection with attempts to oust the country's Sunni royal family.