Alwaght- The Bahraini regime has faced a barraged of condemnation for affirming a two-year jail sentence for prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab.
Human rights groups say the west-backed Bahraini regime's court verdict "illustrates the corruption" of the kingdom's justice system.
Rajab had been found guilty in July of "spreading rumors and untruthful information" against the Al Khalifa regime in TV interviews.
The verdict was upheld in November, following a legal challenge by Rajab. On Monday, an appeals court affirmed the lower court verdict, in a decision that was final.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) on Tuesday urged the Bahraini regime to immediately release Rajab, saying he is a political prisoner who had "done nothing".
Saeed al-Shehabi, leader of the opposition Bahrain Freedom Movement, called the ruling an "implementation of a state policy" and warned that the leadership in the capital, Manama, was determined to block any dissent.
While already in jail, the Persian Gulf regime charged Rajab with more offences over his social media posts about torture in Bahrain's Jau Prison - where he is held - and his criticism of the Saudi-led war on Yemen, which his country's rulers support.
Sayyed Ahmed Alwadaei, director of the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), said that Rajab was denied "a fair trial at every stage".
"This is a slap in the face of free expression and tragically illustrates the corruption of the justice system," Alwadaei said in a statement.
At Jau Prison, BIRD said, Rajab had been subjected to "humiliating treatment", including the forcible shaving of his hair, "degrading" search of his body and confiscation of his personal belongings.
Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.
They are demanding that the US-backed Al Khalifah dynasty relinquishes power and pave way for a just democratic system in the country.
The Manama regime has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.
