Bahrain’s Court of Appeals convicted nine medics for their actions during last year’s protests and acquitted nine others  . . . the medics had previously been sentenced by a military tribunal for allegedly illegally using a hospital, stealing medical equipment, and stockpiling weapons in an attempt to overthrow the rulers of Bahrain . . . the charges had previously carried a sentence of between five and 15 years in prison, however the court of appeals reduced the sentences . . . one doctor was sentenced to five years, another to three years, and the remaining seven were sentenced to between one month and one year in prison . . . the court said the medical professionals were guilty of violating medical ethics, politicizing their profession, and trying to overthrow the monarchy . . . the court stressed, however, that the medics were not prosecuted for treating the injuries of protesters . . . the Sunni-dominated government likely pushed for the verdict in order to satisfy hardliners within the ruling family . . . the controversial case could serve to inflame the ongoing protests in Bahrain and make it harder for reconciliation efforts to reduce sectarian tensions in the country.