Bahrain has backed down in the face of international condemnation and granted a civilian retrial to 20 doctors and nurses sentenced to up to 15 years in jail for their role in protests that swept the tiny kingdom earlier this year.
Ali al-Boainain, the attorney-general, has determined that the case files of the 20 medics charged with felonies, including possessing weapons and spreading false news, should be reheard after their initial sentencing by a military-led “National Safety Court” court a week ago.
The cases have sparked international fury since the sentences were handed down last
Ali al-Boainain, the attorney-general, has determined that the case files of the 20 medics charged with felonies, including possessing weapons and spreading false news, should be reheard after their initial sentencing by a military-led “National Safety Court” court a week ago.
The cases have sparked international fury since the sentences were handed down last
week, including condemnation from the US and UK governments.
The
Bahraini government has claimed the doctors and nurses broke the law
while turning Manama’s main hospital, in effect, into headquarters
for the opposition, but they have said they are being punished for
their high-profile role in the troubles, during which as many as 40
people, mainly protesters, were killed.The move marks a big climbdown by the minority Sunni-led government which, since it cracked down on pro-democracy protesters led by the majority Shia population in March, has insisted that it will punish those who broke the law during demonstrations inspired by regime change in Tunisia and Egypt. The public prosecutor will seek to establish the truth and
enforce
the law, while protecting the rights of the accused, said Mr Boainain.
“The accused will have the benefit of full re-evaluation of
evidence,” he said.
The medics welcomed the decision, saying it
would finally allow them to present their cases in a fairer trial than
the military court, a judicial process declared by many observers as
no more than summary justice.“We don’t want amnesty, we want a real investigation to show the truth and clear our names,” said Dr Nada Dhaif, one of those sentenced to 15 years.
“They should bring the real criminals to justice - those who were absent and did not deal with injuries and were part of fabricating the conspiracy against the medics,” she added.
Medical
staff have accused the security forces, including members of the
ruling al-Khalifa family, of using torture to secure confessions
that were used as evidence in their trials at the military court.
A spokesman for the government’s Information Affairs Authority denied there had been any intervention in the “independent” judicial system. The reformist crown prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has been leading efforts to revive the island’s reputation and bolster its economy in the face of criticism of the tough justice meted out to protesters.
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has appointed a commission to investigate any abusescarried out by the security forces after Saudi Arabia led Gulf forces on to the island to back up the crackdown on protesters.
A spokesman for the government’s Information Affairs Authority denied there had been any intervention in the “independent” judicial system. The reformist crown prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has been leading efforts to revive the island’s reputation and bolster its economy in the face of criticism of the tough justice meted out to protesters.
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has appointed a commission to investigate any abusescarried out by the security forces after Saudi Arabia led Gulf forces on to the island to back up the crackdown on protesters.
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