Amnesty International slams 'unfair' trial of Bahraini civilians at military courts

Amnesty International has expressed concern over “unfair” trials for civilians at military courts in Bahrain and called on the self-styled king, Hamad bin Issa Aal-e Khalifah to order the retrial of four men who have recently been sentenced to life imprisonment.

According to reports, in a report released on Wednesday, the UK-based rights group pointed to the death sentences issued against the four individuals, including three civilians, by the Military Court of Cassation on 25 April.

“Despite the King’s commutation of the sentences to life imprisonment the following day, Amnesty International remains concerned that these sentences were issued following unfair trials,” it said.

The report noted that the three convicted civilians, along with 14 others, are the first civilians to be tried by a military court in Bahrain since 2011.

“Amnesty International calls on Hamad bin Issa Aal-e Khalifah to quash the conviction against the four men and for them to be retried before an independent and competent ordinary court,” the report said.

“Military trials of civilians are inherently unfair as all officials in military courts, including judges, are serving members of the military,” the report pointed out.

On March 5, 2017, Bahrain’s parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.

The Bahraini monarch ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3 last year.

Amnesty International also slammed the Manama regime for revoking the citizenship of the Bahraini political opponents, adding, “Stripping citizens of their nationality on the basis of vague allegations without due process protections is arbitrary and in violation of Bahrain’s international human rights obligations.

SS