Bahrain: Military tribunals back again
\nAugust 23rd, 2011 – BYSHR<\/p>\n
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights-BYSHR expresses its deep concern for the decree no. \u201c28\u201d 2011 that was published in the Official Gazette on 18 August 2011 and allowed the trial of the civilians who have been arrested since the political unrest that started in February 2011.<\/p>\n
The first article in the decree states that: \u201cthe ordinary courts take over all the cases of misdemeanors and appeals relating to them that were not adjudicated in a final verdict by the National Safety Court\u201d<\/p>\n
Article 2 states that: \u201cThe Lower National Safety Court adjudicates in all cases of crimes referred to it in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. (18) 2011 declaring state of national safety and those cases it started deliberating in them. Both the prosecutors and the sentenced can appeal the verdicts issued by this court before the Supreme Court of Appeal\u201d<\/p>\n
The BYSHR lawyer said that \u201cthe military tribunals will be held for seven criminal cases in the coming days\u201d and according to the lawyer, the tribunals will try:<\/p>\n
1. The medical staff- 28 August 2011 \u2013 The Lower National Safety Court<\/p>\n
2. Political leaders and human rights activists \u2013 11 September 2011 -The Appeal National Safety Court.<\/p>\n
3. Occupation of the police station -24 August 2011 \u2013 The Lower National Safety Court.<\/p>\n
4. Cutting the tongue of a Pakistani expatriate \u2013 25 August 2011 \u2013 The Lower National Safety Court.<\/p>\n
5.Covering up defendants in criminal cases \u2013 24 August 2011 \u2013 The Lower National Safety Court.<\/p>\n
6.Running over Nine security men -8 September 2011 \u2013 The Lower National Safety Court.<\/p>\n
7.Attack on security men using weapons in the Financial Harbour \u2013 6 September 2011 \u2013 The Lower National Safety Court.<\/p>\n
The Bahraini authorities have violated international conventions to try civilians before a military tribunals.<\/p>\n
BYSHR demands the Bahraini authorities to halt the military tribunals for defendants in criminal cases and immediate and independent investigation in the torture allegations. ..more<\/a><\/p>\n