Bahrain’s king pardons more than 450 prisoners, including those convicted of participating in protests

An NGO speaks of a “step forward” but calls for the release of all prisoners of opinion to “turn the page on a dark period”

September 5 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Bahrain’s King Hamad Isa al-Khalifa has granted pardon to more than 450 people in prison in the country, including several political prisoners convicted for their role in pro-democracy protests, the country’s authorities and a human rights organisation have confirmed.

Bahraini Information Minister Ramzan bin Abdullah al-Noaimi said the measure, approved on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Al Khalifa’s accession to the throne, affects 457 prisoners, before stressing that it is part of a “humanitarian stance” on the part of the monarch.

He stressed that this “noble gesture” shows that the king “cares about all citizens” and “gives those pardoned new hope for a positive reintegration into society,” as reported by the Bahraini state news agency, BNA.

The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said on its X social media account that “the royal pardon issued by King Hamad includes political prisoners,” including Ali Sanqur, known for appearing shirtless in front of armored vehicles during protests in 2011.

The head of the organisation, Ahmed al-Wadaei, argued that “while these releases represent a significant step forward, the best path for the country’s future would be to free those imprisoned since 2011 for calling for democratic change.”

“This includes jailed opposition leaders and activists Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, Abdulyalil al-Singace and Hassan Mushaima, who are languishing behind bars merely for exercising their fundamental rights,” he said, adding that “these releases would turn the page on a dark period in Bahrain.”

Bahrain, an ally of the United States and the Gulf monarchies, violently suppressed pro-democracy protests in 2011 and imposed the National Security Law in March of that year, leading to the entry of Saudi and Emirati troops into the country to crush the protests.

The opposition has repeatedly denounced the violent measures used by security forces and said that more than 100 people died as a result of police repression, while it claims that hundreds of other protesters, activists, journalists and opposition members were arrested and subsequently convicted in trials marred by irregularities.