Bahrain Approves Military Trials for Civilians!

Local Editor

As part of the Bahraini regime's continuous crackdown on civilians, the kingdom's parliament on Sunday approved a constitutional change allowing military courts to try civilians.

Meanwhile, activists warned that the the amendment will allow an undeclared state of martial law on the island that's home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

The island's 40-member Consultative Council, the upper house of the Bahraini parliament appointed by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, voted for the measure Sunday. Their approval came less than two weeks after the 40-seat Council of Representatives, the parliament's elected lower house, passed it with little opposition.

The bill revises a portion of Bahrain's constitution by removing limitations on who military courts can try.

Government forces, with help from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, crushed the 2011 uprising and others who sought more political power.

In the wake of the protests, military courts tried hundreds of defendants.

"This came from the Bahraini king and for him to sign off on this amendment means that he is personally approving the new repressive measure and all the consequences it will have," Sayed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, said in a statement. "The responsibility for this de facto martial law lies at his feet."

Bahrain's government did not respond to a request for comment about the constitutional change. During the council's session Sunday, Justice Minister Khalid bin Ali al- Khalifa told lawmakers the amendment was necessary as military judges are "best placed" to deal with "irregular warfare."

"If militias and armed groups are committing terrorist acts targeting innocent lives and property, as well as receiving elements of combat training, we must confront them ... and stop their threats to peace and security," he claimed.

This is not the first step away from reforms Bahrain made after the protests. Already, the kingdom has restored the power of its feared domestic spy service to make some arrests.

Since the beginning of a government crackdown in April, activists have been imprisoned or forced into exile. Bahrain's main opposition group has been dismantled. Independent news gathering on the island also has grown more difficult.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team