Bahraini king drops case against rights activists
The Associated Press
Friday, May 18, 2007
MANAMA, Bahrain: Bahrain’s king dropped the government’s case against three Shiite rights activists on Friday who had been charged with trying to illegally change the kingdom’s political system, the country’s official news agency reported.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s decision followed two days of clashes in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, between local police and Shiite youths who demanded an end to the case against Hassan Mushaima’a, the leader of the Haq rights group; Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja, head of the Bahraini Center for Human Rights; and Shaker Abdul-Hussein, an independent activist.
Bahraini king drops case against rights activists
The Associated Press
Friday, May 18, 2007
MANAMA, Bahrain: Bahrain’s king dropped the government’s case against three Shiite rights activists on Friday who had been charged with trying to illegally change the kingdom’s political system, the country’s official news agency reported.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s decision followed two days of clashes in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, between local police and Shiite youths who demanded an end to the case against Hassan Mushaima’a, the leader of the Haq rights group; Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja, head of the Bahraini Center for Human Rights; and Shaker Abdul-Hussein, an independent activist.
The government detained the activists in early February after they made speeches criticizing the government, but immediately released them on bail after their detention caused street protests. They were subsequently charged with promoting change to the political system through illegitimate means, inciting hatred of the political system and harming the public interest.
Haq is an opposition movement seeking democratic reform and greater rights for Shiite Muslims in Bahrain. The government refuses to recognize it and considers both it and the Bahraini Center for Human Rights as illegal organizations.
Shiites make up about 60 percent of Bahrain’s population, but the ruling family is Sunni Muslim. Shiites have long complained of discrimination.
——————————————————————————–