(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - "The state of national safety is to be lifted by June 1st across the kingdom of Bahrain," said a decree issued by King Hamad, according to BNA state news agency. The three-month state of emergency was due to be lifted June 15 and was imposed after the kingdom called in troops from neighboring Gulf states to help quash anti-regime protests.
This comes as Bahraini opposition leaders appeared Sunday in a military court charged as part of a group of 21 with forming a “terrorist organization” and attempting to overthrow the monarchy, a rights activist said, citing lawyers.
The trial in which only lawyers and two members of the family of each defendant was allowed to attend, was adjourned until Thursday, Nabil Rajab, the head of Bahrain Centre for Human Rights told AFP.
Lawyers are not allowed to talk to the press, he said, adding that the charges brought against the activists could lead to execution.
Bahrain's state news agency said late Saturday that the military prosecutor has charged 21 people, seven of whom are abroad and are being tried in absentia.
The group includes Ibrahim Sharif, the leader of Waed group, who played a prominent role in the month-long protest that demanded democratic reforms and was quashed in mid-March, BNA said.
Hassan Mashaima, the leader of the opposition Haq movement, as well as rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, are included in the group to be tried in a military court. Seven of the group are abroad and are to be tried in absentia.
The accused are charged with "forming and directing a terrorist group aimed at overthrowing and changing the constitution of the state and the monarchy system," BNA said, citing the list of charges.
They are also accused of "having contact with a terrorist group abroad that operates in the interest of a foreign country by conducting hostile acts against the kingdom of Bahrain." The charges include "raising funds for the terrorist group despite knowing" the nature of the organization, it added.
Sharif and several leading opposition figures were arrested in the wake of the violent crackdown on protests, which was condemned by Human Rights and international groups.
A military court has already sentenced four protesters to death and three others to life in jail after convicting them of killing two policemen who were allegedly run down by cars. Another was sentenced last week to seven years in prison for an attempted murder of policemen during the protests.
Bahrain has come under strong criticism from international human rights organizations for its heavy-handed crackdown on peaceful protesters, including medical staff.
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