Bahrain court orders retrial of hunger striker

A Bahrain court yesterday ordered retrials for Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and 20 others convicted of anti-state crimes.

MANAMA // A Bahrain court yesterday ordered retrials for a prominent hunger striker and 20 others convicted of anti-state crimes.

The decision shifts the cases to Bahrain's highest appeals court and was seen as a victory for supporters of the rights activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and other opposition figures sentenced with him.

But there appeared no immediate openings for the release of the group, which include some of the top figures in protests by Bahrain's Shiites seeking an end to what they say is discrimination over jobs and housing as well as allowing the kingdom's parliament real powers to legislate and form governments.

At least 50 people have been killed in unrest since February 2011. Al Khawaja's nearly three-month hunger strike has become the latest rallying point for the demonstrations.

The official Bahrain News Agency described the appeals process for Al Khawaja as if "it were a trial for the first time".

"The court reconsiders the proceedings from the beginning and listens to the witnesses and the prosecution and defence arguments," it reported.

The defence attorney Hassan Radhi said the appeals court will decide whether to grant bail while the review is under way. No date has been set to begin the appeal proceedings.

It also was not immediately clear whether Al Khawaja would continue his hunger strike, which began on February 8 and which, according to his family, has brought him close to death. He was visited on Sunday by his wife, who claimed he was force fed with tubes and IVs against his will. Bahraini officials said Al Khawaja agreed to all procedures.

Al-Khawaja and seven other high-level opposition figures were sentenced last year to life in prison by a military-led court, which is now disbanded. Six others were sentenced to lesser jail terms as part of the group accused of anti-state crimes.

In addition, seven activists were convicted in absentia in the group.

For months, they have fought against the sentences, claiming violations of legal rights in the now-defunct military court and torture behind bars. None of the defendants were in court for yesterday's session.

This month Bahrain rejected a request by Denmark to take custody of Al Khawaja, who is also a Danish citizen.