Al-Wefaq calls on Manama to halt military trials of civilians

Bahrain’s al-Wefaq National Islamic Society has called on the Manama regime to halt the military trial of a group of civilians.

On Saturday, al-Wefaq released a statement slamming the military trial as a violation of both domestic and international laws.

The case, which involves 18 civilians, is the first of its kind since Manama altered the country’s constitution, granting military courts the right to try civilians.

On March 5, Bahrain approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.

Al-Wefaq also stressed that returning to such practices by the Manama regime only highlights the “unprecedented” crisis in Bahrain.

It also noted that the case is plagued by violations such as the use of torture and incommunicado detention.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.

They are demanding that the Al Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.

Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a result of the Al Khalifah regime’s crackdown.