Bahrain to try civilians in military courts

Bahrain’s King Hamad has approved a constitutional amendment that enables civilians to be tried in military courts if they are accused of threatening the security of the state.

Prior to the amendment military courts could only try civilians in a state of emergency and were reserved for members of the armed forces and security forces.

Human rights advocates have pointed out that the amendment is vaguely worded and that government critics and peace activists could be tried under it as they were during the three day state of emergency put in place in 2011 to hamper pro-democracy protests.

Read: Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab’s trial postponed

The amendment coincides with a ruling by a top court in Bahrain which has just reduced the jail sentence of Sheikh Ali Salman, the main leader of the Shia opposition who was previously given nine years for inciting hatred and insulting the state, which has just been reduced to four years.

Salman’s Wefaq party was central to the 2011 protests and called for an end to discrimination against the Shia majority.

The kingdom accuses the opposition of working with Iran – who have denied their involvement – and have said that the amendment is vital in order to counter anti-government cells which have targeted Bahrain.