May 12 Trial News – Court adjounred until May 16.

Bahrain opposition leaders plead not guilty
May 12, 2011

Bahraini opposition leaders pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday of charges of belonging to a terrorist group and attempting to overthrow the monarchy, state news agency BNA reported. Fourteen out of a group of 21 defendants appeared before a special court set up in the wake of a mid-March crackdown on Shia-led protests demanding political reforms in the kingdom ruled by a Sunni royal family. The other defendants who are abroad are being tried in absentia.

“They all answered not guilty” to all charges, except for Abduljalil al-Muqdad, who “admitted taking part in unauthorized demonstrations,” BNA reported.

Among those on trial is also Ibrahim Sharif, the Sunni leader of the secular group Waed, who played a prominent role in the month-long protests.
Hassan Mashaima, the leader of the Shia opposition Haq movement, and Abdulwahab Hussein, the head of Shia Wafa Islamic Movement, as well as Shiite rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, are included in the group.

The trial was adjourned until May 16.

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,” according to the charge sheet. 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,” in reference to Shia Iran.

The charges also include “raising funds for the terrorist group.” Bahraini authorities say 24 people including four policemen were killed in the unrest, and they turned over 405 detainees to military courts and have released 312 others.

A special court has already sentenced four Shia to death and three others to life in jail after convicting them of killing two policemen who were allegedly run over by cars. Another was sentenced to seven years in prison for the attempted murder of policemen during the protests.

Bahrain has come under strong criticism from international human rights organizations for its heavy-handed crackdown on the Gulf state’s majority Shia, including medical staff. …source