Bahrain pardons more than 1,500 people, largest amnesty in years

Bahrain’s king pardoned 1,584 people facing criminal and “riot” charges, state media said on Monday, in the Gulf state’s biggest mass release in years.

The royal decree published by Bahrain’s official news agency (BNA) did not specify whether political prisoners were among those released, but a human rights group said they were possible.

“This royal decree reflects His Majesty the King’s keenness to maintain the cohesion and stability of Bahraini society while protecting its social fabric,” the BNA said.

The BNA added that the pardon covers “those convicted of riots and criminal cases” and was announced on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the accession of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa to the throne.

Sayed Alwadaei, advocacy director at the UK-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), said political prisoners could be included in the amnesty “because the term ‘riots’ refers to those demanding People of political change.”

BIRD said the latest royal decree marked “the highest number of prisoners pardoned since the 2011 pro-democracy uprising,” when anti-government protests triggered a state crackdown.

However, a government spokesman told AFP: “There are no political prisoners in the Kingdom of Bahrain. No one has been detained for expressing peaceful political views.

“However, when an individual’s behavior descends into violence or attempts to incite violence or hatred, the authorities have a responsibility to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute the individual – as in all countries,” the spokesperson said.

The royal decree also comes ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, during which Gulf leaders often pardon prisons.

Bahrain has jailed dozens of dissidents since a wave of protests in 2011, when authorities backed by the Saudi army suppressed Shiite-led demonstrations calling for a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior announced the release of 1,486 prisoners in 2020, including 901 prisoners who received royal pardon on “humanitarian grounds.”