Leading Bahraini activist to stand trial

Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175939.html

A leading Bahraini human rights activist is going to stand trial in a Bahraini regime's military court on charges of “inciting unrest” in the crisis-stricken country.

Human rights activist Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja, who was arrested after a violent raid on his home, called his family earlier to let them know that he will go on trial on Thursday.

According to al-Khawaja's family members and other human rights activists, masked armed men burst into al-Khawaja's home on April 9, and arrested him as well as two of his sons-in-law.

His sons-in-law are to appear before a military court as well. However, no charges have been announced against them.

Meanwhile, al-Khawaja's daughter, Zainab, ended her seven-day hunger strike after she was hospitalized due to poor health condition and low pulse. She had gone on hunger strike in protest to the Bahraini regime's move of arresting her father, uncle, husband and brothers-in-law.

In an exclusive interview with Press TV on Monday, Zainab al-Khawaja blamed the United States for turning a blind eye to the Saudi-backed crackdown on anti-government protesters in Bahrain.

The Human Rights Watch reports that more than 400 opposition activists and protesters have been arrested in Bahrain in recent weeks.

The Bahraini Education Ministry has also formed a committee tasked with taking action against school officials who have taken part in anti-government protests and strikes.

The University of Bahrain has started dismissing 200 students, academics and other university workers.

Meanwhile, the Bahraini opposition has called for mass rallies on Friday, dubbed “Day of Wrath and Outrage.”

The anti-government protesters have been calling for political reforms since February 14, and are demanding an end to the rule of the Bahrain's ruling Al Khalifa dynasty.