A Bahrain human rights activist, who was jailed for one year on a charge of inciting hatred against the regime, has been pardoned on the same day by King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa.
Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, vice president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, had been arrested in September after making remarks critical of the government’s management of the economy.
The trial of Khawaja and the closing of his organisation on the grounds that its activities violated the small Gulf kingdom’s associations law had raised international concern and prompted protests outside the court.
The dramatic pardon came in a decree issued by the king, the official Bna agency reported.
"The imprisonment of Abdel Hadi al-Khawaja should be limited to the period preceding the publication of this decree and the remaining sentence that was given to him revoked," said the king’s decree.
The king also requested the public prosecutor to "take measures to free other people arrested" following the detention of Khawaja.
Khawaja, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was arrested after addressing a poverty symposium at which he made remarks critical of the government’s management of the economy and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa.
His arrest sparked demonstrations on Bahraini streets. On Sunday, dozens of protesters gathered outside the court holding up banners that read: "Free Hadi" and "Prime Minister: Leave People Alone", while shouting: "Khalifa, Step Down".
Khawaja’s wife, Zainab, denounced the ruling as "unjust".
"Abdul Hadi will not appeal against the verdict because he considers the law unjust and that he cannot benefit from a fair process," she told AFP.
Amnesty International representative Joanna Oyediram, who attended Sunday’s hearing, demanded Khawaja’s "immediate release without conditions".
"We consider him a political prisoner. We are upset. We cannot judge Abdul Hadi Khawaja’s opinion, it’s a criticism for the government. But we defend his right to freedom of expression," Oyediram said.
When announcing the verdict, the judge, Sayyed Mohammad al-Kafrawi, also rejected any objections raised "to the constitutionality of articles in the penal code in accordance with which Khawaja was judged."
Defence lawyers, who had protested against "the constitutionality" of the legal process, boycotted Sunday’s session as well as previous hearings, at Khawaja’s request.
"Article 165 of the penal code, accusing Khawaja of ’inciting hatred against the regime’, is against Article 23 of the constitution on freedom of expression," lawyer Mohammad Ahmed said last month.
Khawaja has been on a hunger strike since November 14, and according to his brother, Salah, was briefly hospitalised last week due to his deteriorating health.

Agence France-Presse
21th - 11 - 2004