The official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said on Monday that the court is ordering that the trial “take place again and that testimony from prosecution and defense witnesses be heard once more as if it is a new trial.”
However, defense lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi said the judge stated that the activists would not be released.
None of the 21 convicted Bahraini activists appeared in court on Monday.
Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who holds dual Danish and Bahraini nationality, was given a life sentence in a military court in June 2011 over accusations of inciting protests against the Manama regime.
The retrial of the 21 Bahraini men will reportedly take place in a civil court.
International human rights groups have called on Bahraini authorities to release the activists without condition.
Meanwhile, Bahraini protesters held a demonstration against the verdict in front of the courthouse in the capital, Manama, on Monday.
Khadija al-Mousawi, the wife of Khawaja, said after the verdict was issued that the legal process of her husband’s case was “ridiculous.”
“They (Bahraini authorities) are playing for time, and should have transferred his case to a civilian court at the first hearing not the third.”
On Sunday, Mousawi was allowed to visit her husband for the first time in two weeks. She said Khawaja “was drugged and force-fed” at the military hospital on April 23.
“After he woke up he found two IV (intravenous) injections in his arms and a feeding-tube down his nose. It was done against his will.”
However, a spokesperson for the Bahrain Defense Forces Hospital rejected the issue, claiming the jailed activist “has not been force-fed or treated against his will.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription