Bahrain hit back at the EU defending the transparency and credibility of its judiciary.
“The National Safety Court operates with total transparency, allowing EU and NGOs representatives, journalists and defendants’ relatives to attend its sessions”, it said.
The Ministry of Human Rights and Social Development addressed a statement in this regard to the EU.
The stance was in response to the statement made by the EU Vice-president and high representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy Baroness Catherine Ashton on September30 regard the National Safety Court verdicts.
The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirmed the inalienable right of the defendants to appeal the National Safety Court verdicts before the civil courts, particularly the Supreme Criminal Court of Appeal.
“The law on appeal allows the Courts of Appeal to reconsider the evidence convicting the defendants and hear the testimonies which were not considered during the preliminary trials and even issue its own verdicts”, the statement said. “Under the Bahrain law, the cases can still be referred to the Cassation Court, the highest civil judicial instance in Bahrain, should the Court of Appeal upholds the lower court verdicts”, it added.
Reacting to Baroness Catherine Ashton’s statement, the ministry said the medical staff, convicted by the National Safety Court, would reappear before the Supreme Criminal Court of Appeal on October23.
The National Safety Court will be closed on Friday (October7) and the remaining cases will be referred to the civil courts.
The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirmed its firm commitment to human rights, in line with its constitution and the international covenants it signed.
The Kingdom Bahrain has since then achieved a quantum leap in this regard. It cited the multiparty National Consensus Dialogue, which was launched last July, engaging all segments of Bahrain spectrum to outline their visions regarding the development of their country and achieve citizens’ aspirations.
The implementation of the National Dialogue recommendations is underway to promote national reconciliation and continue the march of reforms.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has also embarked on unprecedented step in the whole region, establishing the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).
The panel, which includes prominent international jurists and experts, will probe alleged human rights violations. The BICI has all the powers to assume its duties, including access to any person or party suspected of involvement in the recent unrest.
The United Nations has welcomed the establishment of the probe panel, the first of its kind in the region, stressing its autonomy. The Kingdom of Bahrain is now gearing up for the BICI report, set to be released late this month.
It reiterates full commitment to continue efforts unabated to support constructive reconciliation, urging all internal parties and foreign sides to respect this choice and voice their backing for the reconciliation process.