Bahrain activists welcome return of terror accused

Manama: A Bahraini lawmaker who has been campaigning for the repatriation of Bahrainis detained abroad welcomed news that Saudi Arabia could soon allow foreign "terrorists" to spend their prison sentences in their home countries.

"We welcome the breakthrough as a positive step that will allow the two Bahrainis currently held in Saudi Arabia to come home and be closer to their families and friends," Mohammad Khalid, MP for Islamic Menbar, told Gulf News.

"We have been campaigning with various parties, so far unsuccessfully, to see Abdul Rahim Al Murbati and Khalil Janahi receive fair trials and brought home. Now with the news coming from Saudi Arabia about the repatriation of foreign prisoners, we are hopeful that our requests will be answered," said Khalid.

A Saudi newspaper, Al Medina, on Sunday reported that the Saudi authorities were mulling the repatriation of foreigners convicted in terror-related trials.

"Non-Saudi prisoners implicated in terror activities will most likely spend their prison terms in their home countries," Saudi legal sources told the newspaper.

The decision was motivated by humanitarian concerns and the desire to enable the prisoners to be closer to their families, the paper said, adding that prisoners from 20 countries will be affected by the decision.

"We are confident that the repatriation of the two Bahrainis will be highly appreciated by their families which have already suffered a great deal because of their absence," said Khalid.

Al Murbati was arrested in August 2003 in Madinah for allegedly being a member of a suspected terrorist group in Saudi Arabia. Janahi was arrested in April on similar suspicions.