Manama: Bahrain is dropping charges against 334 people who were detained for offences linked to freedom of speech and expression.
The decision by the public prosecution applies to 43 cases and is part of the ongoing assessment of the National Safety procedures and the review of the legality of charges leveled against the accused, said Ali Al Buainain, the public prosecutor.
The measure is also in line with the observations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), the international fact-finding team that investigated the incidents that hit Bahrain in February and March and their consequences. The commission released a report on its work, observations and recommendations on November 23.
However, Al Buainain said that the cases involving crimes of violence and acts of sabotage targeting people and properties would not be shelved.
The public prosecution will continue to assess cases linked to the right of rallying and to scrutinise the verdicts that have been issued.
He said that the interior ministry had referred to the public prosecutor "cases and complaints" linked to torture and ill-treatment and that they are investigated by a team of prosecutors.
Al Buainain said that the public prosecution would step up its efforts to expedite the investigation in total transparency.
The team will start hearing the testimonies of victims and plaintiffs this week, he said.
