Bahrain allows military to conduct civilian trials

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Bahrain’s parliament on Sunday approved a constitutional change allowing military courts to try civilians, the kingdom’s latest rollback on reforms made after its 2011 Arab Spring protests that likely will stoke an ongoing government crackdown on dissent.

Activists warn the amendment will allow an undeclared state of martial law on the island near Saudi Arabia that’s home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. Loyalists of Bahrain’s rulers call the change necessary to fight terrorism as the persistent low-level unrest that followed the 2011 demonstrations has escalated recently in tandem with the crackdown.

The island’s 40-member Consult ative Council, the upper house of the Bahraini pa rl i a ment a ppoi nt e d by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, voted for the measure Sunday. Their approval came less than two weeks after the 40-seat Council of Representatives, the parliament’s elected lower house, passed it with little opposition.

The bill revises a portion of Bahrain’s constitution by removing limitations on who military courts can try.

B a h r a i n i s a p r e d o mi - nantly Shiite island ruled by a Sunni monarchy. Government forces, with help from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, crushed the 2011 uprising by Shiites and others who sought more political power.

I n t he wake of t he pro - tests, military courts tried hundreds of defendants. A government-appointed investigation after the protests criticized the use of the courts, saying they were employed “to punish those in the opposition” and raised “a number of concerns about their conformit y with international human rights law.”

“This came from the Bah- raini king and for him to sign off on this amendment means that he is personally approving the new repressive measure and all the consequences it will have,” Sayed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, said in a statement. “The responsibility for this de facto martial law lies at his feet.”

Bahrain’s government did not respond to a request for comment about the constitutional change. During the council’s session Sunday, Justice Minister Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa told lawmakers the amendment was necessary as military judges are “best placed” to deal with “irregular warfare.”

“I f mi l i t i a s a n d a r me d groups are committing terrorist acts targeting innocent lives and property, as well as receiving elements of combat training, we must confront them ... and stop their threats to peace and security,” he said.