EP Calls on Bahrain to 'Immediately Release' Political Prisoners

In the resolutionadopted on Thursday, the EP has called on the Bahraini government to immediately and unconditionally free "all imprisoned Human Rights Defenders", including prominent activist Nabeel Rajab and Sheikh Ali Salman, the secretary general of Bahrain's main opposition block al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.

The resolution also stresses the case of the "Bahrain 13",  a group of prominent Bahraini Human Rights Defenders, opposition leaders and peaceful activists, such as Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, Naji Fateel and Abdulhadi al-Singace, all imprisoned for their leading role during the Bahrain uprising in 2011.

The resolution further reiterates its strong condemnation of the use of torture and other inhuman treatment against peaceful protesters, civilians and prisoners by Bahraini authorities, according to the European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR).

Nabeel Rajab was sentenced to six months in prison in January for posting tweets deemed critical of the Al Khalifa regime. Known internationally for his peaceful human rights work, Rajab spent two years in prison from mid-2012 to mid-2014.

Sheikh Salman was arrested over alleged anti-regime incitements in late December 2014. Manama had accused him of seeking regime change and collaborating with foreign powers.

His arrest triggered condemnation inside and outside Bahrain, with leaders, governments and international organizations across the world calling for his immediate release.

Earlier on June 16, a Bahraini court acquitted Sheikh Salman of the charge of trying to overthrow the government, but gave him a four-year jail sentence for other charges.

Bahrain, a staunch ally of the United States in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.