Bahrain passes bill permitting military courts to look into terror cases

Bahrain Shura (consultative) council passed on Sunday a constitutional amendment that permits military courts to handle the trial of terror cases.

With the approval of upper and lower houses, the new amendment will be enforced with the endorsement of the king of the amendment law.

The Bahrain News Agency (BNA) confirmed that the Shura council approved the amendment unanimously.

The decree-law was discussed in details by the Shura Council members and representatives of the government who affirmed that the amendment will boost Bahrain's security and meet a national demand to foster stability.

They also underlined support to all measures aimed at promoting the state's prestige and backing the military bodies in charge of protecting people and bolstering their welfare. They also underscored the guarantees in the military courts, similarly to the civil ones.

During the session, members affirmed that the amendment will protect the security officers, further boost security and stability and permit to try the terrorist organisations which attack the security officers.

Meanwhile, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, said under the circumstances of countering terrorist acts, a military judge is in position to adjudicate such cases, including joining militias or terrorist groups formed by a country or supported by it, which is treated as a military act and cannot be thought as a civilian one.

He explained that military courts are run by a qualified judicial cadre of equal importance to civilian court judges.

They are public courts respect procedural guarantees and follow the principle of litigation, noting the authority of the military court of cassation.

Source: Xinhua