The Information Affairs Authority expalined important points with regard to recent questions pertaining to the transfer of criminal cases from the National Safety Court to the civilians courts in the Kingdom of Bahrain as had been outlined in the original Royal Decree 62 dated June 29, 2011.
Firstly, all defendants and the prosecution can appeal decisions made in the National Security Courts by filing an appeal with the civilian Court of Cassation. Secondly, in the event that the appeal is upheld by the Court of Cassation, the case will be sent to the civilian Court of Appeal (rather than being sent back to the National Safety Court).
Furthermore, this Decree outlines the process of transferring all cases out of the National Safety Court and into the regular civilian courts. Felony cases already underway at the First Instance Court of National Safety will be completed in that court before being transferred to the ordinary civilian courts for appeal. Also, felony cases that were in process at the time of the judicial recess in the National Safety Courts will return to that court for completion before being moved to the civilian courts for appeal. All misdemeanor cases have already been transferred from the National Safety Courts to the civilian court system. Lastly, the Decree stipulates that all cases will be transferred to the civilian courts in an expeditious manner and ensures that the right of appeal is safeguarded for all defendants.